Israel's elections and U.S. policy

Glenn Greenwald
Monday Feb. 9, 2009 08:35 EST

...International Policy Attitudes (PIPA), surveyed 21 countries from six continents and asked whether the influence exerted by various nations in the world was positive or negative. The three countries most viewed as having a negative influence in the world -- essentially tied with one another -- were Iran, Pakistan and Israel, all of whom finished just behind North Korea -- and this poll was conducted before Israel’s attack on Gaza. Even before the war on Gaza, Israel was viewed overwhelmingly negatively in every country except two -- the U.S., where citizens view Israel favorably by a not very large 13-point margin (47-34%), and Russia, where public opinion is split. In every other country, the view of Israel's influence on the world is significantly negative -- in most cases, overwhelmingly so....




Gaza protests in Chicago stir charges of anti-Zionism
By Manya A. Brachear Tribune reporter
January 16, 2009

Six Jewish institutions have been vandalized in recent weeks, including one arson attempt. On one college campus, a Jewish student was called a Nazi, Benn said.

The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has condemned the synagogue attacks.

"There's a fine line between what's anti-Israel and what's anti-Semitic," she said. "If the U.S. were being repeatedly attacked from Canada by rockets, we would retaliate, whereas Israel doesn't have that right . . . Comparing Jews to Nazis [is] problematic."

But Stephanie Weiner, who organized Thursday's protest of Chicago's ties to Petach Tikva, one of Chicago sister cities, simply doesn't want Chicago to support what she believes are war crimes. Seven miles east of Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva was one of the first exclusive Jewish settlements in Israel. Weiner and about five protesters distributed leaflets to guests at a breakfast hosted by Mayor Richard Daley.

"This has nothing to do with religion," she said. "People who know and care know it's a human-rights issue."

mbrachear@tribune.com

Not just Chicago, Europe also.

Violent Gaza protests reveal how gentle civilised Britain has changed into something very ugly indeed
Last updated at 9:37 AM on 11th January 2009
Comments (17) Add to My Stories People who have been at the pro-and anti-Israel demonstrations in London have been producing some absolutely horrifying descriptions and images.
On Harry’s Place pictures (such as the one here from Indymedia) capture the violence and thuggery of the left/Islamist alliance.