Is Israel doomed?
Do Israeli journalists love "born-again doves" to a fault?
Is PM Ehud Olmert rushing into reckless deals with Israel's enemies in a bid to keep himself out of the pokey?
These are the questions debated by author Jeffrey Goldberg, Atlantic Monthly editor (and former NYT Jerusalem bureau chief) James Bennet, and Ari Shavit, a veteran columnist for Israel's Haaretz newspaper.
The three met at Aspen Ideas Festival, The Aspen Institute's annual gathering in, you guessed it, Aspen.
Bennet moderated the panel, titled "Reporting on Israel."
You can see about 20 minutes of the discussion, in two parts, here.
The most interesting parts come near the end where Goldberg and Shavit discuss whether Olmert is a would-be visionary or an opportunist who is rashly cutting bad deals in a bid to hold off the political corruption scandal threatening to bring down his government.
The site also had a bunch of video links to various talks by former US Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, former President Clinton, and others.
"Born again doves"
Israel is surrounded by nations who are dedicated to destroying them.
You can embrace huggy feely theory and doctrines and be destroyed,
or be vigilant and ready to fight and survive.
"Doves" is not really applicable.
Posted by: batguano101 | July 19, 2008 at 01:45 PM