Half an 'Altalena'

[Scurrilous]

Israel interested in Palestinian civil war but not in ensuing reconciliation

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3417699,00.html

<snip>

"For years the State of Israel has worked to embolden Hamas among its people, encouraging it during hard times and making it a member of the Palestinian regime. The objective, of course, was to reach the longed for moment where it would be possible to take a deep sigh of relief and say smilingly: "Now there is really no one to talk to."

This was the reason why any Palestinian leadership that was not Hamas was crushed. This is what the wise guys aimed for when they gave Arafat a hard time. This was the purpose of the systematic pounding of the Palestinian Authority's forces. This was the rationale behind the persistent and humiliating mitigation of Mahmoud Abbas' authority.

And indeed, Hamas developed nicely. It grew stronger, became organized and liked amongst its people, and ultimately won the last elections.

And the more Hamas grew stronger and the Palestinian Authority lost its power, Israeli voices increased their calls to "fight Hamas," "impede Hamas," "disarm Hamas" and other minor tasks that the State of Israel has been unable to do for the past 40 years of tyranny.

"The Palestinians need their own Altalena affair," Israelis began saying with a learned expression on their faces. Namely, the national Palestinian institutions need to do what David Ben-Gurion did to the Jewish dissidents in 1948. As we recall, he ordered the shelling of the Irgun's arms ship "Altalena," thus writing – some will maintain – a vital and painful chapter in national order, obedience and unity.

In short, the Israeli bon ton maintained that the Palestinians should also embark on a civil war. Let them experience their own Altalena."


Altalena Affair

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altalena_Affair

[oberliner]

1. Who is B. Michael?

Do you have any biographical info on him?

[Scurrilous]

2. I googled B. Michael...

...and didn't come up with much besides the fact that he's written a lot of opinion pieces for ynet.

I found one link where a Freeper referred to him as B. (is for barf) Michael. :thumbsup:

[oberliner]

3. Can't find any more info either

Although in some of the links he is called an "Israeli satirist".

Now that I think of it, there is no reason to assume that this person is male (I think the Michael may have thrown me off)

[LeftishBrit]

4. I know that he is a left-wing Israeli journalist..

who has written a lot for 'Yediot Aharanot'

He is perhaps best known for his ironic description of US-Israeli relations: ‘My master (the US) gives me food to eat and I bite those whom he tells me to bite. It’s called strategic cooperation.’ ”

I don't really know anything else about him, however.