Israeli leaders praise Fidel Castro

[Judi Lynn]

Israeli leaders praise Fidel Castro
The Associated Press
Saturday, September 25, 2010; 3:51 PM

JERUSALEM -- Israeli leaders are praising former Cuban President Fidel Castro for supporting Israel in a series of interviews

Israeli President Shimon Peres' office says Peres sent Castro a personal letter Saturday thanking him for his remarks. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent reporters text messages drawing attention to a series of interviews published in the Atlantic magazine early this month.

The Israeli praise is highly unusual, as Castro has traditionally supported the Palestinians and has been highly critical of the Jewish state in the past.

In the interview, Castro chided Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for denying the Holocaust, in which some six million Jews were killed by the Nazi's during World War II.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/25/AR2010092502545.html

[Judi Lynn]

1. Netanyahu: Fidel Castro has a deep understanding of Jewish history

Published 17:03 25.09.10
Latest update 17:03 25.09.10
Netanyahu: Fidel Castro has a deep understanding of Jewish history
PM, President Peres voice appreciation for remarks by former Cuban president, who said that Israel 'undoubtedly' has a right to exist.
By Barak Ravid and Haaretz Service

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his appreciation on Saturday over remarks by Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who said that Israel has a right to exist in an interview earlier this month.

In an interview published on Wednesday, the former Cuban president told The Atlantic reporter Jeffery Goldberg, when asked whether Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state, "Yes, without a doubt."

Subsequently, Goldberg asked Castro whether Raul Castro, the current president of Cuba and Fidel's brother, would reestablish relations with Israel, the 84-year-old leader replied that "these things take time."

Castro referenced the Holocaust in the interview, saying "Now, let's imagine that I were Netanyahu," Castro said, "that I were there and I sat down to reason through (the issues facing Israel), I would remember that six million Jewish men and women, of all ages were exterminated in the concentration camps."

President Shimon Peres also addressed Castro's remarks, saying that the Cuban leader's support of Israel had "moved me very much."

More:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/netanyahu-fidel-castro-has-a-deep-understanding-of-jewish-history-1.315630

[flamingdem]

2. Interesting developments nt

[Billy Burnett]

3. Why is it that I keep thinking that there's more at play here?

What Was Alan Gross Doing in Havana?
http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/02/11/what-was-alan-gross-doing-in-havana/

[flamingdem]

4. It's sure looks like his cover story

is bogus about helping the Jewish community.

[naaman fletcher]

5. It's simple..

The deal for U.S. openness is for Castro to moderate on foreign policy.

[Billy Burnett]

6. How so?

I don't have a clue as to what you are saying. :shrug:

[naaman fletcher]

7. i should take back the "its simple"

Although I am starting to come around to this opinion. As i posted the other day, Stratfor, which often has good sources, is saying that Obama is using relations with Cuba as a bargaining chip. Since Cuba has considerable influence in Venezuela, Washington is telling Castro to help smooth over Venezuela in exchange for opening up to Cuba.

It would seem to make sense that if Obama were to open up to Cuba that they would have to move cuba back into the "friendly neighborly country" category. We all know how much influence AIPAC has in washington, so I would not be surprised if one of the conditions is that Cuba has to distance itself from Iran.

[flamingdem]

8. Maybe. But I think Cuba is not going to be able to influence Hugo very much

They need Venezuela for oil. I don't think Cuba is all that cozy with Iran and Hugo just pals with Iran due to shared oil interests.