Now comes word from Tehran that the Iranians are rejecting the much-touted plan of two weeks ago to ship their low-enriched uranium out of the country, primarily to Russia, to be highly enriched and then sent back to Iran to be used only for “peaceful purposes.” When this tentative deal was announced, there was much ballyhooing: President Obama has done it! He’s flipped an enemy into a deal-making partner!
Americans have now been made unequivocally aware that the Tribeca Film Festival doesn’t have a problem with its newest outpost in Qatar refusing to allow Israeli passport holders into their country; nor does it seem to care that Israeli films are banned along with all Israeli products. Co-directors Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal have joined with a former intern, Sheikha Mayassa, daughter of the ruling family of Qatar to inaugurate the Doha Tribeca Film Festival which will open this week. Several months ago, the Sony Ericsson WTA (tennis) chose to play in Dubai where Shahar Pe’er, an Israeli athlete, was forbidden entry. The tournament went on despite this act of blatant discrimination. It wasn’t until Andy Roddick had the integrity to resign that Dubai was fined, Ms. Pe’er was compensated both financially and in her ranking and the WTA insisted that Dubai must admit Israelis in order to retain a spot on future WTA calendars.
