unprecedented Israel forum in DC

I have mentioned the indefatigable Alison Weir several times on this blog. She was once a small town newspaper reporter who (like me) became curious about the relationship between the United States and Israel after contemplating the fact that Israel always seems to come out a winner while defying official U.S. foreign policy, while criticism of that country is never heard on Capitol Hill. Alison has long been involved with the Council for the National Interest and she has her own website If Americans Knew that graphically details the lopsided reporting about Israel in the United States.

Along with many other intrepid explorers of the "special relationship" she has just participated in the unprecedented National Summit to Reassess the U.S. - Israel Special Relationship, a day long event held in Washington DC at the National Press Club. It featured outstanding authors who have published books looking into every detail of the history of Israel with regard to the United States.

The entire event was broadcast and recorded by CSPAN and the panels are all available to be seen. I've just viewed the panel "History: How did the special relationship come to be?" with lead-off presenter Stephen Walt (shown below) co-author with John Mearsheimer of "The Israel Lobby", the book that broke the ice regarding the lobby, with the unremarkable idea that the interests of United States and Israel are not identical.

Please watch. I promise you will be impressed and educated.

blogging for change in U.S. policy

There is an excellent new video available at the Palestine Center, an interview/discussion recorded last Thursday in Washington DC called The New Media and the Palestine Question. There are two sessions (morning and afternoon) with two guests each.

Though all of it is worth watching, I realize you likely will not want to devote 3 hours of your time to it. The must see portion runs from 32 minutes in on the second session to the end of the session and features author/blogger Stephen Walt, co-author of The Israel Lobby and blogger MJ Rosenberg. Both of these men know their subject and are passionate about it. I promise you won't be bored and will be enlightened on the political process that is so difficult and frustrating to re-direct.

The second session can be found by scrolling down to the second Flash player screen