Memo to Obama: Two little Hebrew words make all the difference

Clinton said "Shalom Chaver" at Rabin's funeral, he also said, "I feel your pain" in order to get elected. His words mean nothing. Obama has demonstrated time and time again his Muslim roots, from his upbringing as a youth in Hawaii to 20yrs under Jeremy Wright, to his most recent attempt to ambush Netanyahu in DC with that phony nuke conference. There are many US citizens who shake their head in dismay at the way he reaches out to Muslim's around the middle-east and world yet gives the finger to Israel. With regard to Obama and Israeli relations I have one word for you: Dissimulation.

The question is do Jews and Christians around the world want Muslims to take over Jerusalem and their other holy sites? Guess.

Your statement, "all Israelis understand that the support and friendship of the U.S. is a matter of life and death." demonstrates the complete lack of understanding of your history. If all Israelis are as you say, then they are no different than those that came out of Eygpt. They had their eye on man (Moses) and not God. When they got to the red sea they wanted to turn back because of unbelief. The red sea is no more different than the impasse that exists today between Israel and Islam. What is the US, that you put your hope in, except a nation in decline, who's "leader" could care less about Israel's security except for political expedience. Don't you people read your own holy book? God is your protector! You need none other. Wake up! Soon you will see HIS power, when He destroys your enemy's before your eyes. Put your dependence in HIM not in the insufferable President of the United States.

"But why does Israel only thinks about taking and taking. Better you think more about peace and human rights." A few questions for you, Tony: Was it Denmark or Israel that sent a state-of-the-art field hospital to Haiti? Of all the countries in the world, what country, relative to its own population size, pulled most survivors out of the rubble? What country has now set up a school for 800 children on Haiti, including post-trauma counselling? Hint: the answer to all 3 begins with "Isr". When it comes to "taking and taking", the "Palestinians" are world champions, not Israel. Check Arafat's bank balance for details... Kindly engage brain before putting keyboard into gear.

"They would be considering how to strengthen the Palestinian economy so that Palestine can become a viable, governable, prosperous nation-state." Or perhaps, Vladek, the "Palestinians" could be doing that themselves with all the billions of taxpayer dollars and euros that have been handed to them on a plate for decades. But no, their leaders are far too busy lining their own pockets and trying to kill Israelis instead.

Suggesting to divide Jerusalem and believe that it could end in everlasting peace denotes a person completely ignorant of the real situation. this arab generation, the ones involved in terrorist organizations like hamas and hezbollah, was raised to hate, and nothing will make them happy except Israel's destruction. it is naive to think that youngsters raised with the whole purpose of killing, will feel fulfilled in a peaceful environment. i doubt that obama is ignorant of this situation, so if he so readily exposes israelis to the danger of having a separate state for arabs where they can freely bring weapons into their land, and throw rockets at us, then, he definetely doesnt give a fig about Israel or israelis. His arrogance when scolding Israel for not bending to his will, is insulting. no other american president humiliated Israel publicly. It is thanks to him that anti semitism has gained so much power.

Why should Israel suffer embargos from the united nations or from mr. obama? the have never started a war with anybody ever! Israel has had to defend themselves from arab aggression from the day they became a nation. Oh but Israel are the bad guys huh? I guess they should just lay down and let the arabs wipe the off the face of the earth as the have sworn to do. We shoul say to hell with arab oil and the arabs themselves ans STAND FIRMLY BESIDE ISRAEL AGAINST ANY AND ALL ENEMIES, INCLUDING RUSSIA!!!! What is going on is fear, there are some in this country who think we should be afraid of the arabs, Why? we could turn all of the arab world into glass, and mabey we should. But you think it's ISRAEL that is the problem, no cowards like you are the problem!!!!!!!!

Even though obama (he doesn't deserve the respect of a capital leter) wants to halt Israeli expansion into THEIR OWN CITY, he doesn't have the authority,to enforce it. obama may want israel to do something but how can he enfoce it when the American poeple won't allow him to harm Israel, I believe that if he ordered U.S. Troops into Israel, the joint chiefs would deny him, and it could quite possibly lead to the first American President ever being deposed. Why does obama want Israel to give in so badly? he's not the anti-christ, he's to stupid for that, but he is a muslim liar. obama lied to the American public by claiming to be a Christian, he is not, and anybody with half a brain can see clearly of what he really is a muslim. he refused to bow to the Queen of England, and his wife had a fit at possibly having to curtsey to Her Majesty, but oh did he ever bow down to the king of saudi arabia, he went all the way to the hip, which in islam puts him under the authority of th saudi king

Barrak Obama is a muslim who hates israel as much as the Iranian President does! Obama would love nothing more than to see GOD's chosen poeple killed off as Hitler and the nazis tried to do in WWII. Obama is a Facist and an anti-semite. he Hates all Jews and he hates America too. he woul love nothing better than to see sharia law replace our constitution, and drive americans into submission of islam by force! My fellow Americans DON'T LET HIM DO IT!!!!

Not only should President Obama advocate a don't call us, we'll call you policy but he should adapt a similar policy towards Israel that he has with Iran: We support the State of Israel, just not it's current governments policies. My attitude may be totally different were I still leaving there, but I doubt it. Now here's the heretic point: President Obama should seriously consider with withholding any part of the American Peoples largess from any activity which promotes Israelis entrenchment in the disputed territories. I would imagine that includes the cost policing and protecting all settlements in 'Judea & Sumaria'. They were once strangers in the land of Egypt and now they are strangers in what they perceive as their own land and I don't envy their lot. Prime Minister Netanyahu, who lost a brother in one of the most brazen and heroic rescue missions ever launched should take a lesson from his predecessor, Menahem Begin.

Your statement is correct and everyone reading should keep in it in their mind before shooting their mouths. Now, putting everything in a nut shell, Obama & Clinton keep saying that the "bonds between the US & Israel is un-shakeable". Does anyone really know why they keep repeating this statement over & over? Let me tell you that Obama promised the Islam world that he will give them Jerusalem & WILL make Israel freeze building in Jerusalem & WILL have Israel go back to 1967 borders and WILL make Israel return the Golan Heights. Does anyone really believe that all the wars that had been initiated by the so called arabs & all terrorists activities initiated by the palestinians for all the years since the birth of the State of Israel in 1948, were all defeated and the crunch is Obama wants PM Nathanyau to accept these demands?? and still the wolves are on the borders preparing to strike & publically saying to wipe out Israel from the face of the earth. Will anyone accept these demands??

Strenger distinguishes the peace process in the Israel-Palestine conflict from that in Afghanistan, citing the latter as 'mission impossible while the Palestinian issue has been on the table for ONLY 63 years. Let's not give the players to dally for another 63 years. THe U.S. has given Israel its unconditional financial and military support for those 63 years and that's gotten nowhere. The U.S. does not need to mollify Israel; the only to resolve the conflict is to reach out to both sides, something that the U.S. hasn't tried. And if the Israeli 'street' is so strongly in favor of a two state solution, it's time to put its courage with its convictions. If it won't, for its ally if not for itself, it is not entitled to expect the one-sided support it has enjoyed while the likes of Netanyahu make the situation worse.

To compare Clinton to Obama is to compare apples to pears. Clinton lied to his wife.....Obama lies to the world. Clinton was a 'charmer......Obama is an 'icecube. Clinton knew/knows to speak the 'right words from the heart (sometimes show a tear).....Obama knows to say the 'right words from the teleprompter (speeches written by skillfull speech writers). Clinton was a 'doer and winner.....Obama (untill now) is a 'talker and loser!

In his speech at Cairo, Obama said "I will stand with the Muslims". He has done nothing else since. He has humiliated the only democracy in the Middle East while bowing and scraping to the Saudi King and appeasing the rest of the world's worst tyrants like Chavez, Kim Jong Il, Assad, Ahmadinejihad etc. How can you trust a man like this whose own background is hidden and covered up??

Perhaps Israel doesn't have an interest in wars. However if it thinks it can go against the rest of the world it has two choices: 1. Go to war with the rest of the world. 2. Accede to the rest of the world's demands.

We will never see peace in the Israeli/Arab conflict until all outside forces such as Iran and Syria are stopped. They are the primary suppliers of weapons to all the terror groups that surround Israel. You stop Iran and Syria from making trouble and peace with the Arabs will be possible. That is why Obama?s plan will not succeed; it only looks at the conflict between Israel and the Pal Arabs. But until someone steps forward and explains to all involved; if you want peace stop arming everyone in the neighborhood because eventually someone will open fire and all hell will break lose.

... have a few roots and generations here... also the honor and obligation to appreciate the good, and shout gevalt when things go totally off-the-rails...

What makes you think she IS in Israel? Doesn't sound like any Jewish chick I met. And about 8 months ago on that billboard flap, she obviously had no clue who Bar R. is. Petrol dollars buys plenty of professional writers.

"Because Netanyahu is a weak leader, he needs the pretext of external pressure to move on - and in this Obama seems to be succeeding. The current crisis has created a remarkable storm: all Israelis understand that the support and friendship of the U.S. is a matter of life and death." [Strenger] These are the key points upon which the rest of this article's opinions depends. I think both are wrong: Netanyahu is a strong leader, he may yet rank among the best, depends on what unforeseen crisis he may face. While I believe that most Israelis value our friendship, not that many would say it is a "matter of life or death". Thinking Israelis know that a real crisis can be around any corner, and that there is really no chance to make a dent in the regressive thought patterns that surround them in three directions. They have nobody to depend on but themselves. In a way, I envy their situation, since it can only result in an enhanced awareness of life.

Maybe he just doesn't like Israel that much and would rather not say "shalom chaver"

HE MIGHT AS WELL. THE 'SAUDI DEATH PLAN ' IS DOA AND OBAMA'S ENDING HIS CHANCES OF A SECOND TERM. AND IT ISN'T WORTH IT FOR EITHER ISRAEL OR AMERICA, UNLESS YOU CONSIDER OBAMA IS HELPING ISRAEL TO BUILD AND TO ANNEX DUE TO HIS PRO MUSLIM SLANT.

from freddie and fannie the mortgage giants in the united states.obama also partnered a syrian swindler who gave obama some land at a huge discount. obama is not slow in collecting money where he can find it.your prince charming esther does not deserve a kiss.he croaks.

"Israel's rightwing politicians have made it all but impossible for the outside observer to understand the country's true state of mind." - Carlo Strenger No, it is not hard to understand at all. It would be wrong to describe the current mentality of Israel as 'Fascist' but only because there is no totalitarian regimentation of society and commerce. "A full 68 percent of Jewish Israelis and over 70 percent of all Israelis (i.e. including Israeli Arabs) continue to support the two-state solution." - Carlo Strenger So what? Those folks have no influence over the government whatsoever. "The secret behind the paradox that an electorate that overwhelmingly supports the two-state solution votes for right-wing politicians is very simple: it is fear." - Carlo Curious that back in the 1950s and 60s when there was a REAL existential threat to Israel fear did not dominate the national psyche as it does today. Israel is scaring itself to death.

Thats it in a nutshell! PEACE NEVER?

I have to agree with you. HOWEVER...think about it from the perspective of the folks being spotlighted like deer in today's revelatory press coverage--I suspect they are literally be down on their knees praying for just such a visit--and I don't need to explain why I suspect that, right?

... continuation of heavy-handed Pal evictions in East Jerusalem... illegal appropriation of monies due to the Pals... blatant human organ-selling and swindling by 'respectable citizens'... what exactly should attract Obama to Israel at this time...?!

It's time to cut lose this liabillity to the US people.

In my opinion, it's not advisable to bank on what one columnist thinks about the current stalemate within the peace process negotiations (inactive due to Israel's internal political wranglings as of 2008/2009) between Israel and the PA. The U.S. administration has a responsibility to closely work together with both Israeli and Palestinian PA officials to ensure the continuation of the Quartet's proposal towards a peaceful settlement. It's a complete mistake to withhold pressuring both sides to return to the negotiation table because as we've seen in the past, the only other option of uncertainty for the region and increased hostilities has significantly hurt both Israelis and the Palestinians in the long run. I would also remind readers that Mr. Friedman did forecast after 911 that the Al-Qaeda organization was a minimal number of individual extremists rather than a global threat - he was completely wrong.

Carlo, in light of today's news, no wonder Obama is reluctant to come here, or to smile at us in an uninhibited fashion: ... more East J'lem Pals evicted from their homes today, so that settlers can requisiton their homes... ... revealations about how Israel manages to requisition for its own use, foreign donations intended for Pal use... ... revealations about how a flourishing illegal organ harvesting enterprise is run by retired IDF officers, with 'respectable' doctors and lawyers... ... while as often as not, the 'donors' are impoverished Pals who may get $10,000 of the $120,000 going price for a kidney... (sometimes they even get nothing...)

the teleprompter man is all show.those impressed by him have been impressed by the martin luther king lilt of his speech.he has nothing else going for him.

we do not want to fight anyone.the jewish nation has no interest in wars.but we willll not be threatened.we will react to those who threaten us. in this case strenger tells us that foreigners do not like our foreign minister.they hate him.so i tell the foreigners do not vote for him.

It seems to me that is precisely what Netanyahu has been doing with regard to Obama, as well as using his cohorts to brief against him both publically and behind the scenes using the likes of his brother in law. At present Obama has no reason to go to Israel, the only possible outcome would be the 'accidental' announcement of further settlement building on occupied Palestinian land.

which has overplayed its hand as a strategic assest to the US and Obama is 'seeing' Netanyahu's hand. Obama's prime purpose is to pursue US interests in the same way we expect our government, (whoever that may be after May 6th),to persue Britains interests.

While some Israelis do "pay homage to a two state solution in word alone," the majority are in favor of a two state solution,providing it secures peace with defensible borders and a neighbor not intent on its destruction.Have you checked the charters of Hamas,Fatah and Hexbollah lately?They call for the destruction of the Jewish State.That along with their deadly actions against Israel produce a lethal combination,which is hard to excuse.But then haters of the Jewish State can find any excuse.The Palestinians can be a "viable,governable,prosperous nation-state" if they would only spend more on themselves building such a state,than spending enormous sums on trying to destroy its neighbor.I you believe that Israelis are"content with the "status quo," then your views are very sick.Just read the news:rockets continue to fall on Israel and people die!

no-one likes to be talked over, people liked to be talked to. Go to Israel Obama!

1) It doesn't matter wether or not Netanyahu is ready to make peace, which he is.The REAL issue is wether or not the PA is viable enough to confront hamas, thus making peace possible.Up to this moment, the PA has proven to be inept and corrupt, since it is unwilling/incapable of uniting all palestinians. Moreover, the PA STILL refuses to make significant concessions to Israel, not does it recognize Israel's Jewish character, nor Israel's right to exist.2) Obama's sanctions on Iran prove to be a Cath-22 situation: too harsh sanctions will be met with vetoes in the Security Council, which will only accept watered-down sanctions, which won't stop Iran's nuclear program.Even a US nuclear umbrella for Israel cannot stop Iran (or its proxies) from dropping the bomb on Israel: so what if the US retaliates? For Israel it will be too late, since Israel will have stopped existing.No Obama visit can change the two above mentioned facts.

for what's Israel and its government is doing. LOL. International support for the declaration of a Palestinian state is almost universal, (Israel's the only holdout). Funny thing, too: the world is pretty darn serious about it.

Absent Israeli cooperation, The President should just insist on implementing UN Resolutions 242 and 338. It's very simple. I have a feeling it's going to come to that with many of the American supporters of Israel loking the other way, as they are tired of Netanyahu intransigence and the bad cause (Israeli expansion) they have been supporting.

For more than half its existence, this "democracy" has occupied another people. Israel has had at least a war a decade against its neighbors, and now an inifada every ten years with its under class. Is there any other county on earth that claims to be a democracy that claims the right to subjugate three million people indefinitely? Is there anything like Gaza in the democratic world? Strenger, like most Israelis, is living in a dream world.

In it he explains why he ok with the status quo its because the average Israeli isn't feeling the pain of the occupation

Doesn't matter what he says. He said a lot of things in his campaign too that didn't come true. Words are empty from obama. Just pray that he loses the next election and we can start over.

"the United States would totally disengage from the ME. No foreign aid. No military intervention. No political umbrellas(vetoes). " Does that include disengaging for the ME oilfields also? And I Russia wanted to open a nuclear sub base off the coast of Israel, does he still disengage?

It may be the case the Obama has already overplayed his hand and will find it impossible to regain the trust of Israelis

The problem is not that "Obama has distributed carrots and sticks unequally". The thing is that Arabs are so used to sticks on the head from America, that even the tiniest carrot (an empty speech from a politician) seems like something to cheer up. Israel, on the other hand, has so far only received tons and tons (and billions and billions) of carrots, without the slightest threat of ever seeing a stick, let alone being hit by it, so the less "carroty" tone of Obama combined with the less "stick-y" one with their adversaries is making Israel go mad with spite and resentment. That's what usually happens when you spoil someone so much.

To #15 And that also makes you entitled to the reaction you get.

They would be promoting ways in which Israel can disengage from the occupation. They would be reacting to the abuses of the settlers and the IDF It is not like that at all. The IDF is the reason, that Israel still exists.despite The onslaughts of the Arab world. If that causes a few incidents that the Pals don't like Then so be it.The settlers should be the reason for the Pals to make peace without absurd and unobtainable demands. like Jerusalem. The Kotel belongs to Israel and to the Jews. Find a solutiuon for that and they can have their state in the WB without occupation but also without guarantees not by the IDF nor by the USA, that they will protect them against muslim invaders such as Iran

Whenever Arabs will accept the Jewish State then they will be able to negotiate peace. As simple as that

1) It doesn't matter wether or not Netanyahu is ready to make peace, which he is.The REAL issue is wether or not the PA is viable enough to confront hamas, thus making peace possible.Up to this moment, the PA has proven to be inept and corrupt, since it is unwilling/incapable of uniting all palestinians. Moreover, the PA STILL refuses to make significant concessions to Israel, not does it recognize Israel's Jewish character, nor Israel's right to exist.2) Obama's sanctions on Iran prove to be a Cath-22 situation: too harsh sanctions will be met with vetoes in the Security Council, which will only accept watered-down sanctions, which won't stop Iran's nuclear program.Even a US nuclear umbrella for Israel cannot stop Iran (or its proxies) from dropping the bomb on Israel: so what if the US retaliates? For Israel it will be too late, since Israel will have stopped existing.No Obama visit can change the two above mentioned facts.

Since when has Israel become a democracy. It is a theocracy in anything but name. As for Obama making nice to the Israel people, the author has it all backwards. Israelis should make nice to Obama, change their arrogant attitudes, quit making the US less safe, and then maybe Obama might give Israel insurance as to its safety. Green Line, get it???

Do you ever question arab sincerity ? ln view of their history especially vis-a-vis their treatment of jews both before and after creation of lsrael. Special attention should be given to Jordanian treatment of agreements with lsrael.

I know Stenger wants a just peace. But he shares the righteous Israeli view that if only SOMEONE ELSE did something differently, things would be better. Israel holds all the cards: which ones is it ready to play? Only Israel can decide.

23 Scud missles fell on Israel and only by the grace of G-d did no one get killed, not anything the USA did. Noteworthy is that is did nothing whatsoever to protect people. Its not just physical security Isarael, but cultural, religious and protection for democracy. Integration with Arabs is acculturation that will result in the denigration of Jews, much like the Sephardim who assymilated into arab society and now they are on the economic, educational and social bottom of a westernized society; they adopted arab ways and values much to their detriment. If its 'goodbye, friend' then its recognition that they are on their own; Jews always were. Now stand up and fight to throw out the Arabs and their backward society and values!

I see the left is still going strong in Haaretz. Obama has already alienated the Israeli's so badly (3%) they will not depend on his neutrality in anything. He goes from blunder to blunder and will be a lame duck in November because the majority of American's see what he is, a tool of the progressives intent on destroying western democracies and all our economies to "redistribute" wealth. Trouble is, soon he will run out of MY money to give to his lazy friends.

Are you Stupid?...we are at home now. Have you ever listening a tikva? Be Happy.

1.The Two Most Important Words that should also be made priority are: God and Devil. 2.Unless the two invisible supernatural beings are caught, there will be no peace in the Middle East or elsewhere. 3.When it comes to hidden mysteries, religious leaders have so far caught just the opposite. Examples are as follows: The earth is flat. The sun and stars travel around the earth. Religious leaders think they have caught God when in fact what they have caught so far is just the opposite of God, i.e., the Devil. 4.Only the Moshiachs Meal of Five Loaves from a small boy can provide the Passover from the devil to The One True God. 5.Only the Five Loaves Formula has been blessed by God Himself to catch The Two Big Fish.

Tom Friedman's fall-back advice to Israel whenever it neglects to follow his peace now guidelines, , now as during the Bush-Baker years, is: "Call us when you are ready." That invariably indicates that he has become weary of Israel's refusal to surrender its interests to his agenda. Too bad. Jerry

and I agree with Friedman, a totally despicable Israel supporter. Carlo keeps on cuddling Israel's sooooooooooooo sensitive feelings. Nonsense. The reality is that Israelis DO NOT WANT PEACE! That's the bottom line. And in fact, Israel with Bibi and his ilk are MORE danger to the U.S. and world than Karsai in Afghanistan. Call a spade a spade, Carlo. And this nonsense of Iran wanting to nuke Israel is such a moronic view of the reality of the world. Iran's rulers do not like Israel that's for sure, but from dislike to constantly saying that Iran is an "existential" danger to Israel is pure B.S. It is so infuriating that intelligent guys like Strenger always fall into this trap of eventually justifying Israel's behavoir by asking that all it would take is for Obama to drop in for coffee and things will be OK. No. And, again, Friedman is right. Come on, Carlo, get your head screwed on properly...you should argue that Israel has NO other choice, but to make PEACE!

Carlo has it all backwards. The Israeli people should FIRST reach out to Obama and change their arrogant attitudes, THEN maybe America can give insurance for its survival, NOT the other way around. You see, the General has spoken; Israel is a danger to the US. As far as a stable "democracy," I fail to see why Israel should be called a democracy, when at its core it is a theocracy. Finally, Israeli may give poll answers that favor a two state solution, yet they do nothing to indicate that they are working towards it. All that the world sees is continued settlements and occupation. Green Line, period.

Israelis look as spoiled children I?m sad to read some reactions. Israeli people look like spoiled children. The US always supported Israel, but now is the time of reality and the US says NO. Finally the eyes are opened by the US and the EU will follow also. But why does Israel only thinks about taking and taking. Better you think more about peace and human rights. When Israel goes on with their policy a lot of friendly countries will say good bye to Israel, so think twice please.

Understand what the pejorative term, Banana republic is. the common simple definition is a small country who is dependant on agricultural exports, a military state with leaders select from a clique, ruled by force. So lets ask questions: Israel's Exports are comprised mainly of: 1) Direct Agricultural Products, Like Banana's or other Produce 2) High End Technology Israel is ruled by: 1) Despotic or Military leaders who obtain power through Coup 2) a Democracy, its leaders are ELECTED under a PR system with a unitary consitutencies which if you compare and contrast Electoral Systems you'd find, Israel to be the most democratic state, as unlike First Past the Post voting systems whereby the closer the constituency the more people who are under or have 0 representation, Israel is a PR system whereby the Knesset mirrors very closely the Israeli Electorate.

You think that by machine-gun and attack-dog posts you can impose your will on the world, but that simply ain't gonna happen. Israel is not an island unto itself, if you wanna play with others you gotta play by the rules. But what you are doing is nothing new; the illegal and immoral settlement enterprise is the ultimate example of this attitude.

... and not only via incumbant Israeli politicians, most of whom are far from endearing... one wonders if Bibi has ever actually invited Obama to come here... ... as for Obama addressing any of the reigning Israeli politicians candidly and frankly in a friendly fashion, how is that possible, when they openly give preference to cuddling up to Aipac?... ... Bibi, drunk on the Aipac elixer, was unable to evaluate what Obama was trying to put across to him...

It's a pseudo-democracy. You can't occupy millions of people and not allow them to vote. Or, only let them vote if they are a clear minority. In any case, the USA has to pressure Israel into a forced peace with palestinians. An agreement will never be reached unless both sides have leverage they can use. Without the USA's involvement, there is no leverage for the palestinians, which means Israel will continue to extend and expand their occupation. Until 10 years from now when the palestinian population within Israel outnumbers the mixed and divided Jewish population. it will be a devastating Civil War, because the jews will never acquiesce to a Palestinian majority.

I hope Obama is not going to follow the example of German chancellor Angela Merkel. Several Knesset members actually walked out during her 2008 speech because she was speaking in German, rejected as the 'language of the Nazis'. Well, it's also the language of Kafka or Herzl, whose portrait is prominently displayed in the Knesset. That's the kind of idiocy with which Israel's friends have to put up with: We take your money, weapons and diplomatic support, but we'll continue to insult you, and we never trust, and never forgive. I want to hear what Merkel said in the Knesset, with minor changes, and preferably in German, English, Hebrew and Arabic: "The al-Nakba fills us Israelis and our supporters with shame. We bow before the victims. We bow before the survivors."

"Most Israelis have become content with the status quo and the ability to periodically rant about the Palestinian threat".

what about the billion of dollars that israel receives yearly?

I can not understand how can such tiny country defies America that gives it billions to survive?

Obama would convince Israelis. One bow ,not even "two words" ,huh ,Stenger ? Not even in your most impudent dreams would you dare to require of Bambi the same as arabs get from him ,admit it ,the go-between Servile Carlo.

Let us examine the characteristics of a NATION: "A nation is a body of people who share a real or imagined common history, culture, language or ethnic origin." and we could probably add Country or Nation State to make it a modernized defintion Palestinians have the first 4, they have them in WB + Gaza, something that can be found in many parts of the ME The only thing they do not have is a NATION STATE. Out of curiousity Ms. Durson, how many "nations" are there that have the same first 4 characteristics, religion, language, culture, food and have been offered the 5th, over 4 times but THEY have always said NO? I count 1, "Palestinians", please advise the others. Why then should the cost as you term it be bourne by israel, why not have Palestinians eat the cost of their decisions, that is how the grown up world works, you make a mistake, you pay the costs of said mistake.

...idea, solution, wistful hope--whatever--for President Obama to present his case directly to the Israeli public as highly problematic--with the caveat that I don't know what (if anything) you have in mind beyond what I see as "the grand gesture." Some of my concerns are: (1) Is President Obama supposed to be going "over the head" of Israel's duly elected government? (2) Are you asking President Obama to, in effect, do the "left's" heavy lifting for them? (3) Are high profile MKs and Ministers going to be simultaneously standing in front of the media denouncing the President of my country as a "muslim n***er?" And one last question, sir, when (I believe) this American administration is sincerely attempting to solve a very complex problem in an adult fashion, do you actually expect my President to go to your country and--for all practical purposes-- get down on his knees and beg?

Israel's unloved status is the fault of the Right? That must be why the World so loved Israel when Olmert and Livni were forced to defend the country in Lebanon and Gaza. The World may come to love an Israeli politician (even as they loved Sharon as he surrendered Gaza) but only to the limit of their surrender policies. The love ends when they must rise to actually defend Israel

... as usual. Most of the rest of you are a bit removed from reality.

Yes and the Palestinians were entitled to elect Hamas ... who would not even have participated in the 06 election were it not for the insistence of G.W.Bush over Israeli objections it should be remembered ... but see where that got them. Call that a lesson in "democracy". Israel is now also getting one, albeit a less extreme version, but a lesson all the same.

Is it just me or has President Obama tried setting up his new world humanistic philosphy, while having Seder with a few staff Jews around the table this past weekend. Meanwhile, his dirty political tricksters begin setting up the next assault for a regime change of Israeli leadership, while still trying to convey his open transparency policies, to all Americans. Let's not forget how important it is for Karzai to clean up the corruption in Afghanistan, as Obama is preparing to do in America. By the way Israel when you see him dividing Jerusalem, the new Ezekiel will sound the first trumpet. If you don't believe in Yeshua by then , woe to Israels liberal agenda before the blast of the last trumpet. Pray Obama isn't blaspheming God in the third temple standing next to his humanistic fanatic, fostering Israeli peace and security. I am warning you, Israel.

most experts here in america (and around the world for that matter) agree that israel is far more of a liability and danger for america than a benefit. wake up obama and do the right thing. drop them!

Continuation of previous comment - 1980s AWACs to the Saudis. While the Saudis were supporting Hamas. Of course the Likud at the time was also not as concerned with Hamas as they were with the PLO and harassing people like Ziab Abu Ziad and shutting down the Palestinian Center for Non-Violence, whose director was deported! The problem politically in Israel comes down to this - the Right wing is stupid. But there is no real Left in the bread and butter sense of the term. And given the growing inequality this is a real problem.

Here is the problem - Israel is not an ally, it is a friend. Just read Hanokh Levin's Malkat Ha Ambatia and you will see what I mean. Saudi Arabia is an ally, Israel is a friend. The Saudis have oil, Israel does not. To quote Sir Palmerston, "We have no permanent enemies or allies, only permanent interests." To think that the US is any different is naive. Israel has always been responsible for its own defense. And for the sake of its own defense, supporting settlers in Hebron and harassing Palestinians in East Jerusalem is not prudent, to say the least. Also please review the history of the US's vs. the USSR's vote in 1947 for partition. The Shalom Achshav's stance of America coming on a white horse to save Israel from itself is naive and historically ignorant. Thus it lacks credibility. The "Left" needs to do some serious house cleaning and soul searching on the class and ethnic front and then reread some history on the US's relations to Israel in the 1950s and 1960s. And even 1980s -

The dislikes of gentiles is not our business and what is that to us? As many zionists, you think Israel is a big nation like the PRC, India or Russia. It's not and you (like it or not) are not strong enough to take on the world.

, again. It?s not the US government duty to inform, educate and calm the Israeli public?

No wonder you are losing the world's opinion. Your left has severed Israel and given it to the Arabs. It's hard to win a battle when half your people agrees with the enemy. Now you know why Arabs do not like democracy. It is weak.

israel" no but it helps.

Well they aren't Hebrew words, but "Peace Prize" should be given to Mr.Eli Yishai. They don't do an inadvertent Nobel Peace Prize, but if this accidental process plays out to a two-state solution, then I truly believe he should have the full well-deserved version of it.

Many Israelis pay homage to a two state solution in words alone. They then feel comfortable in extremist security measures to protect themselves against Palestinians that react to confiscated homes and land. Hypocrisy is the doctrine of many Israelis. If there was sincerety in the Israeli people, they would not stand by the Netanyahu-Lieberman-Ultra Orthodox coalition. They would be promoting ways in which Israel can disengage from the occupation. They would be reacting to the abuses of the settlers and the IDF. They would be considering how to strengthen the Palestinian economy so that Palestine can become a viable, governable, prosperous nation-state. Instead I hear words coming from a few but no actions that demonstrate a sincere commitment to a just peace. Most Israelis have become content with the status quo and the ability to periodically rant about the Palestinian threat.

Israel is like my spoiled little daughter, she thinks the entire world is centered around her and everyone walking the planet should serve her. The difference is she is cute and lovely and Israel is mean and ugly. As for Thomas Friedman's expectation that the Israelis and the Palestinians do not need the U.S. as a catalyst to resolve their century old conflict is quite naive from someone who is so smart, or maybe he just had one too many drinks before he wrote his column.

I do understand your sentiment, but the point that comes across is that Obama must get down on his knees and beg forgiveness from those who call him anti-semite, traitor and islamofascist as a matter of course. He must stop getting angry at Israeli lies, and just take the abuse of a government that works actively against him in the US. Israel is today the defacto leaders of the republican party. Its bizarre to demand that he abase himself at the monument of Palinism.

Rhetorical brilliance often brings with it indecent haste. Imagine if he had worked on the Israelis First! If he had approached Netanyahu even discreetly and said let's make Peace our Project! What can Obama actually do to convince the Israelis that he's got as big a heart as he has a brain and a mouth. Face it the Israelis like down to earth leaders. Abba Eban never made double digits in the popularity polls for Prime Minister. It is therefore the responsibility of the responsible Israeli left to rebuild itself instead of relying on an Obama who wasn't quite up to the role that left wrote for him.

Israel just needs to do what it's told (by the US), that's it. Now what the US really wants is another matter. Sure the current leadership has irritated Obama and is getting its just deserts but beyond that we'll just have to wait. However rest assured that the sensibilities of the "Israeli street" will hardly be of much concern for the Administration ... I mean really!

so he simply cannot help himself.have you considered that only 18% of israelis like him because they understand this very well.

When Strenger urges Obama to assure Israel of the U.S.'s 'unconditional protection against the threat of a nuclear Iran,' he seems to imply by 'unconditional' that the U.S. should bomb and go to war with Iran in order to prevent Iran's going nuclear. If he means this, he should say it. It is clearly a matter of indifference to him that the U.S. is presently engaged in two bloody wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that the consequences of war with Iran would go much further toward furthering extremism and economic upheaval in the mid-East (and in the U.S. itself) than the other two wars already have. Which is plenty.

far more important is what obama's minions feed into the teleprompter.obama does not ad lib like clinton.he is an uncreative person who is told what to say by the robot teleprompter.

depends on what the questions are carlo.pollsters can and do coax the answers they think the boss requires.

better believe it carlo.and we are entitled to elect both netanyahu and lieberman.

tom freidman has now achieved respect from the gentiles and he is loathe to give it up.were he to be more one sided with israel he would be treated like krauthammer who the gentiles abuse ferociously. no when tom freidman lectures israel he has the interest of tom freidman at heart.

What Obama did and continues to do is simply to extend his hand in peace TO BOTH SIDES. For his efforts he was demonized by the Israeli right and 82% of the Israeli public believed every word. Now you suggest that "Obama must reach out to Israelis directly"...which sounds to me a lot like feeding the hand that bites you. Until BOTH Israel and the Palestinians start adhere to international law there can be no peace in the ME, nor will I believe that either side wants anything more than the status quo...or war.

and what is that to us? but we who matter do not hate him.the dislikes of gentiles is not our business. if you would to see the mind of the opposition i suggest you check the letter pages of the guardian independent and the washington post to see the hatred met out to jews. carlo hatred for jews is as old as time.it travels well.

Q. Since when settlements are obstacle to peace? A. Since arab rejection of jewish settlement in Eretz Yisrael. This rejection is not 40 years old but well over 100 yrears. lf the early zionists would have used their minds in regards to the establishment of the jewish state, as Mr Strenger and Tomas Friedman advocate, it would never had happened. Sometimes the mind is more limited than the heart. ls it good personal politics, maybe, that guide Friedman? Q. Are the arabs ready for a jewish state?

Just say "No such thing as Right of Return exept to PA terittory". Than US will make a critical step to reassuring Israelys and moving ME to Israel Palestinian settlement

The right will simply make a mockery of Obama if he were to visit Israel. The skepticism of Obama in Israel runs deeper than the right. Why else is the Israeli left in such deep doldrums? The best thing Obama can do now is to continue notching up the pressure on Netanyahu till he gets into a fight with Lieberman and Yishai. That will bring in Kadima.

He constantly whitewashes the arab attacks on Jews and makes no demands on his friends in Rammalla, Azza or Riyadh.

"Friedman's conclusion is that Obama should adopt a "do call us, we won't call you" policy, and that Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas should contact the White House when they're actually ready to move ahead with a peace process." I would agree to this only if the United States would totally disengage from the ME. No foreign aid. No military intervention. No political umbrellas(vetoes). I know my President is trying his best to find the way to peace, but semitic peoples are too tribal. An eye for an eye, Yaweh, Allah....Jerusalem, refugees, land, water.... What an undeserving bunch of ass-holes. President Obama shouldn't waste his time. Salaam/Shalom

I think this is great analysis and commentary but I disagree that since Bibi isnot as strong as Sharon there needs to be external pressure. Barak and Olmert were not strong figures but they negotiated under Clinton deals that will not be offered by Bibi, I think this is because israel and Israelis had much more trust for Clinton than for Obama. From the onset Obama has been a Flip Flopper, his flip flop in front of Aipac for Party Leadership is a great example. The article notes this as well, the unequal distribution of Carrots point, Obama needs to gain the trust of Israelis, the real and true trust that would allow Israel to consider moving back to its incredibly vulnerable 67 borders. This requires trust, trust through actions not just words. For example, USA Exploiting a Political Gaffe to benefit USA image in Muslim world is not the actions of a TRUSTED friend. The peace train is derailed because an agreement, that exempted EJ, was exploited by USA and then by PA.

The Palestinians do not have a nation. This puts them at a huge disadvantage in dealing with Israel. To make it worse, Israel is inclined toward expansion rather than peace. This makes progress in direct peace negotiations between the two sides impossible, as we have seen over the years and decades. Only America can change the equation and this is by enforcing Americas long time policies which have so far gone unenforced. We should not care a fig whether Obama is popular with Israelis. This is the most trivial idea imaginable and comes from the Israel-centric universe. Obama should do the right thing and enforce America policies and let the Israelis cooperate or get left out.

What a spin ! Can not imagine that Mr. Carlo S., however partisan he is, could possibly believe his own words concerning the downloading of blame for the recent Obama theatrics on minister Yishay. Does Mr Strenger think that president Obama's policies are due to Mr Yishay ? How about the famous "Obama shoe show" photo published by the White House after a phone conversation with Natanyahu much before these recent events. Can you not see a pattern especially considering the Obama bow to the Saudi king ?

Anyone who knows Israel and who knows Israelis know that the peace camp is not on the left and it is not gone- it is dormant and it is mainstream. All it takes to reactivate it is hope that there are partners for peace and that world is finally accepting of Isael. Turkey's turn against Israel has put the peace camp in a coma and is probably the single biggest reason why at this time, there is no hope. It is because Turkey under Erdogan rejects and rebuffs Israel at every opportunity and it shows no understanding for what Israel faces- even though Turkey faces many of the same issues. The Palestinians have forced the peace camp even deeper by denying Jewish claims to Jerusalem and by denying the Jewishness of Israel. The Jordanians, under King Abdullah rather than promote peace, promote hatred at every opportunity falsely asserting that Al Aksa is under siege by the Jews. The West is to blame too for it does not understand that Jerusalem is Israel's chiefest joy.

Any country which appoints Lieberman for foreign minister, Yishai for any kind of minister, thinks Netanyahu is a statesman (lol) and has Ehud Barak - a man soooo flexible he is working smoothly with the extreme right - has, by definition, become a BANANA republic.

AKA - good riddens to Israel!