A clandestine undertaking on behalf of Israel, the Jets and the Jews.

 
A.M. Rosenthal

Longtime New York Times editor and columnist A.M. Rosenthal died today.

During his tenure as columnist in the latter part of his career, Rosenthal was a fierce defender of Israel. Since he and William Safire left the Times op-ed page, it has become heavily stacked against Israel.

Rosenthal was not afraid to be politically incorrect. Indeed, the most honorable aspect of his very distinguished career will be his outspoken opposition to the Oslo process and to Yasser Arafat, at a time when the Clinton Administration treated Arafat as a world leader and a heroic crusader for peace.

In a memorable 1995 column, Rosenthal asked:

Why has terrorism against Israelis exploded since the signing of peace principles between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on the White House lawn on Sept. 13, 1993?

Rosenthal explained the then Israeli government's response:

Mind your own business.

Only Israel, said Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin, would decide whether Mr. Arafat was in compliance with [his] commitments, not Americans or anybody else...

Mr. Beilin is highly intelligent but cannot understand why, when he says just trust me, everybody does not sit down and shut up.

May the memory - and legacy of support for Israel - of A.M. Rosenthal - be a blessing.
posted on 5/10/2006