Thursday Links Part 1

From Ian:

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Obama, Einstein, and Jerusalem

Einstein wanted a nuclear weapon-free world, but when he saw what Hitler was doing, he helped America develop an atomic bomb. Einstein knew the difference between imagination and pretense. He could imagine a bomb-free world, but did not pretend that just talking to Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan would stop the war.
Like President Obama, Professor Einstein wanted peace, but when faced with unrelenting war, Einstein wanted to win. Just talking to dictators would not stop them.

Stephen Walt and the Islamist Lobby

Now Stephen Walt has taken another step to confirm this conclusion. He has been featured as the March 2013 Guest Writer for the Middle East Monitor (MEMO), a website whose self-described mission is promoting “the Palestinian cause” by reaching out “to opinion makers and decision makers in a deliberate, organized and sustained manner.”
However, as far as MEMO is concerned, the “Palestinian cause” is really the cause of Hamas. It is therefore no coincidence that, together with their esteemed guest writer Stephen Walt, MEMO also featured a “New strategic document” by Hamas leader Khalid Mishaal (also spelled Mashal or Meshaal).

Bernard-Henri Levy: Have I Become an Undesirable in Libya? by Bernard-Henri Lévy

Bernard-Henri Lévy fought tirelessly for Libya’s liberation. So why does he suddenly feel unwelcome in the country he loves—all because of his religion?

Europe: The Submission That Dare Not Speak Its Name

The French Jewish community is the largest in Western Europe. Its existence dates back to the early Middle Ages. A decade ago, it had approximately 500,000 members. Last year, its number fell to 400,000, and continues to fall. If the trend does not stop, the Jewish presence in France will, in the medium term, come to an end.
As long as what happens in France also happens in other European countries, what is taking shape could be a shift towards the end of the Jewish presence in Europe. It is impossible to assess the consequences that such an event could have, but one would have to be blind to underestimate its significance.

French soldier, two others held in terror probe

French police have detained three people, including a soldier, in southern France as part of an investigation into last year’s deadly terror attacks in Toulouse that targeted Jews and paratroopers, prosecutors said Wednesday.

The Cult Of Mohamed Merah

"This newsclip (in French) shows how Mohamed Merah has become an object of veneration to the Muslims of France. Flowers are regularly left at his grave. The grave attendant says they should have buried him somewhere more obscure to make it more difficult for his worshippers to leave flowers.

Critically wounded Syrians treated in Israel; one dies

The IDF said the injured Syrians were met at the border by Golani Brigade soldiers and were secretly transferred to Israel under heavy security for fear that - if identified - they would be harmed upon their return to Syria. All of the wounded are residents of the Syrian-controlled central Golan Heights region.

Trapped: The Plight of Palestinian Refugees From Syria

Families seeking asylum in neighboring Jordan are being turned away at the border because they lack Syrian identification.

Syrian rebels claim Iranian plane shot down

Opposition source in Damascus says the craft carried a weapons shipment for President Bashar Assad’s army

Russian lawmaker quits over reports of Israeli citizenship

Opposition blogger targets Vitaly Malkin of Putin’s United Russia party for dual nationality, undeclared foreign assets

Swiss gov't employee fired for praising death of Jews

The construction department of the St. Gallen canton in Switzerland dismissed a managerial construction employee because he sent an email to the Israeli Embassy in which he praised the deaths of Jews in a terrorist attack.
Candrian wrote in his email about the attack on Israeli tourists in Burgas in July 2012, “That is a good day in my life. I am proud of the heroes who killed Jews.”

France: Jewish minister ‘doesn’t think in French’

Leader of far left denies comment was connected to religion of Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici

Russia’s new Middle East energy game

While we have consistently made out a strong case that the (Iranian-Syrian) Shia v Sunni (Saudi and much of the rest of the ME) divide would, despite the rhetoric, means not a single ME government would come to Iran’s aid in the event of an attack, we can also state precisely what Russia won’t do.
Moscow won’t jeopardize its new deeply strategic energy partnership with its Israeli-Greek Cypriot ‘Western’ partners – in particular, its burgeoning relationship with the Middle East’s coming energy superpower, Israel.