Bibi Follow-Up

++If you recall during the flap over Bibi's speech, Senator Menendez was caught off-guard when he heard that Mossad had briefed GOP Senators and told them to hold off on sanctions against Iran. Today he sent a letter to the White House along with a number of Democrats saying that they would hold off submitting the new legislation until after March 25, when the nuclear talks are to conclude.

++Richard Cohen defends President Obama against the Boehner/Bibi ploy in today's Washington Post. Cohen's piece is a good warning on what happens when support for Israel becomes identified as a right-wing cause. He notes the changing nature of the American Jewish community and the demographic nature of the young, who basically oppose anything to do with the current issues supported by the Right. To be linked to people who are against immigration, abortion,same sex marriage and the legalization of marijuana is not cool. Cohen also worries that the younger generation is losing touch with the meaning of the Holocaust and the great cinematic history of the creation of Israel. 

++Cohen warns that a frontal assault on the prestige of the President of the United States, your strongest and increasingly your only ally, is dangerous when israel faces increased isolation on the world stage and that the Palestinian cause gains ground in Europe.

++Andrew Sullivan at the Dish noted the long list of Jewish Americans who took umbrage at Bibi's not so subtle attacks on President Obama. Sullivan was particularly galled by Bibi lecturing President Obama on Mideast politics in front of the press corps during one of his last visits. Andrew always laments the "Israel" lobby and blames it for the disasters of the Iraq war and American foreign policy disasters.

++The Israeli press reports more anti-Bibi remarks by the opposition who believes Bibi is threatening the relationship.

++Speaking of being lumped in with the Right, America's leading advocate of Torture , Marc Thiessen writes in the Post that Bibi was entirely right in by-passing President Obama.