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Last update - 12:34 30/06/2009
Obama sweet-talks dictators, yet strong-arms Israel
By Moshe Arens
Tags: Settlements 

Dealing with U.S. President Barack Obama constitutes a major challenge for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It has been a long time since America last had a president as powerful as Obama, who controls both houses of Congress and is wildly popular among the American public. It is from this advantageous position that Obama has decided to confront Israel, and now the Israeli prime minister has to decide how to respond.

Meanwhile, the world's troublemakers in Tehran, Damascus, and Pyongyang are getting away with murder. As for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Syrian President Bashar Assad, Obama has decided to sweet-talk them. Meanwhile Kim Jong-il is still waiting to see how the U.S. president will deal with him, as North Korea continues to threaten the world with its nuclear-tipped missiles. The exception to it all is Israel - Obama is telling Jerusalem in no uncertain terms what he expects from it. No doubt about it, the American leader has decided to use strong-arm tactics on America's long-time ally.

He has carefully and deliberately targeted the Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria as the focal point of the pressure he has decided to apply on Netanyahu. For years these settlements have been castigated by Israel's enemies, and even some of its friends, as constituting an obstacle to regional peace - a sentiment also echoed by the Israeli left. With that kind of backing, Obama must have concluded that Netanyahu will have no choice but to buckle. That is why he and Hillary Clinton are keeping up the pressure.
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"The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements... It is time for these settlements to stop," he declared in Cairo. To leave no room for doubt, Clinton emphasized that Obama was referring to all settlements, including Jewish neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. Those who choose to take comfort in Obama's choice of words - he referred to "legitimacy" rather than "legality," and talked about "continued" Israeli settlements - are only fooling themselves. Obama has targeted all Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria as well as East Jerusalem's Jewish neighborhoods, and he does not intend to let go easily.

Netanyahu made a serious error of judgment in trying to parry Obama's opening serve by explaining the need for additional settlement construction due to the "natural growth" of the Jewish population there. Referring to the space required for kindergartens, nurseries and homes for newlyweds does not convince someone who does not accept the legitimacy of continued settlement construction. Expecting heartfelt sentiments from your opponent in this game is not going to get us anywhere. Obama is playing hardball. While efforts to assuage the concerns of the Israeli public regarding relations with the U.S. - by saying that the settlement issue is negotiable - may leave an impression in Israel, they are falling on deaf ears in Washington.

The right of Jews to live in Judea and Samaria is a basic principle not subject to negotiations. There is more at stake here than mere rights to natural growth. Britain tried to abrogate these rights in the infamous MacDonald White Paper of May 1939. That document ended up in the trash bin of history. The Arab Legion tried to deny this right from 1948-1967, after destroying the Jewish settlements in the area, only to be driven out in the Six-Day War. And today, too, no coalition of friends or foes is going to succeed in this endeavor. The Israel prime minister has to make this crystal clear. The gauntlet has been dropped and it has to be taken up.

Succumbing to the pressure that is being applied on the settlement issue will only result in additional pressure on other issues, and before long Israel's position on matters of principle and substance will begin to crumble. This is not going to be easy, but Israel's staunch supporters in the U.S. will stand by it. It will be a test for the American Jewish leadership - and for the people of Israel.
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  1.   two wrongs make a right! 08:11  |  truth 30/06/09
  2.   Arens silliness has become weaker 08:35  |  Natallie Durson 30/06/09
  3.   Israel is the only deaph who listens nevertheless. 08:37  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/06/09
  4.   Hysterical 08:38  |  arik 30/06/09
  5.   So Full, Moshe 08:50  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/09
  6.   Where Arens is very wrong. 09:44  |  Johnboy 30/06/09
  7.   #4 I don`t think so, Arik 09:54  |  Johnboy 30/06/09
  8.   Obama, the "change" candidate 09:58  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  9.   Moshe, you`re evidence of why the settlements are a failure. 10:01  |  Michael 30/06/09
  10.   #5, Mark of Lewiston 10:04  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  11.   It is sad to see such post from a real gentleman. 10:11  |  S 30/06/09
  12.   A key word is settlements 10:18  |  Basil 30/06/09
  13.   9 Cipora - Baloney! 10:32  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/09
  14.   #9 Cipora 10:34  |  S 30/06/09
  15.   #11, S 10:43  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  16.   #13, Mark of Lewiston 10:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  17.   #14, S 10:56  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  18.   ALL TALK! 10:59  |  Christopher 30/06/09
  19.   #9 michael proves once again you can be an idiot without really t 11:02  |  v hardman 30/06/09
  20.   #9, Michael, you all forget 11:06  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  21.   Moshe Arens 11:19  |  Leslie Gertz 30/06/09
  22.   16 Cipora - To Simplify 11:24  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/09
  23.   CPK 20. You`re forgetting history. 11:41  |  Michael 30/06/09
  24.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #10 Reagan and human rights 11:45  |  J.S 30/06/09
  25.   Because... 11:54  |  Tom 30/06/09
  26.   #22, Mark of Lewiston, what is your point 12:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  27.   #24, J.S. 12:11  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  28.   You are no ally of the United States Mr. Arens 12:17  |  RW 30/06/09
  29.   #15 Cipora - Re your answer to my #11 13:11  |  S 30/06/09
  30.   The past helps form the present Cipora #8 13:27  |  J.S 30/06/09
  31.   Last I checked... 13:41  |  GaileeHero 30/06/09
  32.   Is this really the way Israel sees itself? 13:44  |  Apa 30/06/09
  33.   Moshe Arens, whistling in the dark again 13:47  |  Solow 30/06/09
  34.   The list of sponsorships grows 14:06  |  Arie 30/06/09
  35.   Three years is not a long time 14:19  |  bystander 30/06/09
  36.   #28 rw has the presidents ear and knows sfa about economics 14:23  |  v hardman 30/06/09
  37.   Moshe Arens, it`s not a question of aggressive semantics... 14:31  |  Esther 30/06/09
  38.   It`s funny how when you disagree with Isreal... 14:39  |  Amy 30/06/09
  39.   Obama`s stance 14:39  |  Walter 30/06/09
  40.   have you noticed? 14:43  |  patriot 30/06/09
  41.   #9 Michael 15:22  |  Joe 30/06/09
  42.   Moshe Arens stuck in the Bush doctrine 15:29  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
  43.   And Durson`s bullying has become pure comedy 15:43  |  Israeli citizen 30/06/09
  44.   #40 Patriot 15:44  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
  45.   Arens is erroneously betting on American Jews... 15:47  |  Esther 30/06/09
  46.   Maybe Obama doesn`t believe 16:12  |  Chris Linthwaite 30/06/09
  47.   Reality is cruel 16:35  |  Uetliberg 30/06/09
  48.   obama 17:18  |  oz 30/06/09
  49.   #28 RW do you really believe that the only democracy in ME is wor 17:27  |  Big Sur 30/06/09
  50.   Voice of rreason 17:39  |  Zipory 30/06/09
  51.   Israel is America`s Enemy 17:46  |  John 30/06/09
  52.   Jews right to live in Judea and Samaria 17:48  |  Obseerver 30/06/09
  53.   Yea, And It Is About Time ... 17:53  |  Boyd 30/06/09
  54.   Thank you Arens, you are 100% correct and that is because of 18:12  |  People will wake up 30/06/09
  55.   One sided concessions?? 18:37  |  Ricardo 30/06/09
  56.   26 Cipora - My Point 18:37  |  Mark of Lewiston 30/06/09
  57.   A Sound Well Reasoned Opinion 18:39  |  Ross Gallen 30/06/09
  58.   And where was the tough talk to the Arab states who ousted Jews? 18:45  |  Jason 30/06/09
  59.   Yasher Koach 19:09  |  DovBer 30/06/09
  60.   3rd try boy Haaretz c`mon 19:23  |  Big Sur 30/06/09
  61.   #44 john, what is illegal bout Israel 20:05  |  Big Sur 30/06/09
  62.   Cruising For a Bruising 20:10  |  Shaul Ben-Yimini 30/06/09
  63.   #@21 Leslie Gertz you should see Jackie Mason`s Blog 20:10  |  Big Sur 30/06/09
  64.   Cruising For a Bruising 20:10  |  Shaul Ben-Yimini 30/06/09
  65.   #45, Observer, that is NOT true 20:12  |  David 30/06/09
  66.   settlements 20:14  |  Burglar 30/06/09
  67.   #23 Michael 20:15  |  sfg 30/06/09
  68.   @12, Basil, Jews lived in Judea/Samaria until cleansed by Brits 20:15  |  David 30/06/09
  69.   0bama and Israel 20:20  |  Nick Andrelli 30/06/09
  70.   Obama tried sweet-talk first. Israel ignored him 20:32  |  binny 30/06/09
  71.   Israel needs more agressive stance on jewish claims to Israel 20:32  |  bernard ross 30/06/09
  72.   John #44 is right. Israel is indeed America`s enemey. 20:59  |  Steve 30/06/09
  73.   I must respectfully disagree with Mr. Arens on one point 21:13  |  Steve 30/06/09
  74.   Not all Americans `wild` about Obama 22:08  |  James Andrews 30/06/09
  75.   #47, Mark of Lewiston 22:13  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  76.   It`s a pitty Moshe Arens retired ten years ago... 22:19  |  Michael F 30/06/09
  77.   Obama is shrewd 22:21  |  American 30/06/09
  78.   S 22:28  |  citizen zero 30/06/09
  79.   Settlements Ueber Alles ! 23:00  |  David 30/06/09
  80.   Historyfalsification 23:01  |  Dutch observer 30/06/09
  81.   #47, Mark of Lewiston 23:51  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/06/09
  82.   And Obama Just found another Senate Vote 00:11  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/07/09
  83.   Selfish 00:22  |  rob 01/07/09
  84.   Are they all the same? 00:50  |  Donald Liebich 01/07/09
  85.   Obama sweettalks Arabs but strongarms Israel 00:57  |  Tana Markoe 01/07/09
  86.   To RW in California 02:38  |  utagawa 01/07/09
  87.   If Jews have the right to live in Judea... 02:43  |  utagawa 01/07/09
  88.   A Basic Principle? 04:12  |  Geoff 01/07/09
  89.   When Herzl found the Jewish State in Basel Mr Arnes.... 05:39  |  Wedi Mendefera 01/07/09
  90.   As Far As President Obama Is Concerned... 06:17  |  Yosemite 01/07/09
  91.   Bibi holds the keys to Obamas future 06:38  |  Wile E Coyote 01/07/09
  92.   #87 Try this question instead, utagawa 15:52  |  Johnboy 01/07/09
  93.   Obama sweet talks dictators 22:35  |  Jobe Statum 01/07/09
  94.   Settlements will stop and Obama will win 07:53  |  Bloodyscot 02/07/09
  95.   what strong arming? 06:00  |  annie 03/07/09
  96.   The Israeli government makes land prices in West Bank cheap 06:40  |  David 03/07/09
  97.   Johnboy - the right was taken away by Israel`s Declaration...... 09:18  |  CJ 18/07/09
  98.   Cipora Julianna Kohn - If that`s the `left` what are .... 09:27  |  CJ 18/07/09
  99.   Cipora Julianna Kohn - Resolutions because??? 09:43  |  CJ 18/07/09
  100.   Leslie Gertz - Israel is a Sovereignty. OK what are it`s... 09:50  |  CJ 18/07/09
  101.   Walter - ??? What?? 09:57  |  CJ 18/07/09
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