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Hypocritical homage to Raisi, while ICC points finger at Netanyahu

“Top Story” with Jonathan Tobin and guest Richard Goldberg, Ep. 142

In this episode of “Top Story,” JNS editor-in-chief Jonathan Tobin points out how the world is paying homage to the memory of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who was killed in a helicopter crash on May 19 along with other senior officials from Iran. Of course, the messages of condolence for Iran are just diplomatic protocol.

Still, the immorality of even pretending to mourn for the man who had a well-earned reputation as the “Butcher of Tehran” and the head of a government that is the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism while much of the international community is working overtime to demonize Israel is more than outrageous or an example of double standards. It’s a commentary on the way acceptance of Islamist terror and antisemitism have been normalized in international discourse.

At the same time, few seemed to protest the announcement that the International Criminal Court is preparing to indict Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on bogus charges of war crimes. And that tells you everything you need to know about the moral compass of the diplomats and organizations who make up the international community.

Tobin is then joined by Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. From 2019 to 2020, he served as the director for countering Iranian weapons of mass destruction for the White House National Security Council. He previously served as chief of staff for Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and deputy chief of staff and senior foreign-policy adviser to former U.S. Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois in both the U.S. House and Senate.

The two discuss where Iran is headed, especially as it frantically seeks to make a nuclear bomb. Goldberg offers sage words about the Iranian populace and future, in addition to the present conditions of the ICC and United Nations, which are contributing to a world turning on its head right now.

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Jonathan S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS, a columnist for Newsweek and a contributor to other publications. He covers the American political scene, foreign policy, the U.S.-Israel relationship, Middle East diplomacy, the Jewish world and the arts. He hosts the JNS “Think Twice” podcast, both the weekly video program and the “Jonathan Tobin Daily” program, available on all major audio platforms and on YouTube. Previously, he was executive editor, then senior online editor and chief political blogger, for Commentary magazine. Before that, he was editor-in-chief of The Jewish Exponent in Philadelphia and editor of the Connecticut Jewish Ledger. He has won 60-plus awards for his columns, commentary, art criticism and other writing. He appears regularly on television, commenting on politics and foreign policy. Born in New York City, he studied history at Columbia University.
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