During the 2008 campaign, there were many Jewish Democrats who said — and probably believed — that Barack Obama would be a better friend to Israel than would John McCain. They argued that Obama would cement friendships with moderate Arab states and extricate us from the Iraq adventure that had done so much to antagonize the Arab street. More than anything else, they said, he would put American diplomacy behind a broad effort to push Arabs and Israelis toward some kind of lasting peace agreement, based roughly on President Clinton’s model of active engagement.
Now, a bit more than 100 days into Obama’s presidency, what do we know? Were Jewish Democrats right to predict a beneficent, pro-Israel President Obama?
It’s early yet, but we know a lot. Obama and his emissaries have been predictable on the issue of a two-state solution (like Bush, in favor), ending the expansion of settlements (like Bush, in favor) and engagement with Iran and Syria (unlike Bush, in favor).
It’s not unusual for an American president to urge Israel not to build settlements in the West Bank — that has been American policy from 1967 to the present. What is noteworthy is this: Obama has, in his few months in office, given every indication that Israel’s most critical existential threat — the development of an Iranian nuclear bomb — will be addressed according to America’s timetable, not Israel’s. And his administration has often seemed more willing to play hardball with Jerusalem than with Tehran.
Whereas Prime Minister Netanyahu says the threat posed by Iran should be handled separately from the discussion over some future Palestinian state, Obama appears to disagree — his advisers have repeatedly been quoted linking the two, signaling that it would be a lot easier to confront Iran’s nuclear ambitions if only Israel would agree to terms with the Palestinians. The Obama administration has let it be known that it expects Netanyahu to be a good soldier as it pursues an Israeli-Palestinian agreement.
Meanwhile, Vice President Joe Biden has sternly lectured Israel not to consider a unilateral military strike on Iran. And the Obama administration — even as it discourages Israel from preempting the Iranian nuclear threat — has taken a significant step away from America’s longstanding policy of secret and tacit support of Israel’s own nuclear deterrent, with a State Department official suggesting that Israel, among other countries, should join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
All of which raises the following question: Could pro-Israel Democrats have been wrong? Worse yet, are they providing the political cover for Obama as he fundamentally changes America’s special relationship with Israel?
Forget for a moment the J Street crowd, a group of leftist Jews conjoined by a deep lack of sympathy for Israeli security needs. There are other Jewish Democrats who understand that Israel’s enemies desire the destruction of the Jewish state. They know Obama’s charm offensive has yielded nothing. And they surely know that the Iranian threat to Israel is not going to fade because of charm. Indeed, many pro-Israel Democrats had spent the previous eight years castigating President Bush for not being sufficiently tough with Tehran and went after McCain for daring to oppose some forms of sanctions against companies linked to trade with Iran.
At what point will Jewish Democrats who care deeply about Israel’s security decide they have to stand up to President Obama? They have yet to do so — thus far, it has been difficult to oppose anything their party’s leader wants to do. But the moment will come when pro-Israel Democrats will have to make some tough choices.
Noam Neusner is the principal of Neusner Communications, LLC. He served as President Bush’s principal economic and domestic policy speechwriter from 2002 to 2004.
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mmmmm...maybe it would have been more appropriate if someone unbiased, say dick cheney or doug feith were asked to comment on the matter.
mmmmm...maybe it would have been more appropriate if someone unbiased say avram moshe were asked to address himself to the issues raised by Mr. Neusner.
Come on, Bernie. All Avram Moshe is pointing out is that Neusner was a member of the Bush Administration. Hardly a neutral commentator on the current Democratic Administration.
Uri77, like avram moshe, appears unable to address the argument itself. It appears the left has lost any intellectual integrity. Its SO much easier just to ignore the writer as a "Bush guy". The actions of Obama and his team to date offer plenty of evidence of a serious tilt toward Israel's enemies, at Israel's expense. Try to stick to the issue, and drop the ad hominem attacks.
There is considerable fatigue in the American Jewish community from the obsessive minority Jewish neo-conservative perspectives of individuals such as Neusner. Most Jews in Israel and the US want to get on with their lives. The battle with Palestinians prohibits creating a stable economic and social environment. The longer we wait to promote the peace process, the more difficult it will become to negotiate with an increasingly fanatical religious fundamentalism that is found in Gaza and commencing in Israel.
Shai "Fatigue in the American Jewish community?" I'm not fatigued at all. If you have that tired feeling, I think there are pills for that. Also, my zade, zaicher tzadik livbrocha, found two tablesppoons of borscht after Shacharis a delightful pick me up. Might have been the vodka he used to spike that tonic. Zai Gezundt.
I love you Bernie. I'm tired, but it is of weird left wingnut fellow Jews who are in in denial - partying like its 1939! They need more than Borscht to wake them up! But lets watch their faces turn beet red as awareness comes to them! Ach! it is of little satisfaction to know that we Jews, whether in truth or in denail are targeted & hated....(at least I am not self-hating!) Zai Gesundt Bernie!
Neusner hit the nail on the head! Regarding the comment about the 'fatigue' in the American Jewish Community, and that most Jews want to just 'get on with their lives', I agree with that sentiment. It's time for peace. Israel signed many agreements with the arabs, withdrew from the Gaza strip, and all it has brought them is more violence, and less stability. Life for both Israeli AND Arab was much better before this so called "peace process" began. The Middle East was much closer to Peace before the 1993 Oslo accords. Now peace just looks like a distant dream
Neusner hit the nail on the head! Regarding the comment about the 'fatigue' in the American Jewish Community, and that most Jews want to just 'get on with their lives', I agree with that sentiment. It's time for peace. Israel signed many agreements with the arabs, withdrew from the Gaza strip, and all it has brought them is more violence, and less stability. Life for both Israeli AND Arab was much better before this so called "peace process" began. The Middle East was much closer to Peace before the 1993 Oslo accords. Now peace just looks like a distant dream
As a Jew living in Israel, and an admitted Rightist, I believe Obama is at best politically naive, and at worst, simply no friend of Israel's.
Also as a Jew living in Israel, and an admitted Rightist, it never fails to amaze me how almost no one, Jew or Gentile, seems to recall that 1) before there WAS a State of Israel, Arabs murdered innocent Jews and there was no peace, 2) between the years 1948 through June, 1967, when the so-called "territories" WERE in Arab hands, Arabs murdered innocent Jews and there was no peace, and 3) today, after the brutal expulsions of Jews from their homes in northern Samaria and the Gush Katif area in Gaza, euphemistically dubbed "Disengagement," Arabs STILL murder innocent Jews and there is STILL no peace.
WHY should one expect the situation to become anything but much worse if our enemies are rewarded with yet more land from which to attack us?!!
When one gambles in a casino and loses, it is ludicrous for the loser to whine that his money should be returned. Our Arab enemies have waged repeated wars against us with the aim of DESTROYING US, and have LOST. How DARE they now demand that the very places they used to attack us from now be given to them as if they did nothing?!!
Here in Israel, we take the Iranian threat VERY,VERY SERIOUSLY, as it is a very real threat to our very existence - as a state and as individual human beings.
78% of Jewish-American voters, like lemmings, with an irrational hatred of President Bush, an imperfect chief executive but the best friend Israel ever had in the White House, went over the cliff. Well, I'll tell you, the more Israel (in its "arrogance" to remain alive)is "punished" by the present administration, the more ani-Semitism is encouraged - it has already reached frightening proportions. Where will you run to?
Why do you think that " the J Street crowd,[is] a group of leftist Jews conjoined by a deep lack of sympathy for Israeli security needs." On the contrary, J Street understands that Israel's only security lies in a two state solution.
The comments are exceedingly illuminating, since they provide a view of the divisions in American Jewish opinion----so thanks to those who have written. I'd be curious as to the opinion of other readers re the view that American Jewry may shortly have to choose between loyalty to the US and attachment to Israel. There is no compelling US national interest in unconditional backing for Israel, the more so as a multi-ethnic and religiously pluralistic United States is moving away from Protestant sympathies for the people of the Old Testament (who themselves are substituting ethnocentrism for religion.) Perhaps, under the tensions of the conflict, many American Jews will finally move to Israel---where, no doubt, they would be very welcome as replacements for the Israelis who are leaving......
There are two points that require analysis:
There are two points that require analysis:
There are two points that require analysis:
Pamela, how can you say Israel will have security with a 2 state solution. The "palestinians" only goal is to destory Israel. In fact they don't even want a state. In the year 2000 when Barak offered them a state with 97% of the land they wanted they said, NO to a state. In 1947 when they were offered a state with even MORE land the arabs (they were not yet called 'palestinians' said no. Both time they launched wars.
With every overture of peace Israel has made to these people, violence has only increased. When Israel signed the 1993 Oslo accords, there was a terrible rash of suicide bombings and armed attacks, previously unseen in the region. After the offer made by prime minister Barak in 2000 for a 'palestinian' state with Jerusalem as its capital, the arab response was another intifada. When Israel withdrew from Gaza, uprooting its citizens, the arabs responded with daily missle attacks on neighboring Israeli towns, with a stated goal of making the town of Sderot a 'ghost town'.
Finally, many arab 'palestinians' have stated very clearly that the purpose of creating an arab state is to make it the first step in destroying the Jewish state. To quote Abbas Zaki, PLO ambassador to Lebanon:
"because if they get out of Jerusalem, what will become of all the talk about the Promised Land and the Chosen People? What will become of all the sacrifices they made – just to be told to leave? They consider Jerusalem to have a spiritual status. The Jews consider Judea and Samaria to be their historic dream. If the Jews leave those places, the Zionist idea will begin to collapse. It will regress of its own accord. Then we will move forward." (January 9, 2009)
There are two points that are being raised in this article that should be questioned:
1. Bush was a best friend of Israel. - The attack and ensuing war by the United States under the influence of former President Bush was not good for Israel. It allowed a natural enemy of Iran to be destroyed. This allowed Iran to reduce its military readiness against its strongest enemy, Iraq and thus concentrate on building a nuclear bomb, support Hamas, support Hezbollah, support with Syria the overthrow of a pro-western government in Lebanon, and help Syria build a nuclear facility. As Kissenger discussed in his book, DIPLOMACY, the balencing of power is a very real influence and factor on the behavoir between nations, when they are peaceful and when they are belligerent towards each other. This is further illustrated in the Bible, when King David was able to expand the land of Israel, because Egypt wanted a buffer between itself and Assyria, thus it allowed and supported King David in expanding his kingdom.
2. The same problem that Israel faces with Iran, The United States faces with Pakistan in regrds to the continuing amassing of power by the Talliban and Al Quada. At one point if these two enemies of the United States gain too much real estate and power in Pakistan, the nuclear bombs that Pakistan has developed will be subject to their control. Just like Israel is facing threats from Iran, the United States will then have these same threats and in addition a history of massive destrution of embassies in Tanzania and Ghana, the destruction of the naval Ship COLE, the attempt ot smuggle weapons in to this country from Vancouver, Canada, the airplane hijackings, kidnappings, and murder of civillain passengers and crew in the destruction of the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and The World Trade Center in New York City from the Talliban and Al Kida to consider.
How will the United States react? Will the United States destroy Pakistan's nuclear facilites if these two groups continue to increase their power and are seen to be able to take over Pakistan?
Obviously if the United States takes such an action against Pakistan, then it will be very hard pressed to stop Israel from taking such steps against Iran. Not only will the United States not be able to morally stop Israel, it will be foced to support Israel by virtue of its own actions.
For this reason Obama and his administration have to keep their support for Isrel in this matter to a minimum because they will then be broadcasting their own actions, which are quite obvious anyway. The vice president will even have to exercise control in this matter because the stakes are so high and in spite of all the technology the United States has the element of suprise is always nice to have in the arsenal.
It is simply false that there is no compelling national interest in backing Israel. (The writer referred to created a straw man by using the word "unconditional". US backing for Israel has never been unconditional.)
Israel's breakthroughs in science and technology, including Intel's latest computer chips, medical and drug breakthroughs (Teva is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical suppliers to the US), agricultural breakthroughs including drip irrigation, and many Nobel prizes have made a major contribution to the US national interest. In contrast the "Palestinians" have given the world (including Jordan, Kuwait, and Lebanon) terrorism, murder of civilians, and attempted overthrow of governments, Arab AND Jewish, and have persecuted and murdered Christians indiscriminately.
As for oil, this writer, the former Chief Economist of a major international oil company, has conclusively demonstrated that oil prices move with demand, often having moved down when US policy became more favorable to Israel while demand in Western Europe dropped, and sometimes moved up when US policy was neutral or negative toward Israel but demand in Western Europe tightened. Thus there is no US national interest in oil prices aa a function of policy toward Israel but instead a strong national interest in demand reduction, supply alternatives, and energy efficiency.
David Sternlight, Ph.D. Los Angeles
Neusner's assumption, that Bush was "pro-Israel," is mostly wrong; and it's a shame that even so intelligent a newspaper as the Forward often allows "pro-Israel" to be a synonym for "pro-settler." Bush was mostly pro-converting-the-Jews-to-the-Republican-Party. And he (along with Neusner and others) sought to use Israel as a wedge issue to accomplish that, much as Reagan used abortion with Catholics.
It didn't work, as evidenced by both the facts on the ground and the vote in November. Israel is in far more dire straits after 8 years of Bush's love, and needs the more critical support offered by the Obama Administration. It is very true that Israel has enemies who wish to destroy her. It is also true that Bush's policies have immensely helped those enemies.
Obama, to his credit, understands that you don't need to be a Likudnik to be pro-Israel. And in George Mitchell, he has actually named an envoy with some experience at making an impossible peace. Let's hope he is given a chance to succeed.
We are all too often interested in attacking the messenger when we dislike the message. Regardless of the author, and his relationship to the Bush administration, let's examine the facts. This administration's presently stated position is (1) put pressure on Israel, because the U.S. can exert such pressure, and (2) do not put pressure on Iran because the U.S. cannot exert such pressure. This seems to me to be a very backwards view of how to deal with friends and allies. Furthermore, the "linkage" perception--Israel agreeing to concessions with Arabs that have never abdicated their desire to destroy Israel, and using such concession to force Iran to then capitulate on nuclear weapons, lacks any basis in fact.
We constantly hear how it is in Israel's best interests to cut a deal with the Arabs (how has that worked out for Israel with Gaza?), that Israel needs peace (how can one have a lasting peace with neighbors who advocate your destruction?), and that Israel will greatly benefit from a peace deal (how can one benefit when one is not in existence?). Why does this Administration and the world not call attention to the Arab boycott of Israel? Why is Israel always required to grant concessions, concessions that threaten its very existence, prior to any meaningful degree of assurance of any benefit for Israel? What country in world history, that captured lands after being attacked, returned such lands in peace (hint--NONE).
Let's not focus on the author. Let's focus on the facts.
That dirty Ombama, focusing on America's interests rather than Israel, after he was elected Prime Minister by the Israeli voters. Then asking that something be done about stateless Arabs only after 50 years. You wouldn't think he was Israeli, but he is.
Stateless Arabs?? There are 22 Arab states!
I agree with Nathan that Bush really was the best friend Israel ever had. He stuck with Israel in some of the most difficult times to have done so, when the entire world seems to have turned against Israel. The U.S. veto in the UN is the single biggest obstacle to Israel's enemies, who, but for that, would have done away with the state diplomatically long ago. Bush allowed Sharon to do what it took to protect Israel from the new and improved Arab terror (please boycott use of the word "intifada") when the entire world, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch included, was sitting back in silence or agreement as Israeli civilians were being blown up in pizzerias and on buses. He didn't begin pushing for the "two-state solution" - I use it in quotes because most people here see it will solve little if anything - until the last year of his term, when it was too late for it to have any effect. For Israel, for the moment, the best solution is no solution, a stalemate, where things don't get any worse, and Bush implicitly permitted that as well.
Let me add to the angst by warning people of the impending Western sellout of Israel to a Quartet ordered bifurcation of Israel. That is old news, but what is new is the flurry of Mid-East visitors to Washington and movement of Israeli leaders to Arab capitals (e.g., Nethanyahu's trip to Amman and now Cairo), and the Pope's trip to Israel and the PA. A full court press is underway against Israel to bring about a "peace treaty" with the Arab League, with the Palestinian state as a cornerstone of that treaty. The "moderate" Arabs need this treaty to give them cover against their own restive Shia populations, because they need Israel as a military bulwark against Iran's hegemony over the Persian Gulf region. Everyone knows the treaty is coming, they're just maneuvering and manipulating events to create the right set of circumstances to foist this on the Israeli people. Perhaps the announcement of a preliminary treaty agreement will come on Tisha B' Av. That would be ominous wouldn't it! One thing we can be certain of: war on a massive scale is coming to the Middle East, probably in early to mid 2010! For all you Arab loving Leftist Jews, Kiss them good-bye! And for all you freedom loving Jews, prepare to make Aliya!
Let's be real... Jews would have voted for Adolf Hitler had he run as a Democrat in the US elections. Jewish People are liberal and like to sit on the fence when it comes to Judaism and Israel. Someone once said that Jews make money like Episcopalians, but vote like Puerto Ricans. By this statement, don't expect much to come out of the Jew's mouth when Mr. Obama reduces God's land (Israel) into a trash heap. Just like 1939 when the Germans demanded "living space" did the world give in for the imaginary peace that they thought would follow. We all know the rest of that story. The so called Palestinians already have a homeland, in fact two parts of a homeland. One in Jordan whose population is almost 65% Palestinian Arab, and the other in Gaza. The Gaza situation is rather unique. Here stupid Israel gives up this territory complete with on going Settlements, towns, and the like to criminals. Had these animals utilized the Greenhouses, buildings, developed resources, etc for the good, you might make the point that it was worth the evacuation, but what did these animals wind up doing? They destroyed everything. Burnt and destroyed everything that was standing, and looted what wasn't destroyed, and what did Stupid Israel receive for their generosity and largess? Daily rockets, missiles from these animals that have killed innocent Israelis simply for giving up this territory and doing the right thing.
For Norman Birnbaum: Your comment that Jews "are substituting ethnocentrism for religion" is a very common anti-Zionist position. It wishes to claim that the Jews are merely a religious community, and the support for a Jewish national life is a type of betrayal of their own religion. I have always wondered about the religious background of those who make this very strange comment. It would seem that they are concerned about the future of Judaism, but the truth is that this position can only be made by one who actually knows very little about the Jewish religion.
The Jewish religion (if that's your point of reference for Jewish identity) defines the Jews as a nation. If you have ever study even a few pages of the Talmud, you would know that the view of Judaism is that there are "70 nations" in the world - and the Jews are one of those nations (and their Hebrew language is one of the "70 tongues" of the world). If you aren't familiar with Biblical literature or with the Talmud, then the Jewish prayerbook is the next best view into the point of view of the Jewish religion. In the prayerbook, we note that the Jews are a people chosen from all the peoples of the world. This nation was exiled from its homeland, and the prayerbook is literally busy with reminding us that we shall be restored to this homeland. Your claim that "ethnocentrism" has replaced Judaism is the exact opposite of the historic Jewish narrative. The Jewish religion has been one of the tools for preserving our peoplehood identity.
Finally, your comment that the American Jews are needed as "replacements for the Israelis who are leaving..." is another very typical anti-Zionist comment based on some imagined reality (just as you have an imagined reality as to the essence of the Jewish religion). Your intention is, of course, that Israel is a failure, and its inhabitants are leaving. That is the wishful thinking of the anti-Zionist. Israel has emerged as the largest of all Jewish centers in the world. Very soon, more than half of the world Jewish population will be living in Israel. Sorry to confuse you with the facts, but Israel is simply a success story. Given the circumstances in which Israel must survive (i.e. a very complicated and violent conflict), the rise of Israel as the center of Jewish life is much more than just a success story.
The worst thing Israel has ever done in its 60 year history was the reliquishing of Gaza. The withdrawal has strengthened Hamas, the puppet government of Iran, subjected Israeli citizens to constant rocket attacks. It clearly set an expectation for the non-Jewish Palestinians that their aspirations for a state on the western side of the Jordan is a possibility, even though the Eastern Side is run by a monarchy established by the British, and Palestinian statehood is taboo subject there.
Now, when did that happen? Who pressured Israel to reliquinish its territory? Could it be, Mr. Neusner that it was George Bush, our last President? Was he truly a friend of Israel or did he undermine the State and its foundation?
Democrats believe in negotiation, and lots of talk but no concrete action, and that has always been good for the State of Israel. Just look at the desperation felt by Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. All their talk produced little. Republicans require action, and as the Gaza withdrawal demonstrates that is very dangerous. I would rather have a democrat in the White House than any Republican, especially George Bush.
The worst thing Israel has ever done in its 60 year history was the reliquishing of Gaza. The withdrawal has strengthened Hamas, the puppet government of Iran, subjected Israeli citizens to constant rocket attacks. It clearly set an expectation for the non-Jewish Palestinians that their aspirations for a state on the western side of the Jordan is a possibility, even though the Eastern Side is run by a monarchy established by the British, and Palestinian statehood is taboo subject there.
Now, when did that happen? Who pressured Israel to reliquinish its territory? Could it be, Mr. Neusner that it was George Bush, our last President? Was he truly a friend of Israel or did he undermine the State and its foundation?
Democrats believe in negotiation, and lots of talk but no concrete action, and that has always been good for the State of Israel. Just look at the desperation felt by Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. All their talk produced little. Republicans require action, and as the Gaza withdrawal demonstrates that is very dangerous. I would rather have a democrat in the White House than any Republican, especially George Bush.
Hmmm...To judge from this author's credentials, maybe the Forward is inching toward giving the "neocons" a hearing rather than stick with the gloating, puerile lampooning they were content with in the afterglow of the election of the Obamessiah.
Communique to YI from planet earth -- "Democrats believe in negotiation, and lots of talk but no concrete action"? How would you describe the feverish whirling about of our Oval Office Amateur and his flunkies Clinton, Biden, and Mitchell? Their frantic desire to screw Israel through action, not palaver, brings to mind the panicked activity of gents desperately searching for the water closet. They have been pushing Israel harder than Bush ever did, and Obama's tuchis hasn't even warmed the seat of his swivel chair yet. No matter: Obama and company can always count on the mindless loyalty of liberal Jews. It was Lenin, I believe, who coined the description of booklicking camp followers who never veer from adoration of their leader regardless of how they are hurt by his policies: he called them "useful idiots."
Wow, a Bushian wingnut criticizing Obama and the Democrats and J Street. Gosh, I'm utterly...unshocked by this. Also unmoved by his predictable whining.
Why so bitter, Tommy? Mommy forget to put marshmallows in your hot chocolate?
avrum moshe, is your real name khalid mohammed, because you do sound like one of those Hamas types who sent in the unrecorded checks that propelled this coward who sat in a pew into the White House.
Or better yet, are you someone like Soros or Emanuel, willing to sell out your own people for a piece of Judas' silver?
Forget Neusner was in President Bush's administration. Even forget Bush for a minute, though the guy - as much as the Left Neo-Fascists hate him - was a true friend of Israel. You have an administration where even a bumbling pompous dummkopf like Biden - supposedly Obama's check and balance on Israel - came off more like Jimbo Baker last week than the friend he was supposed to be. In fact there is NOT one single policymaker in this cabinet who is either a true friend of Israel or at least has any REAL understanding of Israel's security needs.
And not one of you, Avrum Mohammed, Tommy Beck and others are saying a word about B.O.'s incredible decision to give Hamas 900 mil at a time America needs that money much more than terrorist scum - or even Israel - needs it. You don't say anything about the constant appeasement of Iran and other enemies, or the type of incompetent, asinine, brain dead advisors this Messiah Chimp has hired to conduct policy. ALL of them are guaranteed failures - from the days of Carter through Bush I and Clinton, yet the Chimp in his animus towards Neo-Cons and his love for the Saids and Khalidis of the world brings them back.
Someone said it right in an earlier post. If Hitler was alive and a Democrat, Jews would vote for him in big numbers. They knew what this guy was about, and yet they chose self-loathing, self-denial, and the acceptance of Islamoterror lies rather than their own common sense.
Pamela DeMaigret,
Nice name. Certainly not Jewish, of course, but perhaps more Vichyite from a France who betrayed their best in two World Wars and continue, even under a Sarkozy, to betray their friends and allies today.
If you think J Street is so pro-Israel, Pammy, then I suggest you adopt a very sympathetic view of the Judenrat and Kapos of World War II.In their situation, they really had no choice. But for Ben-Ami, Alterman, Lerner, Lurie, and MJ Rosenberg, they do have a choice, and they still piss on Israel while their benefactor smiles as he did when he stole from Jewish homes in Budapest in the waning days of World War II. His name - Soros, a bigger crook and mumzer than Bernie Madoff could ever be, not to mention a self-confessed Nazi collaborator.
Even if all American Jews were to become psychic slaves of whatever Israeli government rules-- something in no way likely-- that would still be a paultry minority and could not impose Israel's interests over America's on the US polity. Therefore, the neocons, claiming that they alone speak for all American Jews, pulled a fraudulent Madoffian scheme, insisting that: WHATEVER IS GOOD FOR ISRAEL IS GOOD FOR AMERICA. But what is clear is that the Israeli military spooks sought to exploit the impression of admiring Pentagon officers that the IDF runs its own paralell Israeli government and can do whatever it wants. These Pentagon-IDF military cliques of right wing political babes in the woods combined to create the illusory JINSA, an influence peddling propaganda machine for the bi-national militarty-industrial complex (panicked by cuts in post-Cold War defense cuts) that Eisenhower warned us about in 1960. As a result of the Bush election, there was no "peace dividend" from the end of the Cold War. Instead, for eight years, the US was derouted from its global mission of encircling China to become the armed mad dog with which Israel threatened the world-- Europe, Asia and the Middle East-- in order to intimidate others into submission to its interests. The last eight years are not only a monument to how mindless was the Bush Administration but also to how the neocons recklessly incriminated American Jewery as, in its name, they afixed the US into needless war with the Arabs and threat of war with Iran. As the US suffers defeat in AfgPak, analysts clearly see that it was due to the 2003 change of focus from South Asia-- where the real 9/11 culprits were-- to the Middle East, where only Israel's interests, as espoused by the neocons, were at issue. Of course, Israel exploited any fait accompli that came its way. But it never had the power to lead the US by the nose; that was left to the 9/11 panic manipulation of american fears by the ex-Leninist neocons, as taught to do long ago as Red revolutionaries. What is scary is that the self-serving profiteers associated with the neocons were responsible for this shift in focus, not for Israel's sake, but for their own interests that happened to coinside with Israel's. If, however, Americans come to see Israel and the neocons as of one Zionist cloth, then it will be an inescapable impression that dumb George was duped into serving Israeli interests-- AGAINST AMERICAN INTERESTS-- losing life and treasure in the Middle East under the guidance of this "Fifth Column." Should Israel and its limited American minions (a recent poll shows that only some 23% of American Jews would even consider themselves as mereley "pro-Zionist")ever lose perspective and get drunk with chutzpah, trying to bully Obama into submission, the unfortunate Mideast misfortune imposed on the US by its Mideast misadventures, will present to the "dumb goyim" American public their Jewish American brethren as responsible AT GREAT COST TO AMERICA'S SECURITY. Combining this with the current hunt for scapegoats for our economic crisis, one can only anticipate a Krystalnacht Crisis that none of us can control. I can only hope that Netanyahu will be much wiser than the screwballs in his cabinet and will not polarize Obama into US interests vs. Israeli interests. Not only would that be catastrophic for Israel, but it would be very dangerous for American Jews. While indeed the Zionists had exploited the plight of European Jews through the last century for their own interests, it would be criminal for them to repeat that selfish short-sighted recklessness as this dangerous time. Iran is no longer a US-Israel issue so long as Israel still thinks of the US as its obedient attack dog that it can command via AIPAC control of our corrupt and unprincipled Congress. The latter is so divorsed from the public that it is already engedering great disdain. A repeat of neocon slander of Obama, as the neocons practiced through the presidential campaign, is a reckless crime against the American Jews, all as American as apple pie and nobody's fifth column. Netanyahu is very savvy and, I'm sure, will come to Wash DC as leader of a client state, not as a bully claiming that he can marshall White Power against this "schwartza" President. For Radical elements to seek to set Netanyahu up with such chutzpah bravado is totally a sin against the Jewish people. As leader of a client state, Netanyahu will do as told because he is in desperate need for Israel to become a real state so it can end its client status. In that sense, he will leave Wash DC as of one cloth with Obama, a true realist ally with a common goal: Israel integrated in the Middle East politically, diplomatically, culturally and economically as a potential leader of the region's sci/tech modernization.
De Tedeooru, what kind of name is that. Not french thopughj it sounds like it could be. Notice the double o in the name. Thats Arab no doubt.
How dare you threaten Americans with a Krystalnacht Crisis. You dispicable Anti-semetic peice of dirt. Do you think you are threatening the Jews of the Thirties, that you will frighten them by such threats. Your very expression gives rise as to why American Jews should be supporting Israel, as it may be yourf escape hatch when scum such as Tedoooru espouse his crap and the unknowlegeable follow is perversions.
You can go to hell Tedeooru, and I hope a Jew sends you there.
Well good morning. Some of us Jews were warning about this for a while, even those of us who are totally secular and not into the Greater Israel idea. Obama will give ALL of Israel to the Arabs, forget about the 67 borders, which mean nothing to the Arabs in any case.
If you are a "friend of Israel" you don't attend at anti-Israel Church (which was also anti-Semitic although that didn't bother any Jewish Democrats for some reason). What else would you call blaming 9/11 on Israelis? And you know Obama just sat there and nodded. For 20 years.
Carrie, very well said. That is the point that all of the 78 percent who voted for Obama should have mulled over time and time again before acting like "good germans" and voting for the S.O.B. because he was a Democrat.
You don't sit a pew listening to hate-filled screeching from a Nazi of Color for 20 years unless 1.) you have the guts to stand up and walk out, which HE never did, or 2.) you applaud the sentiments of the bastard Uncle Jerry, which he DID.
And you DON'T associate with the likes of Said, Khalidi, Ayers, Power and Brezinzski unless you shared their anti-Israel, and yes, anti-Semitic views.
As for DE Tedooru, I've seen the name before. As I pointed out in another column, as far as I'm concerned, anyone who spews out the words "Neo-Con" as if being a patriotic American who helped defeat a racist, cowardly bastard like Jimmy Carter or standing up for Israel is something evil or "fascist" is the true fascist, or yes, Nazi themselves.
Ergo, anyone who smears Neo-Cons deserve to be called Nazis, and justifiably so. Case Closed.
Eisenstein reads like an old article in Pravda and since it and the USSR no longer exists there's no point responding to it. But the other two are most worrisome because they set themselves up seeming to say: extremist pro-Israel or nothing is allowed. As one article recently pointed out, Israel hasn't had a one party Knesset since its inception. Therefore, any totalist position automatically causes collapse of the government constructed as a chimera. But those who seek to speak for Israel abroad always present some extreme view as if the whole nation is of one mind on anything. I wrote what I wrote in Forward in the hope that American Jews would consider the impression this kind of extreme pro-Israel gingoism-- basically derisive slander of any critic-- makes on us "dumb goyim," as often privately refered by by such extremists. When foolishly these extemists assert "case closed," that's an expression of the chutzpah I spoke of, for the case is only "closed" when Israel gets gut off of money, arms and support-- then that would really be "case closed," but for Israel, not for the US. Imagine mass media outlets in the US saying that to Jewish commentators. These two, Allan and Carrie, would scream in the name of democracy; but here, in FORWARD, I guess they feel they owe not what they demand for themsleves outside. Let me point out that my comment was not meant to demand that a non-Jew be given freedom of expression in a Jewish publication. It was written in a Jewish publication to warn my fellow American Jews of the brewing anti-Semitism I saw over the years in the overall non-Jewish world, something that is hard for a Jew to see from the inside, despite pretended infiltration. Anri-Semites are as hard to infiltrate as are Latino gangs and their thinking takes a lot of drawing out to understand. It is dangerous to relly on the "madman hate" thesis of the Holocaust Industry because that misses all the part-way masses that give it depth with not very profound but still not insane reasons. The history of anti-Communism in America shows how anti-ism can spread among perfectly rational people. To limit it to the insane is at one's own peril. Assimilation seems to be its own worse enemy, for it is at a time of total assimilation that extremists seek to again polarize Jews by impicating them in their own extreme Zionist positions. Like the neocons, they call Jews who disagree: "self-hating Jews," a phrase that gives extremists liscence to abuse Jews who won't by their views mentally and physically. But most Jews, the 78% that Carrie spoke of that voted for Obama, FIRST AND FOREMOST consider themselves AMERICANS and judge politics, first and foremost, in terms of the risks resulting to America from their integrated and assimilated status as full-blooded Americans. While they indulge dangerous types like Carrie, Allen and Comrade Eisenstein, they refuse to anything that threatens their American integration and identity. Netayahu knows this and has always been adaptive to the Americanism of American Jews. But losers with nothing more to lose-- like the neocons-- keep pushing, not out of insane love for Israel, but out of need for a nitch, dangerously counting on the unstable extremist American Bible-babble crowd to stand with them. Such people don't know their political history well and would do well to review it because, unlike the neocons that cashed in from service to arms industry, most of them have no villas and luxury aparetments in "Eurabia" to run off to in case of an American Krystalnacht. Far better for Carrie and Alan to discuss anti-Semitism as one would discuss cancer-- insipid-->pernicious-->metastatic--> unrelenting-- with a view to preventive cure than the illusion that only by engaging in cancer inducing behaviors can you prevent getting cancer.
Most Jewish leftists couldn't care less about Israel they only bring up their Jewish Heritage when it comes to bashing Israel.Many Jewish supporters of Obama are so hateful of Israel that Anti Jewish websites applaud them for example here is David Duke applauding a so called Jewish blogger http://www.davidduke.com/general/mccain-panders-to-jewish-voters_4980.html
Alan here is DE Tedooru 2nd or 3rd on the page http://www.weaselzippers.net/blog/2008/11/iran-the-characteristics-of-israel-are-terrorism-espionage-and-bloodsucking.html
Mark,
Thank you. It does confirm everything I already figured out about the weasel. Note too, how he does the typical anti-Semite canard dance of -"I'm your friend. I'm hear to warn you how your actions create bigots, cowards, and anti-Semites" - like D.E. Teodoodo.
A friend would not spew pro-Islamofascist garbage. He or she would have the guts to confront Hamas and or Iran and say: Why did you continue to shell Sderot for three years after Disengagement and why do you continue to hold Shalit? It is time for you to disarm and seek real peace, or I support whatever measures the Israelis will do to you.
Or to Ahmedinejedad. Cease nuclear activity or not only will I support the Israelis I will demand that Obama get off his cowardly arse and take out your nukes himself.
Instead D.E. goosesteppings and lectures Israel and threatens ala Biden and Baker, with the touch of malice of a Jeremiah Wright.
As I stated before, anyone who spews Neo-Con as if patriotic Americans are fascists are the fascists and Nazis themselves. Teodoodo, if the shoes fit - you goosestep in them, fella.
Liberal-Left American Jews who claim they care about Israel rank among the most deluded human beings to ever exist on this planet. But so what and who cares, they and their offspring will disappear from the family of Judaism as they rapidly assimilate into secular American culture.
Memo to DE Tedooru Wow -- you must be getting paid by the word! Groping my way through your jungle of verbiage, it seems to me that what you are advocating is a carbon copy of American Jewry's cowardly stupor during the Holocaust. For fear of antagonizing our non-Jewish fellow Americans, we let FDR get away with nary a condemnatory word against the on-going murder of the six million. If we do the same today, for fear of sparking an outbreak of anti-Semitism in America, we abandon Israel to a special crematorium of her own. Looking the other way never eliminates the lash, it just makes the next whipping all the more painful.
No, the Right was not right about Obama.
Our president is using good judgment at every stage. With new information, he approaches his new responsibility without being fettered by past notions.
We elected an intelligent president who would not be held to agenda-laden notions. He examines the consequences of an act, and if he sees negative consequences, that he may not have seen before, he makes the right decision.
Earth to Renee Gold Pls define each "agenda driven past notion" you refer to, and explain specifically why you object to each one. Generalizations, extrapolations, obfuscations, and discombobulations not permitted. Also, since the Jewish liberal mental pathology exhibited by yourself probably encompasses not just Obama smooching, but also abhorring the torturing of terrorists, the quote below from an acknowledged liberal democrat in a rare moment of sanity may be of interest. Better read it sitting down.
Charles Schumer On “Torture” - “Do What You Have To Do” During a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 8th, 2004, Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) discusses harsh interrogation methods, saying to Attorney General John Ashcroft:
“And I’d like to interject a note of balance here. There are times when we all get in high dudgeon. We ought to be reasonable about this. I think there are probably very few people in this room or in America who would say that torture should never, ever be used, particularly if thousands of lives are at stake. Take the hypothetical: If we knew that there was a nuclear bomb hidden in an American city and we believed that some kind of torture, fairly severe maybe, would give us a chance of finding that bomb before it went off, my guess is most Americans and most senators, maybe all, would say, Do what you have to do. So it’s easy to sit back in the armchair and say that torture can never be used. But when you’re in the foxhole, it’s a very different deal.”
Renee Gold,
How is the Kool-Aid these days? Should we ask (speaking of good judgement) Reverend Wright to make up a new batch especially for you?
With every passing day this coward who knew how to sit in a pew for 20 years and associate with every kind of anti-Semite and anti-American from Wright and Senator Byrd to Khalidi, Brezinzski and Power makes Dick Cheney look even better than he did before.
Freedom for Gitmo terrorists (care to have them live right next door to you, Renee?), 900 million to Hamas while Americans still face horrendous budget problems, bowing down to Saudi Kings, lecturing and threatening not an Iran who is a clear adversary of this country but our ally Israel. In fact, the Renee Golds of the world who claim to be good Jews are really no better than the anti-Semites like Teodoodo when they remain silent when Biden craps on Israel like James Baker used to, or Emanuel gives lectures why a Hamas state is in Israel's best interest and we won't do a thing about Iran (as if cowards like Obama and Biden ever would) if you don't report progress on committing suicide, Israel.
No, Renee, even now I'd vote for a Bush or Cheney over Obama because the guy not only is NOT a friend of Israel, he does NOT act in the best interests of America, period - and I doubt he ever will.
To Renee obama is a highly intelligent teleprompter reader thats it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjS7JuOcm6g
It is sad to think that the Jews have lost all these years (call it 10, 20, 30, or 40) trying(/pretending) to settle terms with the Palestinians when they could've been forming a much more vibrant economy and society like they have in every other part of the world they've emmigrated to. Look at South America, USA, Europe, Asia: almost anywhere in the world they've gone to their culture has succeeded in presenting new jewish immigrants with a wonderful home, virtually crime/oppression-free, except for...ISRAEL!
Instead of reliving the 20th century of colonialism, which worked for awhile but whose time has passed, Israel should be putting this ugly period behind them and moving onto civilized society where they excel. Israelis clearly don't excel in colonizing societies in the 21st century, it has only been a tar on their culture. They've turned from victims to victimizers and it seems to me that they would be better off walking away and being neither.
Enter into a peace deal for goodness sakes! For yourselves and the Palestinians. Be tough, but continuing settlement-expansion is, frankly, disgusting to all of us global citizens. Make your own choice, but you've got to know in your hearts how it looks to the rest of us. - - - We've put ourselves in your shoes (how could we not with all this media coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian "situation"). Now put yourselves in ours...How would you feel if you were us?
Belong to our community again, we will protect and support you. Be a racist colonizer and we will only think of our own racist, colonizing past, and we will have to shun you...
Sam or Samir the Jews don't need Arabs as protectors the Jewish State of Israel is here to stay.If not for 6 day war Judea and Samaria would still be under Jordanian control under a king who was transported from Saudi Arabia.A place where Jews were not allowed to live or visit the Jewish Holy sites
It is rather depressing to see the level to which discussion of this issue of our president relative to Israel has fallen. The capacity for insults seems to be most of what there is. But the real issue is what are you going to do, Mark, if, God forbid, the reckless mix of looking for a scapgoat to blame for their economic plight melds with the Fifth Column argument in enough Americans' minds to make Krystalnaht an American event? Will you be the same wise ass or will you be pleading for help on softer terms, hopefully not too late?
I have seen a lot of the perpetrator turn victim and a lot of jesters swept away in their helplessness, like caterpillars crossing a busy street who never knew the wheels that ran them over. No matter how much you want to help, when it is too late it may well be too late because the freedom you can't dany others may well seize you in the dark. Obviously, someone like you can't see the signs around you; indeed, you may be too much of a wise ass to notice until it literally hits you in the face. But I have seen anti-Semitism brewing in many countries. For most of its evolution it is invisible and when it erupts its victims are caught totally helpless. I also saw it smuldering a long time before showing its ugly head again seemingly for on reason. And the perpetrators of mob driven visciousness are not the usual cast of characters you would expect but those whom you would least believe. Take time to think that you come from a rich intellectual tradition that has learned much, most of it in the hardest and cruelest costly ways. We are so often victims of history but it never is new, it is recycling of old garbage under new cover. Some day you may have kids and you will have to protect them if, God forbid, the worst happens. You will need friends then so don't urinate on those who come to you to discuss the issues before it is too late. Have you not seen the hate expressed on this very site? Your wise-cracking of today you may tomorrow see as an act of doom. It really matters not that you dismiss the chance I offer you to dialogue. But it matters that you refuse to look at history and see that bravado words are no protective armor. WE all owe it to our society to be civil and collaborative on minimum standards of common unity for freedom from persecution. For you the Holocaust may be useful as a unique event, distinct from any other. But for me, having seen persecution and state terror in my own life-- as well as anti-Semitism brew and explode-- I urge you not to be so slanderous and dismissive for you are in the belly of the beast, should the worst happen here. Try to learn how to avoid so you can evade in time the animal side of human society. Like the old Russian saying goes: man is wolf to man. This nation has had its worst of times and could have even worse; so your insolent jibes are at your expense more than at mine. Be serious, be responsible, for it may indeed be quarter to Kristalnacht. Join the effort to defuse the rage that is sweeping America and the image people like you project in your bravado. Please, for all our sakes.
I am heartened by the posts by intelligent knowledgeable and concerned Jews. It is something of a surprise to find on a parochial leftist web site like the Forward. There are some wonderfully insightful perspectives expressed here.
The obvious short answer to the question gently posed by the author is yes, the American Right was right about Obama. Pro-Israel Democratic Jews were warned, by Jesse Jackson, and aware of all the information that was exposed about Obama during the campaign. They simply chose their parochial political ideology over the existential risk to Israel. They chose "hope" over prudence, and "change" without worrying that they were being conned.
Will they stand up to Obama? Probably not, at least not soon enough or strongly enough. It takes a harsh dose of reality to overcome denial. It is probably hard for them to face the reality of the most concerted attack ever launched against the Jewish State of Israel by an American administration. And time is short.
However dangerous Obama's attempts to coerce Israel into a "peace" with its sworn enemies, it pales when compared to the threat posed by Iran. It appears that Obama has chosen to accept the impending reality of a nuclear armed Iran, and is now running out the clock, while publicly threatening Israel to do nothing to prevent it.
If American Jews will respond with outrage, at least they can try to live with themselves by having stood up against Obama, and for Israel, in her hour of need.
I am heartened by the posts by intelligent knowledgeable and concerned Jews. It is something of a surprise to find on a parochial leftist web site like the Forward. There are some wonderfully insightful perspectives expressed here.
The obvious short answer to the question gently posed by the author is yes, the American Right was right about Obama. Pro-Israel Democratic Jews were warned, by Jesse Jackson, and aware of all the information that was exposed about Obama during the campaign. They simply chose their parochial political ideology over the existential risk to Israel. They chose "hope" over prudence, and "change" without worrying that they were being conned.
Will they stand up to Obama? Probably not, at least not soon enough or strongly enough. It takes a harsh dose of reality to overcome denial. It is probably hard for them to face the reality of the most concerted attack ever launched against the Jewish State of Israel by an American administration. And time is short.
However dangerous Obama's attempts to coerce Israel into a "peace" with its sworn enemies, it pales when compared to the threat posed by Iran. It appears that Obama has chosen to accept the impending reality of a nuclear armed Iran, and is now running out the clock, while publicly threatening Israel to do nothing to prevent it.
If American Jews will respond with outrage, at least they can try to live with themselves by having stood up against Obama, and for Israel, in her hour of need.
Please note the following comment by Abraham Sofaer, who was a New York State federal judge, the State Department's top lawyer under Ronald Reagan, and a fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution. The quote is from "Lost Years," by Mark Matthews, published by Nation Books, 2007. As we have seen in the past several days from the Obama-Netanyahu meeting, the situation because of Obama's visible hostility to Israel is infinitely more dire today for the Jewish State: "If I were an Israeli, I would think of the United States as my best friend, and certainly not the equivalent of the Europeans who have in fact collaborated or actually been part of the Axis. Nonetheless, I still wouldn't trust the United States with the future of the Jewish people. I wouldn't turn over to the United States the decisions that are critical to the security of Israel."
Kind greetings and my compliments to the many thoughtful contributors to this discussion.
Many concerns about Obama proved correct (Chas Freeman appointment, Biden bullying, proposed cuts in military spending, the bow to the Saudi King, the wrongful Obama negation of US financial and military support for Muslims (Somalia, Bosnia, Kosova, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Egypt, Jordan, Palestinians, etc.), and a Hug a Thug Obama Doctrine that has inspired enemies and offended friends of the USA.
May I please share a substantive guide to Israel and US Missile Defense that I think is relevant.
Israel's last 2 wars were about missiles...
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/close-the-missile-defense-gap-now/
I am a member of both J street and MoveOn.org, but have come to the conclusion that a Jewish state is inherently racist and needs to be dismantled. I hope that Obama and Iran can come to common cause on this issue. If Iran uses force to do this, it will save the US precious money and muscle. I used to be a zionist, but given that the zionist entity is flawed, I can no longer support it. San Francisco is my Jerusalem, and Sabella's restaurant is my Noble Sanctuary
To "Rabbi Tony":
Leonard Fine, is that you?
To my liberal Jewish friends -- no words could have more clearly expressed your own Jewish self-hatred than the above statement by "Rabbi" Tony Jutner. Why don't you speak up, let us know who you are, and say plainly that you agree with him? Or are you too ashamed?
In the final analysis, the extreme Zionist right wing has the short end of the rope. Time is not on the side of the maximalists. Thus the exasperation of the respondents to Neusner's article. Netanyahu will ultimately have to follow suit and pursue a settlement with the Palestinians or perhaps turn Israel into a pariah state.
The goal of creating a peace in the middle east is hared by Israel and the USA if not by all other nations.
Conservative Jews assure themselves that they and they alone know how this goal is to be achieved. Any methods not congruent with their fantasies are obviously defective thinking.
I am an ultra Liberal Sabra who has lived many years in the USA and is going to spend many years in Israel. The security situation is of paramount importance to me but I am assured by conservatives that liberal Jews could care less about Israel's needs. This is sheer poppycock.
Israel was birthed as a state by progressives and liberals, not by conservatives who now lay claim to being the only ones who care about and for Israel and who must be listened to. As Johnny come lately's they have decided that no progressive must be aloud to speak or contribute unless he first pays fealty to conservative fantasies of their inherent superiority.
I beg to differ with all you cons but Bibi has as much vision as any blind shrew. He knew precious little in his previous administration and seems to have become more ignorant and blind with time. His term in service is unlikely to be any more lengthy than his first attempt. He has no capacity to grow in office. He simply likes being in charge but has no idea what to do when he gets there.
Earth to Kal Palnicki "Israel was birthed by progressives and liberals"? My friend, this is baloney, bushwah, cholent, gribinetz,and knaidlach. Israel was birthed by courageous Jewish leaders who knew the world for swine and anti-Semites, with one of the few exceptions being the USA, and not the entire USA, mind you. No less a renowned American than General George Catlett Marshall stood four square against American backing of the Jewish state. It was Begin and the Irgun who pried Palestine loose from the grip of the British and their partners in perfidy, the Arabs. And it was their hanging of British soldiers in retaliation for the execution of Irgun fighters that finally led to the pulling down of the Union Jack. Netanyahu is the only Israeli leader now extant who follows in that heroic tradition. The following advertisement taken out in the NY Times in 1947, from which I have space only to quote brief excerpts, is eloquent testimony to the fighters whose courage and daring created Israel, and nary a one of them was a "progressive" or a "liberal." The advertisement was written by Ben Hecht, American co-chairman of the Irgun and Hollywood's most famous screenwriter (Gone With the Wind, Scarface, Kiss of Death, etc.) Hecht to the Irgun: "Every time you blow up a British arsenal, or wreck a British jail, or send a British railroad train sky high, or rob a British bank, or let go with your guns and bombs at the British betrayers and invaders of your homeland, the Jews of America make a little holiday in their hearts...Right now all the respectability of the Jews (Hecht here is referring to progressives and liberals in the US)is handsomely engaged in cooing before the United Nations. ...True enough,Jewish respectability is making a bit of noise at the moment. Our "Jewish leaders" are pleading for a Jewish sanctuary in fine, measured strophes. They want a sanctuary where the Jews of Europe can all stand on a rock and eat philanthrophy fish till the Messiah arrives..." Netanyahu would have been saluted by Ben Hecht as a worthy comrade.
To all our left leaning Jews. Will it take Israel being nuked by Iran to finally realize how wrong you are? Netanyahu has it right, get the Palestinian economy working, let the Palestinians start feeling good about themselves. But who is Israel to negotiate a 2 state plan with? The Palestinians don't have one leader...do we negotiate with Abbas, or Hamas? Why should we even negotiate if neither recognizes Israels right to exist? Should Israel negotiate with Abbas who was pressuring Obama to do what he can to have Netanyahu overthrown? Where is all our wonderful Jewish members of the American government, Mr. Emanuel, Mr Geithner??? Are you guys really letting Obama go with the belief that the 2 state solution comes before dealing with Iran? Do we let Iran develope the nuke only to have it given to some Hizbollah suicide bomber to unleash himself in Israel? I'm Canadian, what Obama and my Jewish lantzmen to the south are doing is disgraceful.
To all our left leaning Jews. Will it take Israel being nuked by Iran to finally realize how wrong you are? Netanyahu has it right, get the Palestinian economy working, let the Palestinians start feeling good about themselves. But who is Israel to negotiate a 2 state plan with? The Palestinians don't have one leader...do we negotiate with Abbas, or Hamas? Why should we even negotiate if neither recognizes Israels right to exist? Should Israel negotiate with Abbas who was pressuring Obama to do what he can to have Netanyahu overthrown? Where is all our wonderful Jewish members of the American government, Mr. Emanuel, Mr Geithner??? Are you guys really letting Obama go with the belief that the 2 state solution comes before dealing with Iran? Do we let Iran develope the nuke only to have it given to some Hizbollah suicide bomber to unleash himself in Israel? I'm Canadian, what Obama and my Jewish lantzmen to the south are doing is disgraceful.
Yehuda, you wrote on May 15 .......A Jewish nation life is a type of betrayal of their own religion.
The Jewish nation was to be as a nation of holy priest. They have faild G-D and the world. Yes, they were chosen out of 70 nations to become One Nation of Holy Priest, to serve G-D'S Will. G-D is the G-D of Mankind. For it is wirten... Jeremiah 31 "I am the LORD, the G-D of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?" Ehlohay Khawl Ha Arets G-D of All The Earth It is written...Isaiah 54 For your Maker is your husband the LORD Almighty is his name The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the G-D of All The Earth.
From the braking of the tablets the two sided law----they have walked in error and most did not turn.
Everthing has gone to the dogs! Everyone is on the make. Everyone seeks self-advancement, and no one cares anymore for the public good. when there is such self-serving and self-seeking, moreover, the needy of society predictably disappear from the screen of public awareness. Yes, the Jewish people in Israel or in all the nations have failed G-D 'S Torah purpose of neighborliness. It will for that reason suffer devastation. Make note of this....The end is not yet. The devastation is not the last word. There is still hope they will again become its true self, a practitioner of righteousness and faithfulness, yes, there is hope but nevertheless itis deeply postsuffering hope. G-D'S wrath is deep and serious and outlasted only by G-D'S resolve to bring Jerusalem to its true and proper function as a place of justice. The city of G-D which runs through the threat of history and even beyond that threat.
It is written in Isaiah 1 you can read, the response of modest hope and large devastation.
For it is written....Isaiah 1 ....But rebels and sinners shall be destroyed together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
The reason is clear here, for it is written in the next verses......For you shall be ashamed of the oaks in which you delighted;
The oaks and gardens embodiments and symbols of growth, power, and self-generation vitality will shrivel, dry up and fail. These are those you looked to instead of your G-D. Isaiah 43 "Iam the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King. Isaiah 40 Do you not know? have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting G-D the Creator of the ends of the eath. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
Remember this....It was G-D alone, that caused it to prosper in times past. Israel or even United States, the nation that was under the banner, In G-D We Trust. United States, should remember what happens when one leaves the protection of the only wise G-D. For it is written...Psalm 109.. But You, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for Your name's sake; out of the goodness of Your love, deliver me. It's easy to see, G-D'S blessing is coming off, due to their sins. One Nation Under G-D, these words are being taken down and tosed away. They should rethink!
Isaiah 2... In days to come the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it.
This was the true reason G-D took them from the 70 nations, so that ---all the nations would stream to it and know G-D.
G-D has summons us to renewed obedience.....it is written Isaiah 2 ..O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!
Read the address-----"HOUSE of JACOB" This is the community of the great promises in Genesis, and is offered as a call to worship. There is a BUT to all of it---entry into worship entails and embrace of the TWO SIDED LAW that was first given in Genesis. Walk in Unity with G-D'S Will.
Genesis 17 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am G-D Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless. The G-D of Host----Psalm 80... Turn us again, O G-D of host, and cause Thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.