Israel Matzav

JPost slams Netanyahu on Iran

Given the documented leftward drift of the Jerusalem Post under Steve Linde, it's not surprising that the paper attacked Prime Minister Netanyahu on Iran on the very day that he buried his father.

Two seasoned military commanders and counterterrorism experts with impeccable credentials, privy to Israel’s most guarded secrets, have taken upon themselves to fight the predominant narrative put forward by the government vis-à-vis Iran and the Palestinians.

Both Dagan and Diskin, like any other serious leader interested in having an impact, are political animals. They understand the impact of their words. But it would be disingenuous to blame these two of acting solely in the name of narrow interests considering that during the long years in which they held their respective official positions, Diskin and Dagan remained out of the limelight and devoted themselves exclusively to defending their country.

With their long years of service behind them, the two apparently feel morally impelled to speak out against what they perceive to be existential dangers.

Actually, it's far more likely that two people who stayed out of the limelight for years are seeking to get their names in the media for political gain. How many of you - especially outside of Israel - had ever heard of either of them before they started attacking Netanyahu?

BUT PERHAPS the most distasteful and undemocratic response to Diskin’s and Dagan’s outspokenness has been a legislative initiative that, if passed, would severely restrict the open debate and criticism that characterizes Israeli political discourse.

Dubbed the “Dagan Law,” the legislative initiative would prevent former security officials from making public comments on matters related to their field of expertise without authorization from the Defense Ministry. First drafted last year, the bill has garnered new interest in the aftermath of Diskin’s comments. MKs such as Miri Regev (Kadima), who drafted the original bill, and Danny Danon (Likud), among others, are pushing to get the Dagan Law passed. They claim to be out to defend Israel from the potential danger caused by irresponsible comments made by the likes of Dagan and Diskin.

But in actuality, stifling the free exchange of ideas and criticism among those most qualified to express these ideas and criticism is the real danger to Israel’s security.

Funny, but I don't see any public debate in Iran over whether or how far to go in developing nuclear weapons. I don't recall any public debate in the US over whether and how to kill Bin Laden. And although I wasn't around then, I don't recall reading about any public debate in the US over whether to use nuclear weapons on Japan until after the bombers had already dropped their loads on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Some decisions can only be taken in secret.

As to the so-called Dagan Law, I don't know of any other country in the world where the recently retired director of intelligence goes shooting off his mouth in public about the critical security issues facing his country, and claims to know more than anyone else because of his being privy to state secrets. Dagan's, and now Diskin's, behavior is simply galling.

And as to the Post, if they are going to just be Haaretz lite, who needs them? Once again, I have no regrets that I canceled my subscription.

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Jerusalem Post, Meir Dagan, Yuval Diskin

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:53 AM