- Immediate Background -

The Associated Press: Israel taking extraordinary steps to block prosecution of military, political leaders.

JERUSALEM (AP) --

Stung by a damning U.N. report alleging war crimes in Gaza, Israel is taking extraordinary steps to fend off potential international prosecution of its political and military leaders, hiring high-powered attorneys, lobbying Western governments and launching a public relations blitz.

Israel has dismissed the U.N. investigation into its winter offensive in the Gaza strip as biased, but its latest moves show it is clearly concerned.

The U.N. report appears to have energized pro-Palestinian groups that have hoped for years to bring Israelis before courts in countries that recognize the concept of "universal jurisdiction" - trying people for crimes unrelated to their own territory or nationals.

Most recently, British activists attempted this week to have Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak arrested during a trip to Britain for war crimes connected to his role in the Gaza war. Barak was untouched - but only because the court that considered the request ruled that he enjoyed immunity as a Cabinet minister.

But the incident raised the prospect that Israelis might find it increasingly difficult to travel to European countries that recognize universal jurisdiction.

The U.N. report issued last month by Richard Goldstone, a Jewish judge from South Africa and experienced war crimes prosecutor, accused the Israelis of using excessive force and endangering civilians. - AP 10/1/09

A Prominent Covert Supporter
Of Israel
- The Ever-Slippery David Brooks -

To the Editor:

I was encouraged by David Brooks’s analysis of the current faint power of right-wing talk jocks.

I overlooked his deftly blaming what power they do have on “cynical Democrats,” “lazy pundits” and “slightly educated snobs.” How convenient to put responsibility for the poisoning of public discourse by conservative extremists on the Democrats.

But he lost me when he implied that Rush Limbaugh had never had any real influence, ignoring any role Mr. Limbaugh may have had in neutralizing the Clinton administration or in promoting the Bush election and re-election.

But his final judgment is right: the Republican Party is losing support. That’s because it chooses to be the voice of complaint rather than an agent of accomplishment. - William R. Nye N Y Times Brooklyn 10/2/09

ACTUALLY, AMONG PROMINENT UNIDENTIFIED JEWISH AMERICAN COVERT SUPPORTERS OF ISRAEL, THE MOST EFFECTIVE (BECAUSE OF THE FREQUENCY OF HIS APPEARANCE ON THE AIRWAVES) MAY BE THE HOST OF "TALK OF THE NATION", NEAL CONAN, I.E. ISRAEL'S CIP (CHIEF ISRAELI PROPAGANDIST IN THE UNITED STATES.)!