Monday Links Part 1

From Ian:

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David Frum: Israeli-Palestinian dispute is an inescapably local matter — not some master-key to world peace

Here’s the problem in its truest form. The Palestinian problem is not a problem about the region or about coexistence between Muslims and the West. It’s a problem that raises the question of the kind of country Israel will be in future — and about the security and prosperity of the people who live in Israel’s immediate vicinity.
As for the problem that truly threatens regional security — the security of Israelis and Arabs alike — that is the Iranian nuclear threat. About that, President Obama again spoke unambiguously: “I do believe that all of us have an interest in resolving this issue peacefully. [But] I’ve made the position of the United States of America clear. Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. … America will do what we must to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.”
That’s the sound bite to remember from this visit. It’s the pledge by which President Obama’s Middle East policy will ultimately be judged.

Michael Totten: Lebanon's Pro-Hezbollah Government Collapses

He has indeed proved his skeptics wrong. He also proved Hezbollah wrong since they thought they could use him.
And they couldn’t.
Now the country is without a government. Mikati has called for a “caretaker government” to take over until the next elections are held. Maybe Lebanon will get one and maybe it won’t. Either way, the country is closer now to collapse than it has been at any time since the civil war ended. (h/t Zvi)

Unrepentant: The Guardian’s latest Mavi Marmara propaganda

The selectively edited clip of the incident (as with the subsequent text by Sherwood and MacAskill) would leave the reader unaware that Israeli soldiers, who were enforcing a legal blockade against Hamas, were ambushed by terror-abetting activists determined to instigate a bloody confrontation. The video, as with the Guardian’s coverage of the incident and it’s aftermath, more resembles the propaganda of pro-flotilla activists than anything approaching serious journalism.

Ex navy chief skeptical of Israel apology to Turkey

"I'm not sure that the apology will be worthwhile for Israel... I don't think that tomorrow morning relations between us and Turkey will go back to what they were," he added.
"It's very important for soldiers to receive backing before, during, and after operations," the ex-Navy commander said.
Israel's naval blockade of Gaza is in line with international law, and is aimed at preventing arms shipments to terror organizations, Marom pointed out. "The Turkish government and other elements, despite requests by me... and government officials, preferred to let the IHH - a terrorist organization that is accused of supporting Al-Qaida in Turkey itself - it allowed a flotilla of hate for Israel [to proceed]," Marom added. "They attacked us."

Erdogan Says Gaza Blockade Must Be Lifted Before Full Normalization With Israel

Erdogan had accepted Netanyahu’s apology and told the Israeli leader that he would begin working towards full restoration of ties.
But in a public address following the apology, Erdogan called on more concessions from Israel before full relations could be restored. The Turkish leader said “there will be no normalization” without financial compensation for the flotilla incident from Israel as well as the lifting of the Gaza blockade, the Associated Press reported.

Arab League reportedly gives Syria’s seat to rebels
Official says vacant seat to go to opposition delegate ahead of Tuesday meeting; FSA’s Colonel Riad al-Asaad wounded in Syria

The Arab League transferred the Syrian seat in its 22-member bloc to the Syrian opposition, an Arab official told AFP on Monday, ahead of a scheduled meeting in Doha on Tuesday.
The move represents a blow to the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad, whose seat has been vacant since its suspension in November 2011, several months after the unrest in the country began.

Syrian Jihadist Rebels Seize Jordan-Israeli Buffer Zone
Syrian rebel forces have seized a 25-kilometer (15 mile) buffer zone stretching from the Jordanian border to the Golan Heights.

“The fighters seized the site after regime forces retreated,” the statement continued. “The 25-kilometer area located between the towns of Muzrib (near the Jordanian border) and Abdin (in the Golan Heights) is now out of regime control,” AFP reported.

Mubarak May be Freed from Jail in 3 Weeks

If prosecution does not resubmit charges regarding Tahrir Square killings, Mubarak will go free.

German neo-Nazi cell bigger than thought

According to a report in the Bild newspaper on Sunday, security officials have compiled a list of 129 people who are suspected of helping the group, accused of murdering eight ethnic Turks, a Greek and a policewoman between 2000 and 2007.

Precedent Chavez: What the future looks like for the Jews of Venezuela

Far from the elation that some may have thought would occur after the demise of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela's vulnerable communities have been left with a sense of trepidation following the strong-arming of the country by his succesor, Nicolas Maduro.
Chavez may be gone, but the Jews of Venezuela are apparently not resting any easier.
Just this weekend, incidents of anti-Semitism were reported after grafitti was found scrawled on the walls and doors in the San Bernadino section of Caracas, the country's capital city. The graffiti contained messages such as “Jews are murderers, Jews out,” and several comments that implied that it was the Jews who were responsible for the death of Chavez.