Key U.S. Jews wary of Netanyahu’s unbending policy on settlements
The single voice backing Netanyahu’s policy among groups with the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations - the umbrella organization of Jewish groups - was that of the Zionist Organization of America, which denounced the administration’s demands as “illogical, unjust and dangerous.”
by Nathan Guttman, Ha’aretz, June 3, 2009
For the first time in America’s decades of jousting with Israel over West Bank settlements, an American president seems to have succeeded in isolating the settlements issue and disconnecting it from other elements of support for Israel.
It is a disentanglement now seen most clearly in Congress, which in the past served as Israel’s stronghold against administration pressure on the issue. But when Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu came to Capitol Hill for a May 18 meeting after being pressed by President Obama to freeze the expansion of West Bank settlements, he was “stunned,” Netanyahu aides said, to hear what seemed like a well-coordinated attack against his stand on settlements. The criticism came from congressional leaders, key lawmakers dealing with foreign relations and even from a group of Jewish members.
They included Massachusetts Democrat John Kerry, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Democrat Carl Levin of Michigan, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee; California Democrat Howard Berman, chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee, and California Rep. Henry Waxman, a senior Democrat.
The Jewish lawmakers among them believed “it was their responsibility to make him [Netanyahu] very, very aware of the concerns of the administration and Congress,” said a congressional aide briefed on the meeting. The aide, who declined to be identified, stressed that despite the argument on settlement issues, members of Congress remained fully supportive of Israel on all other issues, including the need to deal with Iran and the concern over Hamas and Hezbollah’s activity. (Continue Reading this Article)
The Gap is widening between Israeli Jews and American Jews
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Poll: Israelis say “no” to Obama 54%:33%
Poll: Israelis say “no” to Obama 54%:33%
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date 3 June 2009
Poll of representative sample of Israeli adults (including Israeli Arabs)
carried out by Geocartography Knowledge Group - Prof. Avi Degani - this
week for Israel Television Channel One’s Populitika program. results
broadcast on 2 June 2009.
Will the USA of President Obama support Israel during time of war, as it
did in the past?
Yes 53% Only declarations 25% No 10% No opinion 12%
Will the USA intervene militarily to Israel’s defense when the Iranian
nuclear threat to Israel will be tangible and close or Israel is actually
attacked?
Yes 55% Just talk 21% No 12% No opinion 12%
Should Israel say “no” now to the US of Obama and not make any concessions
to the Palestinians until conditions of peace and security (on the ground)
are
reached?
Yes 54% No 33% No opinion 13%.
Prof. Degani noted on the program that the reply to the last question
reflected a shift to the Right in Israeli public opinion as compared to the
past.
Comment by yamit82 — June 3, 2009 @ 1:12 pm
Obama thinks that it is in Israel’s best interest to accept a “two-state solution” to “quell” violence. This statement is tantamount to saying that he accepts Palestinian violence as a political tactic to push for the slow and steady handover of Israel to Islam.
Obama is working endlessly to use his Presidency to apologize to Islam and to excuse the USA for forcing Islamists to terrorize the USA and the world with jihad.
Obama has underestimated the resolve of Jews, Christians and many others to assert their rights in a world that is under a growing threat of Islamists along with their liberal apologists to gain a position of moral, religious, political and military superiority over the world.
Comment by Gary — June 3, 2009 @ 2:17 pm
No, No and No to the following:
Israel should not be divided under any circumstance.
The end does not justify the means.
The only solution is for the Palestinians to migrate to both Jordan and Egypt.
Lets call a spade a spade.
All of Israel is home of the Jews.
Comment by rongrand — June 3, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
There is an increasing disconnect between American Jews and Israel. This article provides one further aspect to that disconnect.
Obama’s new vision for improving America’s stature and influence in the Middle East are premised on some of the following fundamental views:
1. The Muslim world unites to react angrily when accused of wrongdoing, even when such accusations are absolutely true. If America were to take an even tougher stance to actually hold the Islamists accoutnable and that includes the prime fomenters of Islamism, being the Saudis and Iran, the Muslim world likely would unite in violence against the West and in particular America.
2. Rather then do anything to anger the Muslim world, appeal to their sense of honour, praising them and apologizing for all of America’s wrongs, real or imagined.
3. At the heart of America’s and the West’s troubles in the Middle East is the unresolved Israel-Palestinian conflict. It continues to stir up anti-American feelings which translates into obstacles to America furthering her interests in the Middle East.
4. Since demanding anything but empty promises from the Palestinians risks angering the Muslim world, the only way to go is to demand nothing but more empty promises from Palestinians and pressure Israel into making the necessary concessions that will pave the way to quickly establishing a Palestinian state. The only concern Obama has in that regard is to not demand that Israel sacrifice herself for the benefit of America and the world which would risk his losing electoral support at home.
What Obama is doing is drastically interfering with Israel to decide what is in her best interests and to act on it. Obama is doing all in his power to force Israel be and remain a vassal state of America, whose very existence would then depend on the whim of America.
You would think American Jews would unite to stand behind Israel. Instead the fools are standing behind Obama.
Jews could learn a lot from the Muslim world, which puts all their own differences aside to stand united and firm against any one or any nation that offends or attacks even one of them.
Comment by Bill Narvey — June 3, 2009 @ 4:27 pm
The point is American Jews by and large, are a lost cause. The sooner Israeli Jews understand they can count only on themselves, the better off they will be.
Comment by NormanF — June 3, 2009 @ 6:53 pm
No need to make any deals, just a simple “fuck you, you will not dictate to us where we can live in our own homeland” to the administration and these congressional democratic lap dogs.
Because the democratic party and liberalism mean much more to them then their Judaism, which is of virtually no importance to their daily lives. Yet they will use their Jewishness to provide cover for the anti-Israel policies of the democratic party.
Comment by Laura — June 3, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
No need to make any deals, just a simple “fuck you, you will not dictate to us where we can live in our own homeland” to the administration and these congressional democratic lap dogs.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Shvakim Panorama Poll: Oppose halt to construction 55.6%:29.%, Obama favors Arabs 47.1%:28.9%
Shvakim Panorama Poll: Oppose halt to construction 55.6%:29.%, Obama favors
Arabs 47.1%:28.9%
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date 4 June 2009
Telephone poll of a representative sample of adult Israelis (including Arab
Israelis) carried out by Shvakim Panorama for Israel Radio’s
Hakol Diburim (It’s All Talk) the week of 4 June 2009 and broadcast on 4
June.
Do you support or oppose the evacuation of unauthorized outposts?
For 40.1% Against 40.4% Don’t know 19.5%
Do you support or oppose the American demand for a halt to construction in
Judea and Samaria?
Support 29.5% Oppose 55.6% Don’t know 17.9%
Does President Obama give preference to the interests of the Arab states
over Israel’s interests?
Yes 47.1% No 28.9% Don’t know 24.0%
Yossi Vadana, who heads Shvakim Panorama, explained on the broadcast that
the Americans apparently didn’t realizes that Israeli public reacts to
American pressure by supporting its own government. This has resulted in a
shift on the issue of unauthorized outposts.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Poll: Israelis say “no” to Obama 54%:33%
Poll: Israelis say “no” to Obama 54%:33%
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date 3 June 2009
Poll of representative sample of Israeli adults (including Israeli Arabs)
carried out by Geocartography Knowledge Group - Prof. Avi Degani - this
week for Israel Television Channel One’s Populitika program. results
broadcast on 2 June 2009.
Will the USA of President Obama support Israel during time of war, as it
did in the past?
Yes 53% Only declarations 25% No 10% No opinion 12%
Will the USA intervene militarily to Israel’s defense when the Iranian
nuclear threat to Israel will be tangible and close or Israel is actually
attacked?
Yes 55% Just talk 21% No 12% No opinion 12%
Should Israel say “no” now to the US of Obama and not make any concessions
to the Palestinians until conditions of peace and security (on the ground)
are
reached?
Yes 54% No 33% No opinion 13%.
Prof. Degani noted on the program that the reply to the last question
reflected a shift to the Right in Israeli public opinion as compared to the
past.
BB has the Israeli support so he has no excuses for not hanging tough.
In America anybody can claim to be whatever they choose. I would bar ea. and everyone from entering Israel and to bar any Israeli politician in government from any direct contact with them. I would urge support for any candidate in opposition to them in the coming elections.
Comment by yamit82 — June 4, 2009 @ 12:43 pm
Peskin # 7 should peek your interest. As our resident slime you will of course ignore it as usual.
Comment by yamit82 — June 4, 2009 @ 12:46 pm
Obama in Cairo
Lt. Col. Ralph Peters (FOX News contributor - a PennStater) did not give Obama any high marks on his speech in fact he thought was weak.
He gave him a low grade with respects to Israel. In fact he indicated prior to the trip Obama should bypass Egypt and go right to Israel, our strong and trusted ally.
He offered nothing new with Iran, just unconditional dialogue that goes nowhere but buys a lot of time to develop nuclear weapons without interference. (The Iran problem will just go away on its own)
Obama said all nations should ban the use of nuclear weapons.
As Col. Peters pointed out, no way, in fact they are and have been a deterrent against war.
By all means Israel should never consider this ban.
In fact Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN) on FOXNews just pointed out he thought Obama came down too hard on Israel and soft on the Muslim countries.
Col. Peters also pointed out his lack of history and that Muslim influence in the US is not as Obama stated.
Obama is a Muslim, his claim to be a Christian and black was gain votes and did not want his middle name used.
What a phony.
Comment by rongrand — June 4, 2009 @ 2:01 pm
Obama is playing Machiavelli by going from Cairo to Buchenwald and noticeably not to Israel, we are only some 500 miles away. How? For American Jews the Holocaust has become Judaisms replacement. It’s fits in with his pop culture mentality. This will reinforce American Jews beliefs that he is not anti Jewish and that his policies on Israel are for our own good.
He is using divide and conquer principles by separating Israel from their core support in the US. Jews and Congress.
As deficient as is his knowledge of History and religion, he certainly seems to have mastered the principles of Personal cultism and manipulation of just about everyone and everything.
A prediction for what it’s worth Israel will have to attack Iran by sept. or not at all.
Comment by yamit82 — June 4, 2009 @ 3:24 pm