Thomas L. Friedman: Condescending Israel-First Columnist

"The New York Times" columnist Thomas L. Friedman was at his best today. When he pushes Israel's interests over American interests, that is when his writing comes easiest. Todays " Many Plans, No News" was classic Friedman. He relies on no memory or a short memory for his gentile readers. And there is always his continued Jewish regular readers who largely support Israel.

Today Tom was bemoaning the Bush Administration's abandonment of the 1997 " Clinton plan" as basis for an Israeli/Palestinian peace plan. First of all, Bill Clinton never had an original idea about anything. The "plan" was largely composed by his Middle East negotiator Dennis Ross who might pass for an Israeli operative. The "plan" provisions included these Palestinian non-starters: the new Palestinian state was largely not connected, a non-contiguous gerrymander of a partial historic Palestine; the " right of return" to Palestinian refugees was limited ; illegal Israeli settlements around Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were to remain in place; the " shared capitol of Jerusalem" was effectively denied because of the illegal settlements that would be allowed to stay. What's more, Ariel Sharon vowed that if he were elected he would not honor the " Clinton plan". Sharon was elected in 2001 and succeeded by an equally radical right-wing Ehud Olmert.

Mr. Friedman shows a disrespect and low esteem for the readers of the country that he calls home. I only read him to find out by deductive analysis what Israel would have America believe.