Israel Braces for Clash with White House
Ensuring a non-nuclear Iran is Israel's main priority, but for the Obama administration, Palestinian statehood is at the top of the agenda. (Also read Roger L. Simon: Thoughts on the Middle East Chess Game.)
With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slated to meet with President Barack Obama in Washington on May 18, there are growing signs that the U.S. administration is making Palestinian statehood — even at a time when Gaza is ruled by Hamas and the West Bank is ruled by something other than enlightened democrats — a central goal that is supposed to enable another major goal.
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told a closed forum of the America Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) donors that “the ability to confront Iran depended on the ability to make progress on the Palestinian front.” National Security Adviser James Jones reportedly told a European foreign minister last week that, “The new administration will convince Israel to compromise on the Palestinian question. We will not push Israel under the wheels of a bus, but we will be more forceful toward Israel than we have been under Bush.”
Aware of the ominous currents, this week Netanyahu sent President Shimon Peres to the U.S. to try and calm the waters. Traditionally, Netanyahu and Peres have been fierce political and ideological opponents. Netanyahu claims Peres’s peace enthusiasms were unwarranted, given Palestinian attitudes and conduct. So the duo’s current cooperation is tinged with the surreal — and is a sure sign that times have changed.
Indeed, in his speech to AIPAC on Monday, Peres was dramatically conciliatory. He praised the Arab League’s peace plan, which calls for a total Israeli retreat and the flooding of what’s left of Israel with Palestinian “refugees.” He said, “We trust the leadership of President Obama. … [H]e will pave the way to both a regional agreement and meaningful bilateral negotiations.” He added that Netanyahu “wants to make history. … I am sure that peace is his real and profound priority.” However, amid the celebration of harmony and progress, Peres sounded a sole cautionary note about Iran, “whose fanatic rulers … are on the wrong side of history.”
Netanyahu, in his own satellite address to AIPAC Monday evening, was only relatively more restrained. He said, “We want peace with the Arab world … [and] with the Palestinians.” However he added the caveats that “Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons” and “the Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state,” something Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas contemptuously refused to do only last week. It was Peres as good cop and Netanyahu as only slightly more stern cop, aimed at projecting a compliant, peace-seeking Israel that is not, however, at peace about Iran.
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P. David Hornik is a freelance writer and translator living in Tel Aviv. He blogs at http://pdavidhornik.typepad.com/
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41 Comments
1. joeblough:Obama’s solidly in the tank for the arabs.
Pure and simple.
Israel is on it’s own.
This is going to be Dhimmi Kharter on steroids — all arabs all the time.
Besides, Obambi is deathly afraid of using American military power, especially against a mohamedan country.
Israel is on it’s own.
Obama is playing for the other side.
May 6, 2009 - 2:23 am 2. dmgold:In the end it will have to be the American people or a very frightened CIA/US military that put an end to this OBAMADNESS. Obama and his band of cherry (mostly lesbian and extreme left wing self hating Jews) advisors seem hell bent on challenging American relevance in the world today. We have a moralising president willing to break bread with any and every despot in the world. The more despotic the more intensity to interact. At the same time this OBAMADNESS is not only holding at arms length American allies, but publicly spitting in their faces. Israel, India, Georgia, Poland, Check’s, Japan, Canada, Columbia (finally defeated the FARC and Obamamadness will ensure that they rise up again) and now even the Australians dont see a bright future with the change being brought about by OBAMADNESS.
May 6, 2009 - 2:37 am 3. WhyamInotsurprised?:The OBAMAMADNESS REGIME and its Democrat supporters are quickly building a barrier of huge proportions between the DEMOCRATIC FREE WORLD and the USA. TRUST TRUST TRUST WE CAN NO LONGER BELIEVE IN. In Israel today Israelis are really scared of the Democrats.
Obama has managed to misread almost every situation on the planet including Israels willingness to commit national suicide. If Obama pushes too hard, he wont bring peace because it isnt there to be brought. What he will bring is a feeling of deep mistrust towards the USA. What OBAMAMADNESS has in fact done in its attempt to win over the world and rebrand the USA in the eyes of Islamists, Liberals, Communists and Anarchists. It has created a new order where EVERYONE HATES AND MISTRUSTS THE GOOD OLD USA.
Anyone with common sense would understand that the Iranians don’t give a hoot for Palestinians except as it serves their own purposes … regional domination. That also means controlling a hugh source of the “world’s” oil supply. I’m sure when that happens, “The One” will high five A’jad as they both think America needs to be brought down a few pegs.
No oil from the middle east and no domestic supplies will give BHO the “mandate” for clean energy as he sees it. Maybe instead of a teleprompter we can have a wind mill put up in front of him so his hot air can produce something for Americans. Needless to say, Israel will be just collateral damage to these clowns in achieving their goals.
God bless America, Long Live Israel!
May 6, 2009 - 3:05 am 4. WhyamInotsurprised?:Anyone with common sense would understand that the Iranians don’t give a hoot for Palestinians except as it serves their own purposes … regional domination. That also means controlling a hugh source of the “world’s” oil supply. I’m sure when that happens, “The One” will high five A’jad as they both think America needs to be brought down a few pegs.
No oil from the middle east and no domestic supplies will give BHO the “mandate” for clean energy as he sees it. Maybe instead of a teleprompter we can have a wind mill put up in front of him so his hot air can produce something for Americans. Needless to say, Israel will be just collateral damage to these clowns in achieving their goals.
God bless America, Long Live Israel!
May 6, 2009 - 3:54 am 5. Tomp:P.S. – Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!
Israel is going to learn in a hurry that being a friend of the US is dangerous territory. Enemies fair much better.
May 6, 2009 - 4:55 am 6. TomJW:Not push Isreal under the bus? Given what’s already under Obama’s bus he would need a heavy bulldozer to get anything more under there. He is just the person to do it too.
May 6, 2009 - 6:04 am 7. anton:A quick review of the “Peace Process” will show that the Israelis have done all the compromising. The Pallys suspend terror attacks from time to time, but that is it.
As I have said before, Obama is backing the Israelis into a corner and it serves his purposes on two fronts; The Israelis take out Iranian nuke capability ( tsk tsak , such unilateralism) and the price of oil skyrockets thus pushing his alternative/green energy nonsense.
And Obama walks away without having to get his hands dirty.
May 6, 2009 - 6:08 am 8. Joel:That Peres and Netanyahu are now working in unison to try and ward off a clash with the U.S. is a sign of the across-the-board perception in Israel of the Iranian danger, transcending the Right-Left split. It’s actually an ominous thing because it means the perception of danger is that strong.
May 6, 2009 - 6:18 am 9. Jack Mullockheap:Some very interesting comments in the first three posts. One can look at the situation as it exists at this time and agree with:
“Israel is on its own” and “Obambi is deathly afraid of using American military power, especially against a moham[m]edan country;”
” … cherry (mostly lesbian and extreme left wing self hating Jews) advisors … ” I didn’t know that. However, in looking at Obama’s selections in filling major posts in and around the White House, one could say that this statement is not that far off the mark, if not spot on.
I would say that there is more truth in the following two part-quoted statements than most concerned people would realise: ” … and now even the Australians dont see a bright future with the change being brought about by OBAMADNESS.” ” … military th[at] [the] CIA/US [will] put an end to this OBAMADNESS.” As an Australian and having worked with the CIA (as an aside from my advisory role under MACV) during the Vietnam years, I tend to keep alive the contacts I made during that time. The signals that I am getting from my own analysis and from aforementioned contacts is that Australia (directly after Prime Minister Rudd’s meeting with Obama (of which, very little was released in the press) and subsequently, the Australian government approved the largest increase in Australia’s defence budget since the second world war). I doubt very much if Australia would have done this if Obama had promised to continue our good relationship and cooperation with the US. Remember, the most populous Islamic nation is directly North of Australia and they don’t like us (the feeling is mutual of course). My contacts have on more than one occasion mentioned that if Obama continues to push/reduce/embarrass the military and the United States intelligence community, then there will be moves to destabilise his presidency. Me thinks that we are in for some very interesting and unparalleled times in US and World affairs – coming shortly!
In addition:
“God bless America, Long Live Israel!” … And If we profess to being Christians and follow both testaments, we are commanded to PRAY FOR ISRAEL every day. Mohammed has forgotten what is contained in the Bible or just can’t come to grips with knowing that ‘Now that God has returned Israel to the Jews, no earthly force will ever be able to take it away from them’. I’m backing Israel.
May 6, 2009 - 6:22 am 10. Well said!:great analysis
May 6, 2009 - 6:59 am 11. AThinkingPerson:#1 joeblough: Have to agree with your post but would like to add on to your first sublime statement…
Obama is in the tank for Arabs AND Communists.
May 6, 2009 - 7:13 am 12. uburoisc:OK, I didn’t want to say it, but I’m going to: shame on all of the Jews in the United States for whom Israel matters who voted for this moron. You knew (or should have known) That Obama and his circle of advisors were not going to support Israel, except to muscle Israel into signing suicidal “peace” pacts that only serve Obama’s public relations ambitions. Now you must act and act fast before Israel is forced to commit to some agreement that ends up getting all the Jews in Israel killed. Thankfully, Netanyahu (I drank myself silly in celebration when he won) isn’t going to play ball, so when Barry goes on television to say the Netayahu is the obstacle to peace, that’s when every man and woman in America needs to step up and defend Netanyahu and place the blame where it belongs, on the murderous hatred of the Arabs. Alan Dershowitz, you lead the charge.
May 6, 2009 - 7:17 am 13. Joe Bison:Remember what the Democrats did to South
Vietnam after the “Peace Treaty”. In this
case however there never will be a real
peace treaty with the Palestinians. This
is just a ruse the Palestinians use to
get sympathy from fools.
If a street gang in L.A. wanted statehood,
May 6, 2009 - 7:27 am 14. Norri Hall:being representative of an ethnic group,
would you give it to them?
There can be no compromises with Palestinians.
May 6, 2009 - 8:15 am 15. Professor Guvinoff:God gave the land of Israel. It is written in the Bible.
A two state solution would be a violation of God’s word and his plans for his people.
The only solution is for Arabs to move to Arab lands.
There’s plenty of places they can live besides Israel.
Israel should be a Jewish state and it cannot fulfill its destiny if Arab are allowed to live there.
The new Israeli government is taking a more hardline view. A rejection of the two state solution that has been constantly supported by misguided governments along the way.
One cannot ignore the will of God.
The Jews are the chosen people.
Any attempt to divide their God given land is an abomination and insult to God.
What kind of meeting is that? Obama defending his narrative and Netanyahu defending his people. Certainly not a meeting of the minds!
The creation of Israel was all about never again being thrown under the bus. Now, a green US president choses to elevate the arabs and push Israel in the lion’s mouth. He has no idea what he is up against.
May 6, 2009 - 8:25 am 16. Paul -Indiana:Does anyone remember that the Useless Nations defined a Palestinian State along with the Jewish State in 1948? The Arabs wouldn’t accept it then and won’t accept it now.
May 6, 2009 - 8:42 am 17. typos_R_us:Paul, that Palestinian state was named Jordan.
May 6, 2009 - 9:19 am 18. njcommuter:The only peace available between the Arabs and Jews is the peace of the grave. The Left ignores this little bit of reality because it has such a high anti-PC level.
Israel and her nukes stand in the way of Iran, and they have stood in the way of the Arab states as well. As the Arab states slowly accept this, we are seeing hope for some kind of peace with them. But Iran doesn’t border Israel and is driven by its fanatical leaders.
The people of the middle east need Israel and her nukes, and insofar as the USA has a vital interest in middle-east oil, it also needs Israel and her nukes.
May 6, 2009 - 10:32 am 19. MiamaMan:The only chance Israel has now is to force Iran’s and Obama’s hands, and attack Iran right away to destroy as much as their nuclear capabilities as possible. That will put Obama in 3 and 2.
Then Iran will retaliate harshly, and Israel MUST NUKE THEM. Yes, with atomic bombs.
Otherwise, let the Jews in that area start packing their belongings to leave the neighborhood once again. Iran is slowly preparing another Shoa for them.
Obama’s administration is CLEARLY against Israel. It is plagued by hardcore liberal anti-Israel Jews, the likes of Noam Chomsky, here represented by Rahm Emanuel and the eminence grey behind the throne, David Axelrod.
Israel is not totally on his own because of American public opinion is in his favor and the Christians too. Netanyahu and others, may not really realize how much they can influence American politics, to the point of greatly digestibility the Obama administration if they attack Iran, forcing a political showdown here in the US of great proportions.
It is because Obama knows that that he wants to prevent that attack, but Israel can’t afford not to do it.
May 6, 2009 - 10:43 am 20. David P:Myopic agenda’s have no filter, they’ll continue to push into area’s they don’t understand pressuring our closest ‘allies’ to fall in line or else.
If it were me, I’d settle for “or else,” the alternative has already proven inapplicable. Why adhere to the definition of insanity by replicating failure for the sake of an exclusive ideology who’s practicality extends no further then academia?
May 6, 2009 - 11:02 am 21. uburoisc:Yes, David, you are right, Israel should choose “or else” and call Barry’s bluff. Let the academics howl, they don’t matter anyway, and they’ve already committed to the Arabs.
If the US wants to force Israel, let the Israelis make money by selling high-tech weapons to the highest bidder for cash. I’m sure China could benefit from Israeli engineering.
May 6, 2009 - 11:46 am 22. naftali:The more I read about Obama’s Middle East Policy the more I know that this is going to backfire on him in some unforeseen way. Who knows, maybe one day we’ll be studying the Megillah P. David? But remember David, when you write it, be brief. And ironic, be very ironic. Looking forward to it.
May 6, 2009 - 1:55 pm 23. Leatherneck:Iran has been at war with the US, and Israel for the last 30 years. They support terrorism, and no telling what with old Hugo south of us.
We should put an end to the problem, but as long as CFR Jimmy Carter is in the White House, I think nothing will be done except talk.
G-d’s speed to Israel.
May 6, 2009 - 4:28 pm 24. BPT (Australia):This is why around 80percent of Jews should not have voted for Obama, the Neville Chamberain of our times. Remember World War II? Anti-Semites don’t need enablers, certainly not Jewish enablers. Sadly, it will be the Jewish children who will suffer the most. But Florida was warned.
May 6, 2009 - 4:59 pm 25. Jerry:History is a museum of events lining the walls of the tunnel of time. To understand Israel is to know that history informs the behavior and emotions of the Jewish people. For those who care to know, may I suggest a stunning review of a period almost 100 years ago, reviewed in today’s Jerusalem Post:
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1239710827940&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
May 6, 2009 - 6:16 pm 26. Blue Collar Todd:President Obama soaked up 20 years of Marxist Theology and anti-Semitism. Now Israel is going to suffer the consequences for the American people’s ignorance that ideas have consequences. We should also not forget that President Obama is getting advise from someone who thinks invading Israel could justified. America is doomed is it forsakes Israel.
May 6, 2009 - 7:57 pm 27. Cybergeezer:Netanyahu is not stupid enough to think that a coordinated attack of nukes from the nations that hate the U.S and Israel is possible and probable given the capacity of these nations and their allegiance to their common goals.
May 6, 2009 - 8:27 pm 28. diane:PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein: “The Palestinian people does not exist”
Way back on March 31, 1977, the Dutch newspaper Trouw published an interview with Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member Zahir Muhsein. Here’s what he said:
The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct “Palestinian people” to oppose Zionism.
For tactical reasons, Jordan, which is a sovereign state with defined borders, cannot raise claims to Haifa and Jaffa, while as a Palestinian, I can undoubtedly demand Haifa, Jaffa, Beer-Sheva and Jerusalem. However, the moment we reclaim our right to all of Palestine, we will not wait even a minute to unite Palestine and Jordan.
May 6, 2009 - 9:41 pm 29. fred:This Usurper is an abomination. His pride is spat right in the face of God. And he will be punished for this. So will those Jews who sold out their people and homeland.
I would advise Israel and Netanyahu to stand firm against my country. My country and a lot of its people have fallen for the ruse of this Communist abomination. If there is blowback because of what this evil man, the Usurper, has done, he will have to give an account for it before his Maker.
The blood of the innocent will cry out for vengeance. And they shall have it.
May 6, 2009 - 10:36 pm 30. dmgold:Doing the right thing is not standard job description for a President. Obama
views everything Politically (meaning whats good for moi)and as the pro Israel/ Zionist Jews are in decline both electorally and as political funders (thanks to madoff et al.)he feels little obligation to pay attention to their needs and whims. Sounds harsh but there you go.
Couple this with the revelation that a large number of US Democrats view Jews as responsible (35% +)for the latest eceonomic crisis and you can see why he is paying little attention to the front wheel skids (Yids).
May 7, 2009 - 3:23 am 31. Cybergeezer:Obambi thinks he can dictate to all U.S. allies to lay down their weapons and disarm like the U.S.
May 7, 2009 - 4:52 am 32. Cybergeezer:Yea, right; They’re not as dumb as he is.
Netanyahu is not stupid enough NOT to think that a coordinated attack of nukes from the nations that hate the U.S and Israel is possible and probable given the capacity of these nations and their allegiance to their common goals.
May 7, 2009 - 5:33 am 33. William:Serious typo!
If this keeps up, Israel may consider bombing Washington instead of Tehran.
May 7, 2009 - 6:52 am 34. naftali:Israel will just have to stand in the line with the rest of us.
May 7, 2009 - 10:16 am 35. DoubleTapper:Obama has been very clear as to his plans for the destruction of Israel.
Why is anyone surprised?
DoubleTapper
May 7, 2009 - 10:43 pm 36. Paul -Indiana:DoubleTapper@gmail.com
DoubleTapper, blogging on Guns Politics Defense from Israel
Are you still glad that you voted for obama?
May 8, 2009 - 5:01 am 37. Paul -Indiana:Re #17. This page from Wiki shows that Jordon was not the ‘Palestinian State’ defined by the UN.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1947_UN_Partition_Plan
Is it correct? WIKI can be off the mark.
May 8, 2009 - 10:18 am 38. Naftali:On the Middle East, Wiki just has to be checked and rechecked. But Jordan is indeed the Palestinian state. Remember, before the 1967 war, the West Bank was under the sovereignty of Jordan, Gaza belonged to Egypt. Israel was formed in the Jewish neighborhoods of TransJordan, and gained territory through victories in wars started by the Arabs.
May 8, 2009 - 12:25 pm 39. vivo:14. Norri Hall:
“There can be no compromises with Palestinians.
God gave the land of Israel. It is written in the Bible.
A two state solution would be a violation of God’s word and his plans for his people.”
You cannot use these arguments. God is man’s invention, so is the bible. The solution lies between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Any outer power is out of control, with the exception of the UN. If they want peace, they need to work it out. They can if they leave religion out of it.
May 8, 2009 - 2:34 pm 40. Travis, Holy Land (is a link):Do you not find it to be rather ironic that when a corporately controlled democracy receives a wink and a nod from the corporately controlled UN to evade a free society in order to incorporate a countries resources it’s called a Liberator, yet, when the peoples of the evaded country sets out to form a resistance in order to protect its countries resources, it is deemed a Terrorist organization by the corporately owned medias?
From my perspective Great Brittan, Is-Ra-El, The US and other so called “Democracies” have been hijacked, thus the peoples of countries such as Venezuela, Iran, China and Russia, have and will exercise their right to defend themselves from the corporate take over of these democratic countries.
I believe, or maybe it’s just my hope that what the seer of The Book of Revelation viewed was the peoples of these non-democratic countries forming an alliance in order to liberate the peoples from the democracies whose aristocratic dictatorship has ruled them for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Thus reuniting the sons of Abraham and restoring The Holy Land to its rightful owners.
The real question here should be; who, or what is this aristocracy? Many speculate that they are the Illuminati from The Book of Enoch, or the rouges working from within The Freemasons, and/ or Vatican II. But is it possible that they, this “Family” is a social memory complex that calls itself “Lucifer” that is found in The Book of Job, The Law of One, The Apocrypha and many other sources?
Al Qaeda was created by the CIA; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-hYorNi0nA
It appears that the truth is often more difficult to reckon than the many illusions fed to us by their corporately owned religions and other media outlets.
Most people appear to have an emotional loyalty to their own preconceived set of ideals based on their experiences, these medias, and their own fears of the unknown.
“If you wish to control a man, allow him to believe that he is free.”
I will not be returning to this post. Therefore, if you wish to comment regarding my comment, please see my Contact Us on my website.
Namasté,
Travis,
Family Resources; http://www.focusonrecovery.net
May 8, 2009 - 7:44 pm 41. Naftali:I guess if Travis wants to focus on recovery he should probably be taking his meds, and then he might be clear enough to find a dictionary, or his reading glasses. I have no hope that a history book will help him in any way.
May 8, 2009 - 11:59 pm