Times of Israel Staff reports:
If these reports are true, Barack Obama should be commended for the emerging clarity of his intentions towards the Jewish State and, thereby, toward the Jewish people.President Barack Obama’s supposed congratulatory call to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, two days after the Likud leader triumphed in Israel’s elections, was actually a bitter 30-minute conversation, Israel’s two main TV news stations reported Friday night
Quoting unnamed Israeli sources, they said the president made clear he didn’t believe Netanyahu was genuinely supportive of a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict, and that he indicated that the US would no longer automatically support Israel at the United Nations.
According to a Channel 10 read out on the call, indeed, Obama left Netanyahu with “the impression that he intends to abandon Israel at the UN.”
The United States has actually been considering a reevaluation of ties with Israel, including its automatic support for the Jewish state at the United Nations Security Council, for at least four months, the Israeli sources also told Channel 2. Although the White House claims the reassessment was prompted by Netanyahu’s remarks on Monday in which he rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state — and which he walked back Thursday — that is not the case, according to the officials.
It is, after all, much preferable to have an openly hostile president in the Oval Office then one who tells us that he "has Israel's back" as he sharpens the blade to plunge into that back.
It seems reasonably clear that the Obama administration is planning some sort-of retaliation against the Jews of Israel for daring to disobey him in the election last Tuesday. The re-election of Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel was a terrible insult to Obama and this president does not take well to either criticism or dissent.
The first concern, naturally, is that Obama will simply withhold the US veto at the UN the next time that organization takes steps to vilify Israel and hobble its ability to defend itself in the ongoing Arab war against the Jews of the Middle East.
Another related concern is that the Obama administration will back the Palestinian Authority's efforts to force an unfavorable non-solution down Israel's throat at the UN, thereby pressuring Israel to drag Jews from their homes in Judea and Samaria and give half the ancient capital city of Jerusalem to Palestinian-Arabs who have never held sovereignty in that city or any part of that land.
This will give the terrorist organizations PLO and Fatah a stronger position in their ongoing efforts to harass the Jews and undermine the well-being of the Jewish State. They can pocket hard Israeli concessions while making none of their own, while continuing to incite hatred of Jews among their children, and while continuing the terror war against Israel and the Jewish people throughout the world.
For his part, Netanyahu seems to have painted himself into a corner over recent remarks concerning the unlikelihood of a two-state solution during his tenure. He then tried to "walk back" the statement by saying, “I don’t want a one-state solution. I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution. But for that, circumstances have to change."
He is, of course, correct, but the Obama administration is in attack mode and having none of it.
The only real question at this point is how much damage the Obama administration is willing to do to Israel, and to the Jewish people, in retaliation for refusing to kiss his ring.
We shall see.
From the comments:
Bob KochI do not know that I would say that Obama wants Israel gone, but our friend Bob here is correct that "Oslo" is over with and that we do need an alternative paradigm from the failed, but dominant, two-state paradigm.
Isn't this the same "2-state solution" that hasn't borne fruit for 25 years? It's time for a new paradigm for this situation. How about the PA and Hamas CHANGE their charters to show that THEY want peace. After all, it's they who are calling for the annihilation of Israel, not the other way around. Obama does not want a 2 state solution. He wants a Palestinian state and he wants Israel gone.
Steve KleinI tend to agree with this sentiment. Let Obama be Obama and, then, long, long after he is gone we can write books about the relationship between the United States and Israel during his tenure.
We all knew this would come sooner or later so let it come. Then Israel (the Jews) will learn and understand how to deal with it. Israel is not South Africa. Everyone with a half a brain knows there is a difference between murderous jihad against non-Muslims, especially Jews and racial Apartheid in South Africa. This idea of de-legitimatizing Israel in the criminal (anti-Semitic) United Nations is evil. Let Barack Obama be Barack Obama.
What we need not do is be afraid of this president, or cave to his diktats, despite his hostility.
Sergio J BramasoleWe can hope that he is an aberration, but given the anti-Zionist / anti-Israel drift within the Democratic party, I would not be too quick to conclude so.
Term-limited, Obama will soon leave, and whoever comes next, maybe Hillary, will stand with Israel against third world fascists. All 'n all, Obama is an aberration in American politics. Kinda once in a blue moon thing.