Dear Friend of FLAME:

While the Obama administration's posture on the Middle East has so far seemed disproportionately to favor Arab interests and to exert unwelcome pressure on Israel (the United States' only ally in the region), we've seen a possible change in U.S. tone over the last few weeks, particularly with regard to Iran.  In addition, Israel seems to be laying the strategic groundwork for an attack on the terrorist state's growing nuclear capability.

Here's the background: A few weeks ago, an Israeli Dolphin-class submarine for the first time in years sailed from the Mediterranean through the Suez canal to the Red Sea. This means that apparently Israel has negotiated access with Egypt to pass through the canal to the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea.  Since Israel's submarines have the ability to deploy nuclear-tipped and conventional missiles, such access would give Israel convenient (instead of taking the very long route around Africa) second-strike support for an attack on Iran.

Next, we read that Saudi Arabia had given Israel approval to use their airspace for a military attack on Iran. According to the (UK) Sunday Times, Mossad chief Meir Dagan held secret meetings with Saudi officials, who gave their tacit approval to Israel's use of the kingdom's airspace. According to a diplomatic source: "The Saudis have tacitly agreed to the Israeli air force flying through their airspace on a mission that is supposed to be in the common interests of both Israel and Saudi Arabia."

Then last weekend Vice-President Joe Biden said in an ABC interview that Israel has the right to determine its own course of action with regard to the Iranian nuclear threat, regardless of what the Obama administration chooses to do. When asked whether the Obama administration would restrain Israeli military action against Iran, Biden responded: "Israel can determine for itself---it's a sovereign nation---what's in their interest and what they decide to do relative to Iran and anyone else . . . If the Netanyahu government decides to take a course of action different than the one being pursued now, that is their sovereign right to do that. That is not our choice."

This sounds as close to a green-light signal as you can get. But given Biden's propensity for shooting his mouth off, it's not entirely clear if U.S. policy toward Iran has changed.

But if Biden is signaling approval, it would be a big shift from Obama's Cairo speech, in which he declared that no one country could determine if another could acquire nuclear weapons. Is Obama now allowing Israel to be the world's nuclear watchdog while he assumes some grand position of neutrality, sitting above the fray and unwilling to assert American military power even if facing a nuclear-armed Iran? If Obama is not going to stand up to Iran himself, it's certainly a good thing indeed to signal that Israel can defend itself and indeed the rest of the region.

Perhaps most importantly, if both Egypt and Saudi Arabia are feeling fearful enough of a nuclear-armed Iran to clear air and sea space for an Israeli attack, it takes the starch out of Obama's contention (and that of many others) that a Palestinian-Israeli peace is the linchpin for securing Arab-Western cooperation.  In point of fact, resolution of the Palestinian question has little to do with defusing the Iranian threat or of achieving a greater Middle East peace.

For evidence that the Obama administration may be beginning to realize this---and to realize the deterrent value Israel can play vis a vis Iran, we offer Israeli commentator Aluf Benn's analysis from HaAretz newspaper---a concise summary of the emerging situation.

(Thanks to our friend Seymour Kessler of Berkeley Bridges to Israel for inspiring this FLAME Hotline and offering much of the analysis in it.)

Sincerely,

Jim Sinkinson
Director, FLAME

P.S.	If you agree that Iran presents one of the greatest dangers to Israel, the United States and to world peace in general---please review the recent FLAME position paper---"The Deadly Threat of a Nuclear-Armed Iran: What can the world, what can the USA, what can Israel do about it?"  While the Obama administration wants to focus on an Israel-Palestinian agreement before resolving the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, common sense---and this powerful FLAME position paper---tell us otherwise.  This editorial piece has run in national media delivering more than ten million impressions, including to college students and all U.S. Senators and Representatives.  We also recently posted another excellent article on the significance of recent demonstrations in Iran, called "The prescience of protest: What the dissidents know about Iran," by Natan Sharansky, which appeared in the Los Angeles Times. Please check it out.  Above all, if you agree that FLAME's outspoken brand of public relations on Israel's behalf is critical, I urge you to support us. Remember: FLAME's ability to influence public opinion---including the misguided inclination to hold Israel solely responsible for peace in the Middle East---comes from Israel's supporters like you, one by one. I hope you'll consider giving a donation now, as you're able---with $500, $250, $100, or even $18. (Remember, your donation to FLAME is tax deductible.) To donate online, just go to http://www.factsandlogic.org/make_a_donation.html. Now more than ever we need your support to ensure that Israel gets the support it needs---from the U.S. Congress, from President Obama, and from the American people.
P.P.S.	President Obama has asked for input from U.S. citizens on his Middle East policies.  To give him yours, please go right now to write the President.