Wash Post: Don’t just be tough on Israel
The Washington Post editorializes Thursday that President Obama has been "guilty of missteps" in his "absolutist demand" for an Israeli settlement freeze, and that the policy appears to be backfiring. The editorial, entitled "Tough on Israel: Why President Obama's battle against Jewish settlements could prove self-defeating," notes that "only one country has worse relations with the United States than it did in January: Israel."
The editorial says that Obama did need to "build credibility with Arab governments" when he entered office, but has gone about it the wrong way:
Rather than pocketing Mr. Netanyahu's initial concessions -- he gave a speech on Palestinian statehood and suggested parameters for curtailing settlements accepted by previous U.S. administrations -- Mr. Obama chose to insist on an absolutist demand for a settlement "freeze." Palestinian and Arab leaders who had accepted previous compromises immediately hardened their positions; they also balked at delivering the "confidence-building" concessions to Israel that the administration seeks. Israeli public opinion, which normally leans against the settler movement, has rallied behind Mr. Netanyahu. And Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, which were active during the Bush administration's final year, have yet to resume.
U.S. and Israeli officials are working on a compromise that would allow Israel to complete some housing now under construction while freezing new starts for a defined period. Arab states would be expected to take steps in return. Such a deal will expose Mr. Obama to criticism in the Arab world -- a public relations hit that he could have avoided had he not escalated the settlements dispute in the first place. At worst, the president may find himself diminished among both Israelis and Arabs before discussions even begin on the issues on which U.S. clout is most needed. If he is to be effective in brokering a peace deal, Mr. Obama will need to show both sides that they can trust him -- and he must be tough on more than one country.
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Oh, please. He’s no where near tough enough. He needs to cut off the $$$ and stop just asking them to stop the settlements. Obama has no more backbone than Bush when it comes to Israel and its crooked ways.
TO: Perotti and Disgusting
How’s it feel to be hopelessly in the sack with the bloodthirsty, corrupt, genocidal Pali terrorists? Do you get money from the Palis for posting your filth or do you do it simply because you hate Israel and the Jews?
Disgusted, this is for you, even though you probably think that Jews are far too influential and disloyal to America and that Obama is much too soft on Israel
Confused and Fearful Jews of America
Prof. Paul Eidelberg
Jews in Israel are appalled by the confused state of Jews in America. How could almost 80 percent vote for Barack Obama, a man who, for two decades, attended the church of Jew-hating preacher—to say nothing of Obama’s pro-Muslim attitude? If this were not enough, how could so many Jews vote for a candidate lacking notable legislative accomplishments and executive experience?
True, a large majority of American Jews have been voting for the Democratic Party for more than seven decades. Is this symptomatic of a herd mentality? In contrast, one poll indicated that only five percent of Israeli Jews supported Obama. Can it be that the atmosphere of Eretz Israel makes one wiser? If so, does this apply to Israeli politicians? Socrates identified wisdom with virtue. Hmmmm?
Polls show that 80 to 90 percent of the Jews in this country deem Israel’s government corrupt. Even the approval rating of the Supreme Court has fallen below 50 percent. This data is more significant in view of the fact that Israel’s media have ever been dominated by the Left, which former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak calls Israel’s “enlightened population.” Can it be that the mentality of Israel’s “enlightened population” has much in common with the herd mentality of the American Jews who voted for Obama?
Still, six decades of leftist propaganda cannot but erode the intelligence of many Jews in Israel—more so given the deplorable level of Jewish education in the public schools. Perhaps the most revealing evidence of public confusion the State of Israel appeared in a Dahaf poll of 9 August 2002, when Ariel Sharon was prime minister.
Asked, “Is Ariel Sharon a reliable prime minister?” — 63% of Israelis said Yes. Asked, “Do you count on Sharon to successfully lead the nation?” — 57% said Yes. Asked, “What grade do you give to the performance of Sharon as prime minister?” — 63% said “GOOD.”
Yet, when asked, “Does Sharon have a diplomatic program?” — only 36% said Yes, while 55% said No!
To further illustrate the public’s confused state of mind, when asked “Does the Sharon Government know how to wipe out terrorism?” — only 36% said Yes, while 60% said No!
Confronted by the question, “Since the establishment of the Sharon Government, who has been winning the struggle?” — 30% said Israel, 33% said the Palestinians, while 33% said Neither!
Surely one may conclude from the answers to these questions that (1) Sharon was NOT a reliable prime minister; (2) he COULD NOT be counted upon to successfully lead the nation; and (3) his performance as prime minister was BAD!
To clinch the point, when asked, “Will the frequency of terror attacks change in the near future?” — 67% said it will INCREASE! And when asked, “Do you fear being hurt in a terror attack?” – 77% said Yes!
What can explain this paradoxical (and ludicrous) data? How could the same people have such a positive view of Sharon as a prime minister and yet have such a negative assessment of his record on the all-important issue of Arab terrorism? How could they grade his performance as prime minister as “GOOD” and yet anticipate an INCREASE in terror attacks?
Perhaps because most Israelis believe that Arab terror is inevitable, and that they knew of no one who could do better than Sharon in preventing it?
Probing deeper, however, their pessimism regarding Arab terror, and therefore, their positive view of Sharon, can be explained as the result of many years of brainwashing. For the public has in fact been indoctrinated to believe there is no military solution to the terrorist problem. (Yet there are military experts who reject this negative attitude.)
But there is still a deeper level of public confusion in Israel. Underlying the denial of a military solution to Arab terrorism is the denial that there is any solution to the “Palestinian problem.” The public has been given to believe that the Arabs residing in Judea and Samaria (and Gaza) can neither be pacified nor expelled. This is why Sharon, in 2003, supported the establishment of a Palestinian state—now the unambiguous position of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
But thanks to Israel’s ruling elites, there is still a deeper level of public confusion. At the root of this confusion is the inability of these elites to take Islam seriously. The truth is that the disciples of Muhammad have a single goal: to destroy Israel. The so-called two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a lethal denial of this truth.
But this means that the state of confusion that has long prevailed in Israel, and the fearfulness of Jews on Tisha B’Av, may be attributed, in no small measure, to the mendacity and timidity of Israel’s ruling elites.
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Perotti:
When was the last time you have taken a good look at the map of the region?
Who is occupying whom?
Why is Israel occupying just a sliver on the eastern Mediterranean shore when so much more was allocated to the Jews by history, the British, the Balfour Declaration, the League of Nations, etc., etc.?
Has Israel got all the Arabs surrounded yet?
Will you be satisfied when these “aggressive Israelis” have finally withdrawn to the Tel Aviv beach?
Two miles into the Med?
Aside to N. Shuster:
It is an obscene waste of time and intelligence to try and dialogue with congenital Jew/Israel haters. Save your breath with these two.
i am an argentine jew, so i can be politically incorrect with your government.
how could a jew vote for someone whose second name is hussein? and hillary is not much better.
all the bootlicking during the pre-election was that - regrettably so - the need for the campaign money.
let’s hope someone opens obama’s eyes before it’s too late for all concerned. and i mean not only israel and the usa, but the rest of the world also
marlis adler
Unfortunately, it’s not realistic to expect B. Hussein to open his eyes as long as the vast majority of American Jews kvell at the feet of their “black messiah”. You ask, how could a Jew vote for someone whose middle name is Hussein? How could a self-respecting Jew vote for someone who steadfastly refused (and refuses) to repudiate and distance himself from the gaggle of Israelophobes surrounding him?
Obama is obviously catering to the Arab world. It was a mistake for American Jews to support him. I agree with the Washington Post editorial that pressure can’t just be on Israel. The Palestinian Arabs are responsible for the conflict between Jews and Arabs - ever since their Nazi leader Hajj amin el-Husseini launched the communal massacres in 1921 and contined them against the Jews in Palestine until 1937. When will these violent people ever learn? And when will successive US Administrations since the time of Eisenhower stop pushing Israel around? i am sick and tired of this American bullying of tiny Israel.
How could Jews vote for,etc...?
Fact is that they voted…
Based on the history of Democrat administration,how can a Jew who respect himself vote for the Democrat party.
But since money talks....they go there…
They voted for F.D.R and glorified the one who DENIED ENTRY TO THE USA TO JEWISH REFUGEES WHO RAN AWAY FROM HITLER.HE AUTHORISED DOING NOTHING TO STOP THE EXTERMINATION OF JEWS…
They hailed Truman as a friend of Israel ,WHEN THE TRUTH IS THAT HE SET AN EMBARGO ON ANY MILITARY HELP TO THE NEWLY BORN STATE,WHEN IT WAS ATTACKED BY 7 ARMIES.It was thanks to Chechoslovakia that Israel equipped itself with its urgent needs....
And what help did Israel get from the glorified J.F.K.? A few Hawk missiles…
LBJ was a REAL FRIEND OF ISRAEL in tme of need,when France stabbed Israel in its back and issued an Embargo...But Israel took revenge in De-Gaulle...One night,when he snored through his torpedo shaped nose,Israelis smuggled all the Torpedo ships that they paid for and brought safely to Israel…
The brother of the drunk Billy Carter certainly did not like Jews and his past and present “contributions” need no elaboration.He was a Democrat…
The lovable Clintons?Their love to Israel was demonstrated by the Arm-Twisting by Billy of Ehud Barak and enticing him to sell the West Bank and Jerusalem in a Fire Sale to Arafat.Lucky us- Arafat refused the sale and ehud Barak sent to pasture for a few years.
And Hillary,the “inevitable” President whom Obama beat,we remember her joint appearance with Souha Arafat…
Barak Hussein Obama flanked by his 2 Jewish Luckies cannot be expected to come from a different mold.
SO WHY ARE JEWS VOTING DEMOCRAT?
Just wait and see…
When all these wonderful aging Jews will discover their Wonderkind’s Health Bill that sentences them for no help when THEY need it...When they realise that the Wonderkind is taking Medicare away from them,then they may change their minds in the poll...if they will be able to get to the polls.
What a shame!
Jews voting Democrat…
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Fabrizio Perotti
07/30/09 04:15 PM
So, a US president asks Israel to stop settlements in Palestinean territory and he’s being too hard? When do you guys stop to have a hard look at yourselves?