Israel's outgoing Gov't Press Officer, Danny Seaman, reveals complexities of serving a biased, foreign press

Israel's Government Press Office is part of the Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Ministry and is responsible for being in contact and dealing with foreign journalists in the country, issuing official press cards to journalists and media employees in Israel, coordinating media coverage for state events and official visits by foreign leaders.

JPost editor-in-chief David Horovitz interviews Israel's outgoing Gov't Press Office director, Danny Seaman (who has has held the post since 2000) in the Jerusalem Post:

Is the departing Seaman a heroic advocate for Israel who is being shamefully and counter-productively treated by his foolish, short-sighted, lily-livered bosses? Or should someone so candid and opinionated never have been entrusted with the ultra-delicate task of liaising with the international media? 

Danny Seaman: This goes back to the whole issue of Israel’s hasbara failures since the Oslo Accords. We pulled the rug out from under our arguments. The moment in the Oslo process when we didn’t completely stand up for our narrative, we gave legitimacy to the Palestinian claims. [We gave up on] our positions, our claims, our rights!

David Horovitz: As regards the Old City, east Jerusalem...?

Seaman: Every place! My grandfather came here from Afghanistan, not because of Tel Aviv and not because of Haifa, but because of our ancestral right to the Land of Israel. And without our right to the Land of Israel we have no right to the State of Israel; we are no more than the colonialist occupiers which they claim we are. For many years, we used this claim of our right to Eretz Yisrael, not as a political statement, but as a case of genuine historical reasoning. You can’t say that it’s a right-wing argument. It has nothing to do with my positions or my being a right-winger. It’s a fact."

This revealing interview is worth reading in its entirety.

 DemoCast filmed this talk by Danny Seaman about the complexities of democratic Israel having to administer a biased, damaging foreign press - at the Jerusalem Conference following the Operation Castlead into Gaza in January, 2009.



Mr. Seaman will be succeeded by Netanyahu consultant Oren Helman. Mr. Helman has a master's degree in public administration and has served - inter alia - as Israel Broadcast Authority Spokesman and an adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he served as Finance Minister.

On a related note, Tovah Lazaroff writes in the Jerusalem Post:

Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu responds to int'l (Pres. Obama in Indonesia's) criticism about Israeli plans to advance 1,345 homes in Jewish areas of east J'lem by saying gov't never agreed to place any restrictions on construction in capital, which has 800,000 residents.

"Jerusalem is not a settlement, it is the capitol of Israel," the office of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday in a sharp retort to international criticism about plans for 1,345 homes in Jewish neighborhoods of east Jerusalem.

Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, pays tribute to America on Independence Day; reminds Americans that Israel is "steadfast ally and friend" and that it is "American power (which) ultimately keeps the enemies of freedom at bay"

PM Netanyahu spoke on July 1st at the American Ambassador James Cunningham's residence in Israel in honor of U.S. Independence Day.

"Our (the Jewish people's) tragedy is that the U.S. did not dominate the first half of the 20th century. And what a difference the rise of America has made in rolling back totalitarian forces and standing up for liberty. And now, at the first half of the 21st century, the U.S. is still entrusted with the difficult task of defending freedom and defending peace. American power still ultimately keeps the enemies of freedom at bay. Netanyahu quotes Pres. Abraham Lincoln who remarked: "The United States is the last, best hope on earth."

He continued, "The intervening century and a half has confirmed that analysis. The Jewish State in particular owes a great debt of appreciation and gratitude to the United States. For decades, the U.S. has helped Israel meet the enormous challenges we face. It has helped us bear the heavy burdens of our defense. It has helped us feel secure enough to take risks for peace. It has helped us negotiate that peace and then make practical arrangements to cement it on the ground.

Israel, in turn, has proved to be America's steadfast ally. A friend and an ally. We fight common enemies. We uphold common values - deeply shared by our people and our societies."



Netanyhu calls upon Palestinian Pres. Abbas to meet him face to face to begin direct peace negotiations. "I am ready to meet him any time and any place."

On behalf of the citizens of Israel I wish you Mr Ambassador- Jim (Cunningham), Pres. Obama and the American people a wonderful Independence Day!"



This video shows last year's reception at the U.S. Embassy in Israel. It includes remarks from Ambassador Cunningham. "While our histories are different, America and Israel have much in common. Our shared values and commitment to democracy (and) the rule of law bind us together."

P.M. Netanyahu concluded, "A friendship anchored not in transitory interests, but in eternal values and timeless ideals. These common ideals of liberty and democracy are the foundation of the deep and enduring bond between the U.S. and Israel. Happy Independence Day, America, and may G-d continue to bless America and our profound friendship."

Why wasn't Israel's Netanyahu photographed with Obama?

The White House has waved off suggestions that President Barak Obama was "embarrassed" to be photographed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, amid questions over the minimal media coverage of their meeting in Washington this week.

"We were very comfortable with the coverage for last night's meeting," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs.  But media-savvy critics have posted their own commentary on the matter, with video clips like this emerging on You Tube:
When asked in a press conference on Wednesday whether he saw "any contradiction at all when the Secretary of State goes before AIPAC and says that the U.S. has no stronger, no closer ally than Israel - and then the President won't even allow a photograph of him and the Israeli Prime Minister", Gibbs responded: "No, I don't see a contradiction at all."  (Ha'aretz)

Obama facilitating pro-Islamist Brzezinski/Baker policy; Appoints regime's lobbyist in charge of precluding Iran nuclear weapons; Forces Israel to go it alone; Peres visits Brazil & Argentina ahead of Ahmadinejad & Abbas

President Obama reversed his announcement to snub visiting Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu while both visited the Jewish Federation Convention in DC. The President Israel's prime minister met behind closed doors, discussing U.S.-Israel ties, Iran and Mideast peace talks, according to a White House statement.

Obama's meeting Monday evening at the White House with Benjamin Netanyahu was closed to reporters, even omitting the standard photo opportunity and hand shake.

The White House statement following the meeting was unusually terse: "The President and Prime Minister Netanyahu discussed a number of issues in the U.S.-Israel bilateral relationship. The President reaffirmed our strong commitment to Israel's security, and discussed security cooperation on a range of issues. The President and Prime Minister also discussed Iran and how to move forward on Middle East peace." (JTA News)

Pres. Obama replaced Dennis Ross at State with John Limbert to shift US to Brzezinski/Powers policy: facilitate Islamists' war against Jews in hope of appeasing Islamist imperialism

Ed Lasky published in the American Thinker: The New Iran Man at the State Department's Iran Desk

The key goal of the NIAC, as made clear in their master plan, is to place its supporters into key positions of power in Washington.

Their efforts have reached fruition: the National Iranian American Council now has one of their own as the Iran man (literally and metaphorically) at the State Department. The caviar is flowing in Tehran.

Read analysis available from Atlas Shrugs in "The Fix is In: Obama fires Dennis Ross and replaces him with an Iranian-regime lobbyist - John Limbert."

"This is it. As the evidence grew about Iran building bombs and warheads, Obama's team must have shown divisions.

Thus he removes the eyes who saw, Ross, (who is a Clintonian) and replaces him with an Iran regime lobbyist.

The Iran lobby, the NIAC, is a regime presence within the USA. Led by a famous Brzezinski-endorsed Iranian antisemite who blames Israel for Iran-US tensions and denies Ahmadinejad said "wipe off the map".

Basically Obama has handed over the Iran negotiations to an Iranian regime agency. This is grotesque and shows Obama's determination to avoid confronting Iran at all costs (the only thing actually capable of saving his lame duck presidency). He is willing to sacrifice his own future for the advancement of Iranian interests and the reduction of supposed Israeli/Jewish influence. The dogma he tends to believe having Powers and Brzezinski around him and him favoring their views over the more sensible Hilary/Ross camp.

This is time for Hilary and Holbrooke to stand up and resign from this treasonous line up. Even Carter had plans to invade Iran in 1981. Despite people like Vance opposing it. Vance resigned because Carter choose the military option to rescue the hostages."

(Hat-tip to My Right Word)

Why is Israel’s Shimon Peres in Brazil and Argentina? Iran.
For the first time in 40 years, an Israeli president is paying a state visit to Brazil. Israel President Shimon Peres began a week-long visit to Brazil and Argentina today. A key reason: Iran's growing influence in Latin America. (The Christian Science Monitor)

Whose backyard is Latin America now?

That’s the question that a flurry of leaders seem to be trying to answer on a series of visits to the region this month. Israeli President Shimon Peres began his week-long jaunt to Brazil and Argentina today with the stated purpose to “discuss the Iranian infiltration of the continent, opportunities to strengthen political and strategic ties between the countries, and how to increase economic cooperation.”

He’s right on time. The first state visit by an Israeli president to Brazil in 40 years and to Argentina in 20 comes just weeks before an expected trip by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the end of this month. Brazilian officials also say Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas may visit them this month. Since Ahmadenijad was elected in 2005, Iran has opened new embassies in Colombia, Nicaragua, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador, and Boliva – and added ones to Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Venezuela, according to the Washington Post.

No Vacation Complacency for Iran

The Bomb, Iran's Mullahs and Doomsday by Amil Imani

It is the holiday season and we all have received this most welcome present: the U.S. National Intelligence Estimate about Iran’s nuclear problem. Since 2003 the mullahs running Iran have, on their own and through their own goodwill, have ceased all activities aimed at acquiring the bomb, so says the report. Therefore, there is nothing to worry about folks, nothing to spoil the holiday season, and there is good reason to be upbeat about a safe and secure world. Superficial reading of the CIA’s presentation of the findings is the comfort pill that successfully sugar-coats swallowing even the most unpalatable news.

A word of advice for President Bush: now you can also relax and give the celebratory mood a boost by ordering the armed forces to stand down. We have enough trouble in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots of the world. This huge worry about the mullahs’ bomb is a distraction and doesn’t rate anything. Why listen to the warmonger alarmist Dick Cheney and his Neo-cons and keep us all in a jittery mood about the men-of-Allah mullahs? Mr. President, in addition to the comforting NIE report (which was incidentally ordered by your adoring fans, Congress Democrats), you probably want to hear the dissenters and the skeptics before impulsively singing the praise of the mullahs, as Jimmy Carter did, or hastily launching a re-enactment of “ Shock and Awe,” this time on Iran.

Read complete article.


Also, The San Antonio Express-News' Todd Bensman reveals why Nicaraguan citizens' concerns about the ominous Iranian beach-head being developed there also concerns American officials.

... Some of the men were from the Islamic Republic of Iran and had come promising to establish a Central American foothold in the middle of their territory.

As part of a new partnership with Nicaragua's Sandinista President Daniel Ortega, Iran and its Venezuelan allies plan to help finance a $350 million deep-water port at Monkey Point on the wild Caribbean shore, and then plow a connecting "dry canal" corridor of pipelines, rails and highways across the country to the populous Pacific Ocean. Iran recently established an embassy in Nicaragua's capital.

In feeling threatened by Iran's ambitions, the people of Monkey Point have powerful company. The Iranians' arrival in Nicaragua comes as the Bush administration and some European allies hold the threat of war over Iran to force an end to its uranium enrichment program and alleged help to anti-U.S. insurgents in Iraq.

What worries state department officials, former national security officials and counterterrorism researchers is that, if attacked, Iran could stage strikes on American or allied interests from Nicaragua, deploying the Iranian terrorist group Hezbollah and Revolutionary Guard operatives already in Latin America. Bellicose threats by Iran's clerical leadership to hit American interests worldwide if attacked, by design or not, heighten the anxiety.

"The bottom line is if there is a confrontation with Iran, and Iran gets bombed, I have absolutely no doubt that Iran is going to lash out globally," said John R. Schindler, a veteran former counterintelligence officer and analyst for the National Security Agency.

"The Iranians have that ability, particularly from South America. Hezbollah has fronts all over Latin America. That is not new. But it's certainly something we're starting to care about now."

American policymakers already had been fretting in recent years over Tehran's successful forging of diplomatic relations, direct air routes and embassy swaps with
populist South American governments that abhor the U.S., such as President Hugo
Chávez's Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador. But Iran's latest move places it just a
few porous borders from Texas, where illegal Nicaraguan laborers routinely travel.

Read entire article.

Finally, the year wouldn't be complete without a JibJab 2007 Year in Review. And what 2007 Year in Review would be complete without Britney Spears, Alberto Gonzalez, Michael Vick and the almighty iPhone? This funny animation has them all, and so much more!