the Kenyan Pharoah Pres_ _ent Obama.
Posted on 04/12/2010 4:57:33 AM PDT by Kaslin
Recently, the Obama Administration picked a fight with Israel because a bureaucrat announced the approval of the fourth of seven stages for 1,600 housing units to be built in Jerusalem, even though construction won’t begin until at least 2013. Let me repeat: this unspeakably horrendous affront was over the middle stage of an approval process for housing that might be started three years from now. Is it any wonder that Israelis consider Obama to be their least favorite U.S. President in the country’s history?
It’s pretty clear that the Obama administration has pursued a different policy toward many of our traditional allies, including England, Japan, France and Israel. Why the Administration has taken these positions has been the subject of great analysis and speculation. Israel’s American supporters are justifiably disturbed about the administration’s treatment of the country, but it doesn’t even come close to what Israelis themselves think about Obama.
Most of us rely on the American viewpoint of the U.S.-Israel relationship, but I’ve spent a lot of time in the past year getting the Israeli perspective. Both former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had particularly good relationships with Israel, and you will find little criticism of either in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. But Israelis are not nearly as reticent about criticizing Obama and they have several reasons for their attitude.
The principal concern stems from Obama’s attempt to dictate Middle East policy. Israelis believe The administration appears to have concocted an agenda – making assumptions about what is best for all stakeholders – without taking the time to listen and learn. Israel, like any other sovereign country, rejects outside attempts to dictate her security and domestic policies. In fact, they regularly reject Jewish-American efforts to influence Israeli policy even though some of those parties have in-depth knowledge of the Israeli experience. The recent brouhaha is over a perfect example of this behavior: Mr. Obama has in a very confrontational manner determined that there will be no construction in any area that he deems to be in dispute.
Israel’s second concern is symbiotic with the first. Obama’s attempt to appease certain Arab countries has raised great suspicion among Israelis who live among these countries and know quite well their history toward Israel and each other. Obama’s Cairo speech turned many Israelis against his administration, especially when he spoke of six million people being killed in the Holocaust without mentioning that they were Jews and that they were murdered.
Israelis realize the existential danger presented by Iran and they believe that Obama has played footsie with Ahmadinejad’s aggressive regime. Every week there are new promises of deadlines and sanctions, but nothing ever gets accomplished. Both Israel and Iran believe that Obama has no backbone, which leaves the Israelis in serious danger without being able to count on America’s historically steadfast support.
Israelis are particularly enraged over Obama’s position on the issue of Jerusalem. The fact that Palestinians say Jerusalem is in dispute does not make it a disputed area. Obama needs to realize that the Israelis are not giving back any area of Jerusalem. Even if they did, it is still an unworkable situation.
In The Berlin Wall, Frederick Taylor’s excellent book, he explains the mistakes made the last time a major city was divided between opposing countries. Not only were families separated, but so were the municipal services – such as sewage and water – that had been inextricably connected for decades. Those who suggest that Jerusalem simultaneously be the capital of two different countries apparently have not learned the lessons of Berlin. In fact, never in recorded history have two countries successfully shared a single capital city. It is a preposterous proposal that is doomed to failure.
Some have speculated that Mr. Obama’s hard line toward Israel may be because he wishes to replace Netanyahu with a more appeasement-oriented prime minister like Tzipi Livni. There is some historical basis for this. Rahm Emanuel was deeply involved when Clinton took on Netanyahu in 1999, who was ultimately replaced by Ehud Barak. The difference is that by 1999 – near the end of his term – Clinton had generated a strong rapport with the Israelis. Yet it still turned out to be a disaster. Flash forward 11 years and there is a more experienced, more confident Israeli people and a wildly unpopular American president. The more Obama digs in his heels against Netanyahu, the less popular Obama becomes. Worse, Obama has chosen to pick a fight with Netanyahu over a sacrosanct issue – Jerusalem – a place that has been part of Jewish life for over two thousand years.
Confrontation with Israel is not a new phenomenon; this has been a theme of the Obama presidency. Regrettably, it appears that the negative opinions of Obama setting in among Israelis may be irreversible. They know that there are presidential cycles in America; they also realize that Jews have existed for almost 6,000 years, and they fully expect to be around long after Obama leaves office.
The Jewish people don’t have to remember as far back as Haman, King Herod and the Spanish Inquisitors to understand that they have dealt with far more problematic and intractable opposition than Barack Obama. They are just surprised that an American president is their antagonist.
“Is it any wonder that Israelis consider Obama to be their least favorite U.S. President in the country’s history?”
A growing number of Americans has reached the same conclusion. The election of this buffoon must surely raise questions in the eyes of many countries about how much they can trust a country capable of electing someone this inept.
Interesting take. Perhaps the Jews of Israel are far more realistic than American Jews who have a D after their name.
But the article is evidently anecdotal, based on “I’ve spent a lot of time in the past year getting the Israeli perspective.”
Well D’uh. obama’s a moslem. His religion demands that he fight against the Jews.
Pray for obama. Psalm 109:8
Very well said
Perfect
Perhaps they know Obama is a muslim who wants Israel ground under the bootheel of Jihad.
The Israelis have been dancing backwards for many years. Nobody should be surprised they are now being called to do it in Jerusalem. All the so-called palestinians have to do is howl and Israelis vacate as if fair play (as perceived by the unfair player) is more than survival.
Take back Gaza, take back the West Bank — completely. Otherwise the enemy will not stop until you are ghetto-ized on top of a postage stamp in Jerusalem. And then there’s nothing to stop them.
Never again? Really?
Zer0 did THAT to Bibi Netanyahu?! He’s lucky he still has a hand!
...why chickens do not like Colonel Sanders.
I just heard that on AnnaZ from Walter Williams - great line.
If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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They are intelligent.
So are we Americans.
He would be, by far, my least favorite, IF I thought he were actually President, as defined by The Constitution.
Now be fair to O, Jimmy Carter recently wrote that book calling Israel racists, and even Clinton tried to muscle them into concessions (perfect that Hillary is following up on that.) Democrat/liberal policy is to force concessions on Israel. I know a liberal (democrat) Jew who supports Israel (or did, hates Carter anyway) who doesn't want to talk about the issue anymore because he is torn between anti-conservative-ism and Israel.
It is great how the whole set of foreign policy issues has spun out of control on him, politically.
I’m getting sick of hearing all of this news about Obama and Israel. The Americian Jews vote for him and the Democrats by over 80%. If they don’t give a danm about Israel then I don’t see any point in the rest of America caring. We have enought problems of or own then to waste time on their self created problem.
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