If anti-Semitism is on the way out on in Saudi schools, it’s alive and well on progressive social-media feeds. Dave Rich notes a graphic making the rounds on the Internet that shows a Venn diagram beneath the words “Palestine is not a single issue. Palestine is the issue.” To illustrate this point, the various circles of the Venn diagram, which represent “patriarchy,” “capitalism,” and so forth, all overlap at “Palestine.” Rich comments:

In practical terms this is obviously nonsense. There is no meaningful, concrete way in which Palestine connects toxic masculinity with the environment, or misogyny with capitalism. . . . But that isn’t the point. This [image] isn’t meant to be a serious analysis of the relationships between any of these things. It is just designed to sell a simple, and very old, idea: that the Jews stand between humanity and utopia.

Anti-Semitism has always been much more than a one-dimensional prejudice towards people who look, pray, eat, and speak differently. Instead, it is an all-encompassing way of interpreting and explaining the world, a cosmic guide to uncovering the forces of evil that pollute humanity’s moral relationships.

Rich notes how similar this image is to another circulated by devotees of the extreme right. Yet he expresses a naïve hope that these progressive anti-Semites might change their tune by “educating themselves and their followers about the long and varied traditions of anti-Semitic thought.” My suspicion is that such education would only lead them to appreciate the ideas of past anti-Semites.

In 2003, the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, spooked by the American display of might in Iraq, decided to destroy or surrender his entire nuclear program. Informed observers have suggested that the deal he made with the U.S. should serve as a model for any agreement with Iran. Robert Joseph provides some useful background:

Gaddafi had convinced himself that Libya would be next on the U.S. target list after Iraq. There was no reason or need to threaten Libya with bombing as Gaddafi was quick to tell almost every visitor that he did not want to be Saddam Hussein. The images of Saddam being pulled from his spider hole . . . played on his mind.

President Bush’s goal was to have Libya serve as an alternative model to Iraq. Instead of war, proliferators would give up their nuclear programs in exchange for relief from economic and political sanctions.

Any outcome that permits Iran to enrich uranium at any level will fail the one standard that President Trump has established: Iran will not be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. Limiting enrichment even to low levels will allow Iran to break out of the agreement at any time, no matter what the agreement says.

Iran is not a normal government that observes the rules of international behavior or fair “dealmaking.” This is a regime that relies on regional terror and brutal repression of its citizens to stay in power. It has a long history of using negotiations to expand its nuclear program. Its negotiating tactics are clear: extend the negotiations as long as possible and meet any concession with more demands.