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Last update - 07:18 21/05/2009
Obama is dividing Jerusalem
By Israel Harel
Tags: Israel News, Obama, Islam 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's enemies have gotten together to promote a few sacred causes: to bring Israel to its knees, to force a Pax Americana on Israel (the "Obama plan") and to grind the prime minister's status to dust.

If the media in his own country is trying to grind Netanyahu down, why shouldn't the American administration - which has mobilized the enthusiastic Israeli media for its own needs - take advantage of the latter's disparaging attitude to attain its goals? (Although it is repelled by such an attitude. In American culture, with its code of honor and restraint, this type of behavior would not pass.)

They have not managed to bring Netanyahu to his knees, but they have managed to fan a foreign fire of Biblical proportions ("Please, with might," Gideon Levy begs Barack Obama in a piece on May 17). This fire persuaded whomever it persuaded that an American presidential initiative can be presented, without any preparatory dialogue with the government in power, that is unacceptable to the vast majority of Israeli Jews.
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Besides the demand to exert powerful pressure on Israel, the peacemakers demanded that Obama also end the "special relationship" between the United States and Israel. These relations, the Israeli patriots explained, are damaging to U.S. interests.

Here, too, their labors bore fruit. The speech on a vision of peace for the Middle East, slated for June 4, will not be given at the White House, not even at a joint session of Congress. Only by delivering the speech in Cairo, intentionally skipping a visit to Jerusalem (and even to Tel Aviv!), will the spirit of peace alight on the lips of the American messiah.

Obama has little knowledge of the history, ideology and psychology of the Arab opposition to the Jewish state's existence. But he has a strategy: to thaw relations with Islam. It is clear what will be demanded in return.

But those who built his program, which purely by coincidence conforms entirely to the ideas of the extreme left in Israel (whose wheeler-dealers are in close touch with Rahm Emanuel and his ilk), are showing an ambition and arrogance that will leave them cooked.

No Arab leader, political or religious, has yet been found who agrees to give up the right of return, which is a central pillar in the Obama plan. The idea to internationalize the Old City and its governance by the United Nations is a futile idea. Only assimilated Jews - and one can be so in Israel, too - could garner support for this idea from a neophyte president, who has no idea how deep the Jewish bond is to its capital, especially to the area containing its most sacred sites.

Obama has tossed a lot of balls into the air, maybe too many. Even a magician like him cannot catch them all. The last ball, the especially heavy one of the Obama plan, might land on his foot, but also on the feet of everyone in the region, who will pay the price imposed on them by the person who wants (by force) to change the order of things. That will also be the case if he does not set aside his disconnected initiatives and quickly connect to reality in other places in the world, as well as at home.

Today, Jerusalem Day, a state ceremony will be held marking 42 years since the liberation of Israel's capital. In his speech, Netanyahu can somewhat cool down Obama's messianic fervor and (politely) make clear to whom - exclusively - Jerusalem belongs. He can pledge that after the Paratroopers liberated the city in 1967, no foreign power will ever again pass through its gates.



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      1.   PaX Americana 04:12  |  Lia D`Elana 21/05/09
      2.   How about 04:13  |  Boaz 21/05/09
      3.   Typical ideologue rant 04:28  |  Conor Dick 21/05/09
      4.   Solomon`s solution to Jerusalem 05:45  |  Mark Lincoln 21/05/09
      5.   Jerusalem 05:49  |  Iain 21/05/09
      6.   Wanna bet? 05:57  |  Maureen Ann 21/05/09
      7.   WAKE UP!!! ...Smell The Coffee And REALITY. ENOUGH Is ENOUGH!!! 05:57  |  Proud Pal Defender 21/05/09
      8.   Obama pushing for peace in the region 06:10  |  Otto Rand 21/05/09
      9.   Obama is not dividing Jerusalem..... 07:11  |  Laura 21/05/09
      10.   #4, Mark Lincoln 07:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/09
      11.   no foreign power will ever again pass through its gates... YAAAWN 07:18  |  Tupac 21/05/09
      12.   42 years since the liberation of Israel`s capital????? 07:20  |  Remi 21/05/09
      13.   Mark Lincoln, Solomon`s solution only works once 07:24  |  Mark B. 21/05/09
      14.   Jerusalem is Israel and Obama cannot change that 07:26  |  Baruch Gold 21/05/09
      15.   #4 Mark Lincoln. I wish I had thought of that. 07:29  |  Lou Medel 21/05/09
      16.   Obama is no Neville Chamberlain 07:29  |  Brent 21/05/09
      17.   And why do you think we give a hoot what you think, Pal Defender? 07:37  |  Emanuel 21/05/09
      18.   #1 Lia D`Elana Are you loyal to the U.S.? 07:40  |  Lou Medel 21/05/09
      19.   Jeusalem is Jewish as Washington is American and should not be... 07:44  |  Mario Sala 21/05/09
      20.   Proud Pal Defender, send me an email... 07:52  |  BBSNews 21/05/09
      21.   MAUREEN Arab invaders kicked out Jews in 48.Jews are back! 07:59  |  PETER SM 21/05/09
      22.   Maureen Ann`s hypocrisy 08:10  |  Yindi 21/05/09
      23.   Jerusalem from a Jerusalemites prespective. 08:13  |  Bandar Michaels 21/05/09
      24.   What other definitions could we hope for from Israel Harel...? 08:17  |  Esther 21/05/09
      25.   Who doesn`t recognize the signs of time gets punished 08:25  |  Kris Lazar 21/05/09
      26.   nu ty i mudak - or pizdenysh 08:26  |  Alex 21/05/09
      27.   Israelis are in DENIAL 08:26  |  Mark 21/05/09
      28.   enother idiot - or just in pure Russian - MUDILLA 08:27  |  Alex 21/05/09
      29.   Jerusalem 08:28  |  Rick 21/05/09
      30.   Maureen Ann`s hypocrisy 08:28  |  YIndi 21/05/09
      31.   Jews are forever as DIAMONDS - simple but true 08:28  |  Alex 21/05/09
      32.   make your mind after all 08:29  |  Alex 21/05/09
      33.   Damn Mark Lincoln, you`ve gone off the deep end... 08:31  |  BBSNews 21/05/09
      34.   Division of Jerusalem 08:32  |  Albrecht Klein 21/05/09
      35.   Jerusalem the eternal capital of JEwish People 08:34  |  Benny 21/05/09
      36.   #4 Mark Lincoln 08:53  |  leoblue 21/05/09
      37.   Saladin also made it clear to whom exclusively Jerusalem belonged 08:59  |  JustMe 21/05/09
      38.   THE EVIL ENEMIES OF BIBI 09:00  |  Loony Toons 21/05/09
      39.   REMEMBER? 09:11  |  indrajaya 21/05/09
      40.   Message to Israel Harel (and Mahmud Zahar + Co.)..... 09:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 21/05/09
      41.   wow- you sound like a raving lunatic. 09:35  |  RW 21/05/09
      42.   Not you PeterSM... 09:53  |  Maureen Ann 21/05/09
      43.   Israel Harel is in fantasy land 09:53  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 21/05/09
      44.   Israel Harel is in fantasy land 09:53  |  Abu Firas Al Qudsi 21/05/09
      45.   A president with guts. 10:03  |  BazMann 21/05/09
      46.   Jerusalem of Gold 10:05  |  megan 21/05/09
      47.   #29 dopey dino in the usual haze of the mideast impossibilities 10:09  |  vhardman 21/05/09
      48.   #29 dopey dino in the usual haze of the mideast impossibilities 10:09  |  vhardman 21/05/09
      49.   Mark Lincoln BBS News and clearance of Jerusalem. 10:12  |  Maureen Ann 21/05/09
      50.   Gnom from Zürich,Dingo : The whole world pays the price of Swiss 10:14  |  Absolute Sweden 21/05/09
      51.   Leftie Esther from TA implementing dream of her Lithuanian Granpa 10:28  |  Absolute Sweden 21/05/09
      52.   I agree but I don`t I want East Jerusalem 10:29  |  tel aviv eyes 21/05/09
      53.   Obama 10:39  |  Ralph 21/05/09
      54.   In defense of Mark Lincoln 10:41  |  christoph 21/05/09
      55.   All for it just one small addition 10:45  |  BigJew 21/05/09
      56.   #30, RW 10:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/09
      57.   Well, Alex #20...some Jews are reknowned diamond cutters... 10:51  |  Esther 21/05/09
      58.   Obama cannot divide Jerusalem 10:53  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/09
      59.   has america bought us with its bloody grants 10:57  |  amnon reshef 21/05/09
      60.   we are the architects of our doom 10:59  |  haim erez 21/05/09
      61.   Jerusalem IS a divided city 11:00  |  Roo 21/05/09
      62.   Need to Liberate Jerusalem from the Occupation 11:00  |  Louis 21/05/09
      63.   Liberation of jerusalem 11:01  |  JL 21/05/09
      64.   one hundred million dollars for the arrow project 11:03  |  yoram yair 21/05/09
      65.   for obama putting pressure on us is just one more project 11:05  |  bren adan 21/05/09
      66.   #4 Lincoln the lunatic 11:05  |  Michael 21/05/09
      67.   hilary clinton and the settlements 11:08  |  avraham yoffe 21/05/09
      68.   #18 Rick, another lunatic 11:16  |  Michael 21/05/09
      69.   On dividing the Jewish Capital. 11:20  |  Stephen. 21/05/09
      70.   Harel is right of Genghis Khan, 11:21  |  Razi 21/05/09
      71.   #30 RW 11:25  |  Michael 21/05/09
      72.   I guess it`s time for Haaretz too to choose its side 11:25  |  Alicia 21/05/09
      73.   Tel Aviv is the capital 11:26  |  Nick Ferriman 21/05/09
      74.   WEll Jerusalem is not Israel`s city 11:26  |  Marilyn 21/05/09
      75.   Have a look at this for arrogance! 2nd try 11:26  |  Johnboy 21/05/09
      76.   the genius of roo 11:33  |  eliyahu 21/05/09
      77.   To Ms Kohn and others like her... 11:33  |  reasonable 21/05/09
      78.   Megan the Golden Star 11:33  |  Christojerusalemite 21/05/09
      79.   roo "jerusalem is a divided city" 11:35  |  eliyahu 21/05/09
      80.   #48 Louis, yet another one 11:41  |  Michael 21/05/09
      81.   to Cipora Julianna Kohn 11:41  |  RW 21/05/09
      82.   FIRAS Arab psycholgy? Jews are dhimmis! Arabs rule 11:44  |  PETER SM 21/05/09
      83.   bangkok in the nick 11:45  |  pattiya 21/05/09
      84.   FERRIMAN Arabs rejected the international city 11:46  |  PETER SM 21/05/09
      85.   johnboy insults zionism 11:52  |  yoel 21/05/09
      86.   #70, "reasonable," NOT 11:52  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/09
      87.   johnboy on obama 11:55  |  uzi 21/05/09
      88.   #63, Stephen, thank you 11:59  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/09
      89.   Absolute #45... methinks someone so obsessed with Lithuania etc.. 12:01  |  Esther 21/05/09
      90.   how paranoid the writer is..left wing... Cairo... sorry for him 12:06  |  Tom Lobo Meyer 21/05/09
      91.   FERRIMAN Hamas govt tells their children to conquer T.A as well 12:07  |  PETER SM 21/05/09
      92.   Funny idea 12:08  |  Enrico 21/05/09
      93.   As usual my post doesn`t get in. But Mark Lincoln # 4, did! 12:09  |  S 21/05/09
      94.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 12:12  |  TonyL 21/05/09
      95.   #7 Pal un-defender 12:12  |  Enrico 21/05/09
      96.   Indeed, Cipora #52... "Obama cannot divide Jerusalem"... 12:14  |  Esther 21/05/09
      97.   Harel forgets Jerusalem did not wait 2000 years for Jewish taking 12:18  |  Ivar 21/05/09
      98.   #72 "Pals anchestory"? 12:24  |  Italian Zionist 21/05/09
      99.   Jerusalem Is Whatever Israel Says It Is... 12:28  |  Yosemite 21/05/09
      100.   A dream or a nightmare? 12:30  |  Enrico 21/05/09
      101.   Leftie Esther from TA,like her Guru Brezhnev prescribing 12:31  |  Absolute Sweden 21/05/09
      102.   #67 Ferriman 12:35  |  Enrico 21/05/09
      103.   Which State Jerusalem was the capital city? 12:47  |  Enrico 21/05/09
      104.   MEDEL Are YOU loyal to the USA? 12:49  |  PETER SM 21/05/09
      105.   Where is my post to Mark Lincoln #4? It`s just a copy of his 12:53  |  S 21/05/09
      106.   Useless dream to divide Jerusalem. - to thr Presiden Obama.. 12:56  |  Vital 21/05/09
      107.   My boss is stupid 13:03  |  Joe Biden 21/05/09
      108.   Old City under UN 13:12  |  hila 21/05/09
      109.   #64 Stephen; Israelis are "programmed" to self-destruct 13:17  |  Alicia 21/05/09
      110.   iain 13:17  |  newyorkone 21/05/09
      111.   Jerusalem forever JEWISH..Obama is temporary 13:21  |  Marc 21/05/09
      112.   #71, "reasonable," i had sent you a response 13:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 21/05/09
      113.   Let America Burn Alone 13:33  |  UsedToPostHere 21/05/09
      114.   #77 "Joe Biden" - foot in mouth - Again ! 13:33  |  Razi 21/05/09
      115.   To #4 Mark Lincoln 13:35  |  Israeli 21/05/09
      116.   The reincarnated Roman Empire 13:38  |  Beggar 21/05/09
      117.   The Fast of Gedaliah 13:42  |  Dr. L.A. Rossique 21/05/09
      118.   whatif Jerusalem re-liberated ? 13:43  |  circassian 21/05/09
      119.   eliyah/harzion/yoram yair/schmuk 13:43  |  Roo 21/05/09
      120.   To whom the Bell tolls... 13:46  |  Luke 21/05/09
      121.   no east jerusalem, then no monuments ok? 13:46  |  Faroug 21/05/09
      122.   East jerusalem will become upnormal place, fake 13:49  |  Faroug 21/05/09
      123.   NAZIZM IS USELESS . 14:10  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 21/05/09
      124.   ENOUGH RAPE ON JERUSALEM. DIVIDE HER INTO THREE PLEASE. 14:17  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 21/05/09
      125.   dividing jerusalem 15:17  |  shimshon kinory 21/05/09
      126.   # 84 Peter SM 15:48  |  Nick Ferriman 21/05/09
      127.   atilla 16:42  |  oz 21/05/09
      128.   i live in united kingdom.you in united states.united jerusalem is 18:03  |  jack 21/05/09
      129.   circassian # 118 Re-Liberated By Whom? 18:15  |  Jeff Northridge 21/05/09
      130.   All Hail to the American King 18:25  |  Golem 21/05/09
      131.   Two Reasons for Jerusalem 20:20  |  RfaelMoshe 21/05/09
      132.   Jews are indestructible! 21:27  |  MMM 21/05/09
      133.   Sorry Jeff Northridge, not `most Christians` 129 01:29  |  arthur 22/05/09
      134.   Obama to ask for Arab concessions as well 01:35  |  MichaelF 22/05/09
      135.   Unfortunately Mark Lincoln isn`t King Salomon # 3 01:45  |  Fortuna Benmayor 22/05/09
      136.   Do not confuse political rhetoric with reality. 02:07  |  a wandering Jew 22/05/09
      137.   Jerusalem 02:31  |  tl 22/05/09
      138.   Forced settlement the only way 02:58  |  ahmet 22/05/09
      139.   Well a UN amdinistered Jerusalem was the original idea so... 03:05  |  Biden 22/05/09
      140.   God promised this land to Abraham 03:30  |  Joe 22/05/09
      141.   The arabic name for Jerusalem - thank you Mairo #19 04:34  |  Jo 22/05/09
      142.   #12 08:15  |  Uzi 22/05/09
      143.   FERRIMAN Arabs got well over 80% of the mandate of Palestine 09:07  |  PETER SM 22/05/09
      144.   Obama slogan of change started to hunt him ! 09:09  |  Akram Zekaria 22/05/09
      145.   Haaretz should be deeply ashamed... - 8th try 09:20  |  BBSNews 22/05/09
      146.   #135 Unfortunately Fortuna Benmayor 10:19  |  kiki 22/05/09
      147.   4~Mark Lincoln: Soloman solution was in finding the liar ! 11:19  |  Akram Zekaria 22/05/09
      148.   Fortuna Benmayor 11:50  |  jennifer 22/05/09
      149.   Jerusalem was first divided by zionist terrorist 14:19  |  John 22/05/09
      150.   Obama a "magician". What magic has he performed? 20:47  |  Chaim 22/05/09
      151.   Ben Gurion once said............... 23:46  |  Antonio da Silva 22/05/09
      152.   Ben Gurion once said............... 23:49  |  Antonio da Silva 22/05/09
      153.   To B.S.News (#145). Time`s up, wingnut. 20:44  |  flyingdoc57 23/05/09
      154.   #5 08:21  |  Edward 02/06/09
      155.   #9 08:28  |  edward 02/06/09
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