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Last update - 14:40 21/05/2009
A friend of Israel
By Gideon Levy
Tags: Peace, Israel News, Obama 

It's already clear: the U.S. president is a great friend of Israel. If Barack Obama continues what he started this week, he might prove to be the friendliest president to Israel ever. Richard Nixon saved Israel from the Arab states in 1973, and Obama is about to save Israel from itself. Nixon sent us arms and ammunition at a critical time, and Obama is sending us, at a time no less critical, the substance of a complete peace plan, a plan that would save Israel.

All that remains is whether Obama stays determined and decisive, as he was earlier this week. In one move he changed Washington's madness and the attitude toward the Israeli occupation. Now we will see if he succeeds in altering the same madness in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It's a long road, and Obama began well.

In a single move he shrank the fearmongering of Benjamin Netanyahu and his mouthpieces on Iran to its proper size. In a single move he put the centrifuges of occupation, the real existential threat to Israel, at the top of the agenda. He fended off Netanyahu's attempts to divert attention from substantial issues, and blocked all efforts to waste more precious time on Iran and impose ridiculous preconditions on the Palestinians. He also blocked all efforts to distract us with committees, promises for negotiations, formulas, declarations and empty words. These are Israel's best tricks and games; anything to evade responsibility for the main issue - the end of the occupation.
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Obama understands that now is the time for an end to petty words, impotent negotiations and a hollow peace process; now is the time for big deeds and a courageous leap over the abyss.

Suddenly all of Israel's "friends" in Washington have shed their skin. They, too, sense a rare opportunity in the Middle East. They, too, are tired of what Netanyahu has tried to peddle. They, too, understand that the Yitzhar settlement in the West Bank must precede Iran's nuclear reactor in Bushehr. How pathetic and heartrending was the sight of the Israeli prime minister, sitting tense and sweaty, next to the new American president, confident, stylish, and impressive, without all the jokes and back-patting of Ehud Olmert and George W. Bush. The latter was in fact the least friendly president to Israel - one who allowed it to carry out all its violent madness.

How pathetic was the sight, yet how encouraging; perhaps Netanyahu learned something during his short and dramatic visit. The visit has already made one contribution: Obama tore off the mask of so-called peace-loving Israel. If Netanyahu really feared for the fate of the country he would have immediately agreed, in the Oval Office, to all the ideas put forth by this fantastic president. If Israel does not respond, we, the Israelis, will know, the U.S. president will know and the entire world will know that Israel does not want peace.

An Israeli refusal of Obama's efforts will reveal that there is no peace partner in the Middle East. The absent partner is Israel. No to peace with 57 countries, no to a move that will neutralize the threat of the Iranian bomb, and no to two states now. This is not only a no to peace but also a no to a chance to end the war over Israel's establishment with a major victory. This would mean that Israel's greatest strategic asset ever, its alliance with the United States, would be destroyed. Netanyahu may now endanger Israel even more than Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

We must be thankful to Obama. Four months after taking office, he is trying to rescue Israel, the Middle East, and basically the entire world, whose most dangerous conflict is this one. The threats are many; first and foremost refusals by Israel, a loss of interest by Obama, and Palestinian divisions. The ball is in Netanyahu's court. If he ends the occupation, he'll get peace and security; if he doesn't, he won't. It's not about another minor deal, but about the future of the Zionist enterprise. Such an opportunity will not return. Yes, we can. Obama has proved it; now it's our turn.
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  1.   A Plan for Israel`s destruction 07:36  |  Baruch Gold 21/05/09
  2.   If Gideon Levy hails Obama as our Messaiah 08:30  |  Fortuna Benmayor 21/05/09
  3.   A friend of Israel 10:26  |  Tom 21/05/09
  4.   Obama the Saviour 11:02  |  Peter Dane 21/05/09
  5.   The Truth laid plain and bare. 11:56  |  Razi 21/05/09
  6.   Whatever Gideon Levy says about Israel, believe the opposite 12:09  |  Steve Randolph 21/05/09
  7.   the mask torn.the face appears.identical. 12:14  |  esther marduk 21/05/09
  8.   ISRAEL OCCUPATION IS THE KEY, NOT IRAN (FAR FROM IT) 12:48  |  indrajaya 21/05/09
  9.   Forced Peace 12:52  |  Luke 21/05/09
  10.   It`s been a long time since endorsing Gideon was possible... 13:02  |  Esther 21/05/09
  11.   Baruch and his mate Fortuna - wrong again. 13:08  |  Razi 21/05/09
  12.   Gideon - The TRUTH about Israel. 13:21  |  Razi 21/05/09
  13.   obama and Netanyahu 13:28  |  sharona 21/05/09
  14.   News for Levy 13:30  |  dani.a 21/05/09
  15.   Obama - A true friend of Israel 13:53  |  Matty Groves 21/05/09
  16.   It won`t happen, Gideon 14:07  |  Jasper 21/05/09
  17.   impressed 14:16  |  sara 21/05/09
  18.   Modern Technology 14:16  |  Iain 21/05/09
  19.   Jasper, you are too easily persuaded #16 14:31  |  bert 21/05/09
  20.   Levy, you make me laugh 15:16  |  Alicia 21/05/09
  21.   Finally 15:31  |  Jonas 21/05/09
  22.   Obama tore a Mask of G. Levy 15:31  |  Abecassis 21/05/09
  23.   Gideon removed the Fig leafs of Bibi & Co. ! 15:33  |  Mark 21/05/09
  24.   Suggestion for Gideon Levy 15:35  |  Concerned 21/05/09
  25.   Stand up for peace! 15:38  |  Issa Dadoush 21/05/09
  26.   A friend of Israel 17:06  |  Margaret Walters 21/05/09
  27.   Fortuna is eating too much coco in Columbia 17:13  |  Ibrahim 21/05/09
  28.   a friend of Israel 17:58  |  mark g 21/05/09
  29.   Israel Self-Destructive Policies 18:14  |  Vladek 21/05/09
  30.   A FRIEND OF ISRAEL 18:16  |  SVI 21/05/09
  31.   I Respect Gideon Levy 18:18  |  Torrance 21/05/09
  32.   Where is this great opportunity you have fabricated, Levy? 18:21  |  McQueen 21/05/09
  33.   Obama is no friend of Israel 18:27  |  Channah 21/05/09
  34.   You can`t just give them land 20:17  |  Simon 21/05/09
  35.   Obama`s bewitchment of the Left 20:21  |  Gil 21/05/09
  36.   Gideon Levy 21:31  |  Albert Linder 21/05/09
  37.   The comments on Gideon always scare me 01:31  |  A citizen 22/05/09
  38.   Pushing the reset button.... like never before 01:34  |  allang 22/05/09
  39.   Simon - London 02:34  |  kiwi girl 22/05/09
  40.   Dear Gideon, 02:37  |  zeev 22/05/09
  41.   Way to go, Gideon 02:38  |  Gully Foyle 22/05/09
  42.   #33 Obama is no friend of Israel 02:44  |  Gully Foyle 22/05/09
  43.   It`d be nice if you were right 02:44  |  Colin Wright 22/05/09
  44.   Exaggerated statements without any 03:20  |  TOMY 22/05/09
  45.   So much assumption and supposition 03:58  |  David 22/05/09
  46.   Obama, a friend of Israel? Think again! 03:58  |  A I Goldman 22/05/09
  47.   But will Obama put our money where his mouth is? 06:35  |  Antonius 22/05/09
  48.   The Zionist enterprise was, is, will be wrong. 09:19  |  American 22/05/09
  49.   A friend of Israel 09:28  |  Candy 22/05/09
  50.   to Simon #34 10:01  |  zeev 22/05/09
  51.   to AI Goldman #46 11:18  |  zeev 22/05/09
  52.   to Simon #34 - 2nd try 12:42  |  zeev 22/05/09
  53.   Re : shedding their skin.... 16:29  |  Dutch 22/05/09
  54.   A friend of Israel 20:33  |  Henry 22/05/09
  55.   g l 01:23  |  joseph kalfa 23/05/09
  56.   # 46 goldman 01:44  |  Axel 23/05/09
  57.   Seeking Breiman`s `response` to Gideon... 11:51  |  Esther 23/05/09
  58.   Obama a friend? 13:10  |  Bethany 23/05/09
  59.   Addendum!!! 15:09  |  Abecassis 23/05/09
  60.   to Bethany #57 18:50  |  zeev 23/05/09
  61.   Hatred of one`s own country 22:04  |  Dr. Stew 23/05/09
  62.   a friend of Israel 00:33  |  Tibor Burian 24/05/09
  63.   Gideon..a friend of Israel 02:01  |  Anne 24/05/09
  64.   to Dr. Stew #60 10:56  |  zeev 24/05/09
  65.   Obama and PEACE 16:42  |  S.Balu 24/05/09
  66.   Obama and PEACE 16:42  |  S.Balu 24/05/09
  67.   # 62 Balu (the bear?) 17:24  |  The Teacher/Instruct 24/05/09
  68.   #66 Gideon is a friend Israel!! 19:07  |  Anne 24/05/09
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