Don't cry for me Rouhani

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/opinion/sunday/israeli-terrorists-born-in-the-usa.html?_r=1


  Using the timing of the Iran deal (also known as the worst deal of the century) the New York Times reminds all of us in the U.S that Israel also has terrorists and 'Oh by the way, it's America's fault!'. Something in the heavily fluoridated water perhaps that encourages ethnic Jews from America to move to settlements (those pesky controversial ones) in Israel and declare war on Palestinians. It shouldn't surprise many people to learn that Israel's second largest contingent of immigrants is from America most years going back to its founding in 1948. That a handful of terrorists were born in New York or San Francisco shouldn't be shocking. What is ridiculous about the article is the elevation of a minor issue, even within the Israeli communities, to top news of the day status. By lifting sanctions on the Iranian regime and turning away from a traditional democratic ally in Israel, the Obama administration is trying to justify the radical departure from sound policy by commissioning (essentially) articles critical of Israel. Where not directly encouraging criticism of the Jewish state, acolytes of the administration are elevating the status of Tehran by taking Jerusalem down a peg. This would be like if television analysts talked about the Toledo Mud Hens ( AAA baseball team) during the game 7 broadcast of the World Series. It is dishonest to examine both Israel and Iran under the same rubric given their dramatically different histories, ethnic groups, culture, contributions to the world, and forms of government. 

The author of the piece (Hirschhorn) criticizes the settlers for seemingly explaining away terrorism among Jews. "Settler rabbis and the leaders of American immigrant communities in the West Bank have either played down their crime or offered muted criticism." The incident in question is a fire in a town called Duma that claimed the life of a Palestinian toddler and has been blamed on settlers; no reason is given for why the fire might have been started. Hirschhorn even has to go back two decades to find a comparable example of American-born Jews committing terrorism. Criticism from Rabbis and others might be muted and 'played down' but so far no parades have been planned in the streets of Jerusalem celebrating their brave heroics the way Hamas does in Gaza or Hezbollah does in Beirut. Tehran actively promotes terrorism around the world while Israel builds housing close to disputed territories, which one do you prefer.  Condemnations could be stronger perhaps, but articles like this are meant more as a way of taking some of the shine off America's good buddy in the Middle East instead of honest storytelling and relevant information gathering.