[Alouette]

He is opting instead for Masada – where Jewish rebels committed mass suicide.

His plans for Israel.

McCain/Hagee '08!!

[Alouette]

FReepMail to be added or removed from this pro-Israel/Judaic/Russian Jewry ping list.

Warning! This is a high-volume ping list.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

He is opting instead for Masada – where Jewish rebels committed mass suicide.

...

...

No. Nope.

Not gonna say it.

(... just going to THINK it real loudly, is all...)

[Jedidah]

It’s absurd and stupid to imply that this President shrinks from controversy or from personal danger. Any such suggestions are not grounded in observation and are just self-serving yammering.

If he doesn’t go to the Western Wall, there’s some other reason. My best guess is that the security folks, either ours or Israeli, are drawing the line, telling him that he’s in danger enough with the target he wears on his back daily, without asking for more.

[Verginius Rufus]

Maybe he has watched the Rev. Jeremiah Wright videos and doesn’t want to appear to be siding with the white Italian oppressors against the poor black Jews.

[Redbob]

Masada?

Must be symbolic of what the GOP has done under his leadership.

[popdonnelly]

The Wailing Wall symbolizes the Jew’s historic claim to Jerusalem, and to the land of Israel. This is something the left-leaning PC crowd wants to eliminate from memory. I had a minister once who continually referred to the Kingdom of Judea as “Palestine”. It was an obvious attempt to re-write history.

[Zionist Conspirator]

If I recall correctly, this is the first time since the Six Day War that the Western Wall has been deemed "controversial." I guess that tells us what Bush wants!

He is opting instead for Masada – where Jewish rebels committed mass suicide.

His plans for Israel.

Evidently. Bush's second term has been a total reversal of his first.

McCain/Hagee '08!!

I'm afraid he's more likely to pick Rice.

[tabsternager]

“McCain/Hagee ‘08!!”

Speaking of mass suicide — only this time for the U.S. if a ticket like that were to win the presidency.

[Ancesthntr]

The Western Wall has been deemed too controversial a place for US President George W. Bush to visit.

But the putz can visit China for the Olympics, to help the repressive and despotic regime there obtain even more legitimacy. WTF, over?

He should visit the Wall, he should stop having Condi Rice tell Israel to abandon checkpoints, and he should issue a public warning that NO private citizen, not even former Presidents, can meet with Hamas leadership, as such meetings are purely the province of the current government of this country.

Oh, silly me, I actually thought that Bush might be interested in advancing the interests of this country and hurting our adversaries/enemies in every way possible.

[Cinnamon Girl]

[SunkenCiv]

Ping!

[Convert from ECUSA]

"McCain/Hagee '08

If only it was Hunter/Bolton instead! I'm very disappointed (to put it mildly) that our President won't visit the Western Wall (all so worried about "offending" muslims). I guess its not a big deal if he insults the Jewish people by not visiting their most sacred site.

[pabianice]

Shame on him. Bush continues to disappoint.

[blasater1960]

What has happened to Bush? Once he "seemed" to be a protector of Israel. Now he is an enemy. The Saudi's must be really leaning on him for a PA state to get oil back down.

We need another Manhattan project for oil alternatives. The USA will sacrifice Israel for oil.

I am afraid that soon it will be GWB, yimach shemo.

[APRPEH]

what a disappointment. he has been talking to Condi too much.

[Berosus]

Masada is Israel’s equivalent of the Alamo, so I don’t mind Bush going there, so long as he understands why IDF troops take their oaths there, and say “Masada will not fall again.”

[tet68]

Masada, isn't that where IDF special forces are sworn in?

Maybe he could meet with the pilots who bombed the Iraqi reactor, that would set some tongues wagging.

He should see the Golan, and declare it Israel's bulwark against Syrian aggression. He should see Jerusalem and announce that our embassy will be in Israel's capital.

[justiceseeker93]

What is the big negative about visiting Masada? It can be equally remembered as the place where Jewish fighters made an heroic last stand against Roman tyranny.

[Ezekiel]

Bush will be visiting Israel as part of Israel’s 60th Independence Day celebrations. His visit will be 60 hours long.

Kind of like 60 cubits high?

In addition to addressing the Knesset, Bush is reportedly searching for a symbolic location to visit, with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as his tour guide.

At least that much makes sense - the blind leading the blind. HaKotel, after all, is a pesky symbol that doesn't align with Gog's Hellenistic er democratic "vision".

[SJackson]

Abbreviated mideast ping