Posted on 04/06/2009 9:53:03 AM PDT by mojito
"Israel does not take orders from [US President Barack] Obama," Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) said on Monday, responding to an earlier statement by the US president in which he reaffirmed his administration's commitment to all previous understandings between Israel and the Palestinians, including the process launched at Annapolis in 2007.
Erdan, who is also in charge of coordinating between the Knesset and the cabinet, also praised Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who only last week said that Israel was not bound by the Annapolis talks.
"Let me be clear," Obama had said, "the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. That is a goal shared by Palestinians, Israelis, and people of good will around the world. That is a goal that the parties agreed to in the road map and at Annapolis. And that is a goal that I will actively pursue as president."
"In voting for [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu the citizens of Israel have decided that they will not become the US's fifty first state," said Erdan, who was representing the coalition in a Knesset deliberation of Lieberman's controversial statements. He added, however, that "Obama is a friend of Israel and the United States is an important ally and everything between us will be the result of communication."
The US president, who was addressing the Turkish parliament, had emphasized the need for both sides to take confidence-building measures while living up to "the commitments they have made." Both Israel and the Palestinians, he said "must overcome longstanding passions and the politics of the moment to make progress toward a secure and lasting peace."
The US president said that Turkey, "like the United States, could help Israel and the Palestinians." Ankara, he added, "has been a friend and partner in Israel's quest for security. And like the United States, you seek a future of opportunity and statehood for the Palestinians.
"Now," Obama continued "we must not give into pessimism and mistrust. We must pursue every opportunity for progress, as you have done by supporting negotiations between Syria and Israel. We must extend a hand to those Palestinians who are in need, while helping them strengthen institutions. And we must reject the use of terror, and recognize that Israel's security concerns are legitimate."
Obama claimed that regional peace would also be furthered along by Iran cooperating with the international community and forgoing "any nuclear weapons ambitions."
"I have made it clear to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic that the United States seeks engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect," Obama said. "We want Iran to play its rightful role in the community of nations, with the economic and political integration that brings prosperity and security. Now, Iran's leaders must choose whether they will try to build a weapon or build a better future for their people."
Earlier, the US president said that he stood by his 2008 assertion that Ottoman Turks carried out widespread killings of Armenians early in the 20th century, finessing the sensitive issue by stopping short of repeating the word "genocide."
"Well, my views are on the record and I have not changed views," Obama said, standing alongside Turkish President Abdullah Gul.
Obama went on to say that he was looking toward ally Turkey to help bridge the divide between Muslim nations and the West, and that he wanted to build on "what is already a strong foundation" with Turkey.
He said relations between the two countries had for too long been defined on mostly military and national security terms but that they must also work together on the global economic crisis.
Obama said he and Gul had been "very clear that terrorism is not acceptable under any circumstances." He also said Turkey and the United States could build a "model partnership" between a predominantly Christian nation and a predominantly Muslim nation.
Soetoro isn’t going to like that.
Barry needs to bow when he meets Bibi, just to even things out.
“...He said relations between the two countries had for too long been defined on mostly military and national security terms but that they must also work together on the global economic crisis.
Obama said he and Gul had been “very clear that terrorism is not acceptable under any circumstances.”
He also said Turkey and the United States could build a “model partnership” between a predominantly Christian nation and a predominantly Muslim nation.”
Good God. This man is a disaster.
I would PAY to see that.
I like this new Israeli Government....
The anti-Semites and Koran-Thumpers won’t like it....but it is nice to see a nation whose leaders think national security first, over globalism
He also said Turkey and the United States could build a “model partnership” between a predominantly Christian nation and a predominantly Muslim nation.”
______________________________________
Zero also just said that we aren’t a ‘Christian Nation’.
Prayers offered up for the safety of the State of Israel.
When will the POS Republicans shout the same?
After their collective spine transplant.
Thank you very much. Americans shouldn’t take orders from him either. Stand up and fight until this guy is out of office.
Barry must be throwing an apoplectic fit, Israel refuses to KNEEL!
Neither does North Korea, France, the whole of the EU for that matter or anyone else that can produce an ounce of testicular fortitude between the entire combined population of their given nation.
But we appreciate the sentiment all the same. : )
“Zero also just said that we aren’t a ‘Christian Nation’.”
He’s in accord with US law. See the Treaty of Tipoli (1797) which was apporved unanimously by the US Senate, and states
“Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.”
Zero is a zero, but he’s not breaking new ground here. Bowing to the Saudi king, now that’s something new.
Good for the Israelis! They have no illusions about this crypto-Muslim
Heck, let me at our weak-kneed Republicans and there won’t be need for a spine transplant. After all, we’d pay for it anyway.
Of course, Isreal doesn’t take orders from the U.S., who doesn’t know that? Who here is unaware of that basic piece of information?
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