Bibi Buddy Ron Lauder Calls Israeli Attack on Iran “Catastrophe”

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One of Bibi Netanyahu’s erstwhile buddies, U.S. businessman and World Jewish Congress leader Ron Lauder, called a unilateral attack on Iran without U.S. support a “catastrophe” during an interview with Der Spiegel.  Here’s the translation of his comments as offered by Kol Yisrael:

Lauder warned of a unilateral Israeli attack on Iran….He judged that if Israel acted without American support such an attack would be a catastrophe.  Such a military operation would isolate Israel from its allies.  He reminded that before the Gulf War that everyone was certain that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.  In hindsight, it turns out he didn’t.  If they erred then it’s possible that everyone [who claims Iran has or wants nukes] now is wrong as well.

Iran - Israel Relations
Iran – Israel Relations

An interesting sideline to these comments is that Lauder and Netanyahu, who share especially right-wing political views are quite prickly with each other.  Lauder owns a controlling interest in Israel’s Channel 10.  This is the TV station whose news reporters constantly air highly critical exposes about Bibi’s misdeeds.  It is also the station whose license Netanyahu has threatened to revoke because it is behind on paying the government what it owes in licensing fees.  Though other stations are similarly in arrears, it seems that only Channel 10 is being called to account.

Lauder has proposed a compromise by which he would invest further funding in the station if the outstanding debt would be wiped out.  No word on the government’s response.

I could easily paint a portrait of these comments being political payback from Lauder, who has to be angry that his investment in Channel 10 could be wiped out due to Netanyahu’s petty vindictiveness.  Haaretz (Hebrew) offers background to their feud.

This article was published at Tikun Olam

Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein is an author, journalist and blogger, with articles appearing in Haaretz, the Jewish Forward, Los Angeles Times, the Guardian’s Comment Is Free, Al Jazeera English, and Alternet. His work has also been in the Seattle Times, American Conservative Magazine, Beliefnet and Tikkun Magazine, where he is on the advisory board. Check out Silverstein's blog at Tikun Olam, one of the earliest liberal Jewish blogs, which he has maintained since February, 2003.

One thought on “Bibi Buddy Ron Lauder Calls Israeli Attack on Iran “Catastrophe”

  • October 1, 2012 at 2:47 pm
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    Israeli PM Nuttyyahoo is borderline insane! He would launch a war that would wipe out Israel and much of the rest of the Middle East.

    He would do this in a complete absence of real evidence of Iranian intention to make nuclear weapons. In the real world if he keeps to his insane policies Iran will be more likely to make bombs; if only to deter crazies like Nuttyyahoo.

    Reply

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