Commentary by Dr. Patrick Slattery — The following article from The Times of Israel is interesting on various levels. The headline contends that the United States will stop updating Israel on nuclear negotiations with Iran, a contention made by an Israeli television network that was denied by U.S. and Israeli sources in the article. So, one issue is that the United States is apparently negotiating on behalf of Israel and to promote their interests, and thus needs to be in continual contact with Israeli officials. 

Second, the reason for the alleged suspension of the updates is that it is a response to Netanyahu’s breach of protocol by having House Speaker Boehner invite him to address Congress without clearing the invitation with the White House. While I take it at face value that Netanyahu has no respect for Obama and is happy to publicly humiliate him, and that for his part Obama resents and loathes Netanyahu, it is interesting that State Department and National Security Council officials promptly point out all of the updating that is actually going on. According to the article, a senior State Department official said:

“Conversations continue with Israel on the Iran nuclear negotiations. Under Secretary Sherman met with Israeli NSA Cohen and Minister for Intelligence and Strategic Planning [Yuval] Steinitz in Munich and will see NSA Cohen again this week (the Iran negotiations were obviously the main topic of conversation). And Secretary [John] Kerry continues his conversations with Prime Minister Netanyahu about this issue, as has always been the case.”

Well, that will let me sleep easier! For those of you unfamiliar with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, she is the grey haired Jewish lady in the photo below. She is the boss of Jewish Assistant Secretary of State for Screwing European Affairs Victoria Nuland and is the third highest ranking official at the State Department, under Jewish Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken and half-Jewish Secretary of State John Kerry. (Kerry thus brings ethnic “diversity” to the State Department leadership.) During the Clinton Administration, Sherman was an advisor to Jewish Secretary of State Madeline “a half million dead Iraqi kids is worth it” Albright. 

Seated next to Sherman in the picture below is Treasury Undersecretary For Terrorism And Financial Intelligence David Cohen, whom the Jewish Daily Forward describes as America’s “sanctions guru.” At the Treasury Department, Cohen reports to Jewish Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Sarah Bloom Raskin, Treasury’s number two under Jewish Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew. You really have to admire the spirit of public services of these Jews leaders of State and Treasury, who govern us to we will have more time to work at Starbucks and watch Hollywood movies. Thanks, hard-working Jewish leaders!

(News flash: Last week David Cohen got promoted to Deputy Director of the CIA. I guess all his hard work sanctioning Iran is really paying off!)

 Anyway, here is the story from the Times of Israel: 

Washington’s chief negotiator reportedly says information is being used for political ends; Israel, State Department deny claims US to stop updating Israel on Iran nuclear talks — TV report