ISRAEL’S DISRESPECT PISSES OFF THE PRESIDENT
Read Time:2 Minute, 19 Second
I suppose I have a few prejudices, and I suspect we all do, whether we admit to them is another story. That being said I cannot say that I have ever been anti-Israel, at least until now. Since its very conception the United States has been Israel’s main ally and most staunch supporter. As a matter of fact that support has cost America in the eyes of other parts of the world, particularly the Middle East.
Recently Vice-President Biden traveled to Israel to lay the groundwork for peace talks [again] between Israel and the Palestinians. An integral part of the negotiation is the removal of Israel’s settlements in East Jerusalem. Unfortunately, while there, Israel had the temerity to build yet another settlement, basically laughing in America’s face and flipping us off in the process. This infuriated the Obama administration, including the president and the secretary of state, and I can understand why. Clearly Israel is so confident of our continuing dedication to their cause they don’t even have the discretion of diplomacy.
I have long believed that our steadfast defense of Israel might be a little too passionate and forgiving, and this is an example of why we need to reconsider our policies toward this bellicose nation. Here is more on this from the New York Daily News:
President Obama is still irked over Israel’s announcement of new settlement activity, his aides emphasized Sunday in unusually forceful language.
Rather than papering over the flap that erupted during Vice President Biden’s visit to Israel last week, Obama spokesmen Robert Gibbs and senior political adviser David Axelrod continued to blister America’s staunchest ally in the Middle East.
“What happened there was an affront,” Axelrod told “This Week” on ABC.
“It was an insult. … This was not the right way to behave.”
Axelrod and Gibbs added that the announcement that Israel plans to build 1,600 new housing units in mainly-Arab East Jerusalem undermines fragile Mideast diplomacy.
“Events like last week weaken the trust that’s needed for both sides to come together and have honest discussions in the Middle East,” Gibbs told “Fox News Sunday.”
Axelrod was less diplomatic, calling Israel’s move “very destructive.”
Following Secretary of State Clinton’s 45-minute Friday phone call dressing down Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Sunday’s tough talk made clear that Obama’s irritation hasn’t cooled.
In Israel, Netanyahu tried to soothe tensions, acknowledging the decision unveiled by the interior ministry during Biden’s visit was harmful and urging all sides to “calm down.”
“There was a regrettable incident that was done in all innocence and was hurtful, and which certainly should not have occurred,” Netanyahu said.
Some U.S. officials have suggested the announcement while Biden was in Israel reiterating America’s commitment to the Jewish state was particularly offensive.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0
yes, Oso! Here ‘s to IKE’s wisdom in all this…! Good piece Mad Mike! Needs to be said. I am very proud of Hillary for doing so… too.
America standing up to Israel?!? This is unheard of!
This is kind of like a prostitute talking back to her pimp; or a busboy yelling at the chef.
LIEberman and Bill Kristol are already throwing tantrums at Biden and Hillary Clinton for daring to speak out of turn and offend our Israeli Masters.
I agree it’s time to cut them off and let them get a taste of where they are, and who they are surrounded by, without mommy and daddy to come protect them from the bullies. I see no reason why the palestinians have to cede the west bank, when Israel could do the same. Someone has to give, eventually.
I see no value in Israel encouraging continued illusions in Washington that it will give up the West Bank someday. Doing so would have the same effect as Czechoslovakia giving up the Sudetenland in 1938. The only way there will ultimately be a stable peace is if the Muslim population leaves the West Bank, as the German population left the Sudentenland in 1945, thus ending any ambiguity about which country it belonged to.
A Palestinian state already exists in three-fourths of the land of the original Palestine mandate. It’s called Jordan. Creating a second Palestinian state on the West Bank would be redundant, and since it would reduce Israel’s most populated region to a width shorter than most Americans’ commutes, it would greatly increase the risk of another war. Israel will not allow that to happen, and we should stop pretending it’s American policy to encourage it.
“…done in all innocence…”
I’m not sure what Netanyahu is playing at here, but he is no fool. This was not some accidental, innocent move. I totally agree with Oso.
Oso you used the perfect descriptor: obeisance!!! I just couldn’t come up with the right word when putting together that post. Thanks man…
Mike,
great post, I think you’re 100% on the money. They take our alleigance for granted, Israel does. Actually it’s way past allegiance and has become obeisance, kowtowing to them. We really need to stand up, Eisenhower did in 1956.