This is whom Obama and his ilk consider Israel’s “peace partner:”

… Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas declared that the PA would fulfill its commitments, with special focus on stopping incitement [of violence against Israelis]. …

However, the first four months, May-August, brought no changes in the quality of the messages being transmitted from the Palestinian Authority and Fatah to Palestinians. An examination of the Palestinian leaders’ statements, official media, children’s programs and PA and Fatah-controlled events reveals the following: The conditions, principles and expectations set by the US and the Quartet for accepting the Palestinian Authority as a partner in the peace process continue to be violated by the Palestinian Authority.

Contrary to the PA’s moderate statements to the West, its statements to its people in Arabic continue to delegitimize Israel’s existence, deny Israel’s right to exist, define the conflict with Israel in religious terms, promote hatred through demonization and libels, and glorify terror and violence …

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by Steven J. Rosen*

In the early 1980s, there was a palpable concern among staffers at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) of the looming rise of an Arab-American lobby aimed at challenging the pro-Israel community. The National Association of Arab-Americans (NAAA), founded in 1972, was at a high point, and in 1980, former U.S. senator James Abourezk established the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC). In 1985, James Zogby added the Arab American Institute. Some pundits predicted that AIPAC had finally met its match, and a few of AIPAC’s own top supporters were alarmed. The Arab-American lobby looked as if it was on an upward trajectory.

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By Barry Rubin

What effect will the congressional elections have on U.S. foreign policy generally and Middle East policy in particular?

It isn’t a matter of the individual candidates, since nobody lost or won who will have some big influence on U.S. policy in the next couple of years. The important factor is to what extent the White House hears the message being delivered by the electorate, which of course is largely concerned with domestic issues. Even, by itself, will a Republican majority in the House of Representatives force any shift since the White House really does control foreign policy?

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by Daniel Huff*

Court documents filed last week reveal Islamic extremists have obtained personal contact information on members of the defiant Facebook group “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day.” Zachary Chesser, who provided the information, pled guilty to “communicating threats” and renounced jihad, but the damage was done. Prosecutors say he “seriously endangered the lives of innocent people who will remain at risk for many years to come.”

This lasting effect makes it all the more frustrating that authorities did not charge him sooner. He had made very similar threats against the producers of South Park weeks before. The case highlights the urgent need for better legal tools to protect free speech from extremist intimidation.

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By Fern Sidman

While most political and religious organizations and assorted worthwhile charities generally select such venues as tony hotel ballrooms or lavish catering halls to hold their fundraising events, The Hebron Fund has announced that it will be breaking with this tradition as they prepare to host their annual dinner in New York City on Tuesday evening, November 16th. In a symbolic departure from past rituals, this year’s dinner attendees will be feasting on a sumptuous smorgasbord and listening to inspirational speeches while cruising around the island of Manhattan on a ship that can hold up to 1000 people.

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Now that Republicans have taken the House and strengthened their hand in the Senate, will they deliver what voters want — good, common sense centrist legislation — or will they pursue an extremist agenda just like the Democrats did in 2008? Hello? Is anyone in Washington listening? But the plot thickens, and the politics of the next 2 years will hinge on three yet too-close-to-call Senate races:

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By Barry Rubin

If you think I’m exaggerating about the current administration’s cluelessness toward the Middle East just read the State Department daily press conference transcripts. Even journalists covering these events are often shocked by what they hear.

Today’s topic is Syria, but it’s just an example and many others could be found. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley begins by referring to a speech by U.S. Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice in which she says:

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by Daniel Pipes*

A new German political party, Die Freiheit (The Freedom), had its inaugural meeting on October 28 in Berlin. I was in town, so its leadership invited me to be the only non-member of the nascent party to witness and report on its founding constituent assembly.

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One of President Obama’s 2008 campaign promises was to reach out to and work with Republicans. That obviously never happened as he’s now back-peddling on calling some American citizens — Republicans — the “enemies” of Latino voters. Doi, Mr. Obama, but most of the Republicans I’m voting for are Hispanic/Latino.

A day before the pivotal midterm elections, President Barack Obama pulled back from remarks he made last month when he called on Latino voters to punish their “enemies” on Election Day. In an interview Monday with radio host Michael Baisden, Obama said he should have used the word “opponents” instead of enemies. …

Republicans were quick to criticize the president’s remarks. House Minority Leader John Boehner was expected to use Obama’s words in an election eve speech in Ohio to paint the president as a staunch partisan.

“Sadly, we have a president who uses the word ‘enemy’ for fellow Americans, fellow citizens. He used it for people who disagree with his agenda of bigger government,” Boehner said, according to prepared remarks released in advance of his speech.

Obama’s original comments came during an interview with Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo, a Hispanic radio personality. Piolin questioned how Obama could ask Latinos for their vote when many don’t believe he’s worked hard to pass comprehensive immigration reform.

Obama responded: “If Latinos sit out the election instead of saying, ‘We’re gonna punish our enemies and we’re gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us,’ if they don’t see that kind of upsurge in voting in this election, then I think it’s gonna be harder.” …

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From an article in the POLITICO entitled, “The twilight of Harry Reid?:”

… Asked how he could be so confident when polls have consistently shown his opponent ahead for weeks, Reid’s frayed nerves came to the surface. “I’m not going to get into this poll stuff, OK?” he snapped, pale eyes flashing. “We’re satisfied where we are. We’re fine, OK? So, I’m not going to get into polling with you. All you have to do is look at early voting.” …

Poor Harry and his frayed nerves.

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Of course, I’m being facetious when I say, “Dark Side.” Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid have done so much damage in 2 years that Democrats are sick and tired of their own party, as well as incumbents in general. Time for the “change” to be changed:

Republican Susana Martinez had a double-digit lead over Democratic Lt. Gov. Diane Denish heading into New Mexico’s gubernatorial election Tuesday, a new Journal Poll found.

Martinez’s lead had widened to 10 percentage points compared with the last poll, in late September, when she had a six-point lead.

One of the reasons for Martinez’s lead was that one-fourth of Democrats surveyed crossed over and said they would vote for her. …

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