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Rouhani: A new era for Iran?
Ghanbar Naderi from Tehran and yours truly from Tel Aviv discuss the presidency of Rohani and what it means for Iran.
You can watch the debate here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNAxrcFfXgM
Plus my latest article on the latest sanctions being proposed by the House of Representatives and what they mean for Israel and Iran
On Iran, Israel Can Trust Obama
While we in the West obsess over Israel’s red line vs America’s red line for Iran’s nuclear program, there are two other red lines which are extremely important but are not being discussed.
They are Iran’s red lines.
Obama has proved himself to be the master of manipulating Iran’s red lines to our advantage, which is one reason among others why we in Israel can trust him.
My article explains more:
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/03/obama-visit-israel-iran-nuclear-red-lines.html
Why I Voted For Meretz, A Left-Wing Israeli Party
Its been a busy and exciting day. I had to do quite a few interviews and had the privilege of voting. 
I say privilege because while I was voting, my heart was in Israel but my mind and thoughts were with thousands of young Iranians who in 2009 were tortured, maimed or killed for wanting the right to vote freely in their own country. For their vote to be counted and for their voice to be heard in their land or in other words, for their undisputed right which was brutally taken away from them. They were with me with each step that I took from my house to the polling booth. You can leave Iran, but Iran never leaves you, especially during such moments.
Now to why I voted for Meretz.
Because I want a party to represent me that has had a solid record for supporting the peace process. I want a party that wants equal rights for all citizens of Israel, be they Jews, Arabs, or Homosexuals. I was a minority once and now I am the majority. I want the minorities in my country to be treated the same way that I wanted to be treated when I was a minority in other lands. I voted Meretz because I want the religious organizations to have less influence over our lives and the government.
As importantly, I voted left because I refuse to be scared. In fact, I voted left because I have tremendous confidence in the state of Israel, in her people, in her potential, in her young and old. I believe that I live in the strongest country in the Middle East. In fact on a one to one basis, we are militarily stronger than quite a few European countries too.
I voted left because I refuse to live in fear.
I voted left because I refuse to spend each day worrying about annihilation by the Iranian regime, by the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt and Syria, by the Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
I voted left because I believe that Israel has a legitimate right to exist, that we have the right to defend ourselves and can defend ourselves, but that we should do it smarter. And by that I mean fight the militants when they attack you, but don’t punish an entire nation, because that helps the extremists who want to hurt us.
I voted left because I am always willing to fight whoever attacks me, but I am more willing to make friends with the people of the Middle East.
Gaza ground invasion will end badly
My expertise is Iran, nevertheless I couldn’t keep silent about what is happening between us and the Palestinians. Difficult to do that when your city is under attack.
So I decided to go on the record to say that I oppose a ground invasion of Gaza, and why:
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/gaza-ground-invasion-will-end-badly/
Romney’s Iran Statements in Israel: A Success?
By: Meir Javedanfar
Tel Aviv – In his meetings with Israel’s political dignitaries, Governor Romney spent much of his time discussing the Iranian nuclear program and ways to confront it.
According to Israel’s YNET:
“One of Romney’s senior aides said that he would back Israel if it were to decide it had to use military force to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.”
Its unlikely that Romney’s support for such a strike would win him much support in Israel, mainly because the unilateral military option against Iran remains unpopular among Israelis.
According to a survey by Maariv 9 days ago:
“only 19 percent of Israelis would support the go-it-alone strikes threatened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative government, while 26 percent thought military action should be taken – but only with U.S. backing.”
There are various reasons behind this lack of support.
The fact that notable former military establishment figures have spoken against this option is one major reason. Former Mossad Chief Meir Dagan and SHABAK chief Yuval Disking’s scathing attacks against Netanyahu’s support for a unilateral strike have dome much to damage the credibility of the Netanyahu government’s support for the military option. Dagan and Diskin are not alone. There are others former military officials who believe the same.
Therefore its unlikely that Romney’s support for this option is going to find a large audience between the Israeli public. Nor is it going to win him many points here.
Whether Romney’s Iran statements in Israel are going to win him more votes in the U.S is also doubtful.
These days Russia and China are in unison with the U.S as members of the P5+1 group which negotiates with Iran. Before Obama they opposed much of the previous U.S administration’s Iran policies. Today China is reducing its presence in Iran’s oil sector, which is a major achievement for the Obama administration, while the Russians are refusing to sell the S-300 missile to Iran, and refusing to return Iran’s money for the missiles.
Its difficult to see what Governor Romney could offer which is more powerful than the results of Obama’s existing Iran policies. The international consensus which the Obama administration has built against Iran and its negative consequences for the Iranian government are powerful, and tough to beat.
You can follow Meir Javedanfar on Twitter @Meir_J
Israel’s Iran Debate Takes New Turn
Shaul Mofaz’s Kadima party joining Netanyahu’s coalition government is unlikely to lead to a major change in the Israeli government’s Iran policy and narrative.
Why and what will be the consequences? to find out, click below.
http://the-diplomat.com/2012/05/09/israeli-iran-debate-takes-new-turn/
A Blueprint for Solving the #Iran Crisis
There’s much pessimism surrounding the upcoming Iran and P5+1 talks.
The latest article focuses on analysis and concerns of both sides, and concludes with a recommended six point plan to end the current crisis.
http://the-diplomat.com/2012/04/12/a-blueprint-for-solving-iran-crisis/
How To Make Khamenei Change His Mind – By Meir Javedanfar
This week I wrote and published two articles. One in English, and the other in my mother tongue of Farsi.
1. My latest article, on what the West can do to convince Khamenei to change his current nuclear policy.
http://the-diplomat.com/2012/03/23/how-to-make-iran-change-its-mind/
“مقاله اخیرم برای بی بی سی فارسی: “بمب عشق شهروندان اسرائیل برای مردم ایران.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/world/2012/03/120321_na_mj_israel_iran_love_campaign.shtml