Ritual terrorism: Hating Obama as a new form of religion

Who cares what color Obama's skin is? He is destroying the US economy. He could be green & still not be a good president. Don't turn everything into racism.

Dear Mr. President: I sincerely hope you can ignore the insignificant minority of those who do not support you. Please continue pressing Israel and Palestinians to make peace.

Imagine that, Meir Kahane followers hating President Obama and it appearing in a (good) newspaper as a normal thing. Correct me if I'm wrong, & I know I'm not but didn't Mr. Kahane advocate exhiling all the Palestinians from Judea & Sumaria as a polite way to 'help' Palestinians? Didn't he extoll hatred & killing of Palestinians? He's like a KKK Grand Wizard for the crazy right wing Israeli sect and you are saying his views are something that isn't despicable. The paradox, the contradiction....it boggles the mind.

Especially on the ncitement worthy of an NGO peace prize. That Jews/Israel have object is a given. Incidently it is Bradley's custom to DROP a BIGGY,go off,and says to himself:Well,I've done MY BIT, let them sort it out.He does this on every occasion. On Meir Kahane: Was he not right after all when he warned of the consequences we are witnessing NOW? That they denigrate him has been throughout the varied Israel leaders.Why I know not.Funny,many Jews cannot see the wood for the TREES.

If when there were no monotheism there were still killing each other,what is your point there corrector? You are just being pedantic. The Hindoos have hundreds of gods,but still indulge in wars to protect themselves against Islamists. What does defending ones self to do with religion? It began with Cain And Abel..And continues to this day.Long before there was such thing as RELIGION.Besides since the creation of the world MEN have always had to find in something to believe in.Stars,the moon,trees,etc,etc. You cannot generalize it sorry.

Every American, every European, every African loves Obama. Even American Jews support him. Only a handful of far right wingers who want to live in illegal settlements hate him. They had better move back to Israel and help build the country.

is not a religion, when people are blind to the facts and base their actions on belief and wishful thinking?

Mr. Burston articles are full of imagination not facts

Israelis have a right to object. Any danger to the President is most likely to be from within the US The vast major majority of US Jews historically vote democrat no mattter what.

They had cartoons of her depicting her as a pregnant woman with an X-ray view of a monkey in her belly. Palestinian Arab media described her as a bloodthirsty "raven". The Kahanist effigies of Obama are wrongheaded and counterproductive--I don't particularly like Obama, but I am sure he is not a Hitler or even an Arafat. No doubt, Kahanists are a nutty extremist group. Nevertheless, why am I not surprised that Israel-bashers latch onto this fringe group's behavior as "evidence" of innate "racism" in Israeli society and have no comment about the manifestations of racism directed against Condoleezaa Rice from Arabs?

If you haven't noticed, Obama is as "black" as he is "white", so any accusations about racism are absurd. Indeed, it could be argued that Obama is more "white" than "black", as he was raised by his "white" mother/grandparents after being abandoned by the "black" side of his family. In case you hadn't noticed, Obama was elected because "whites" voted for him, not because of the "black" vote. In case you hadn't noticed, nearly 80% of Jews (who just happen to be "white") voted for Obama. In case you hadn't noticed, Obama wasn't elected 'in spite of' his race. He was elected 'because' of it. Left-wing nuts like you are just as quick to fling the "racist" accusation at whites as you are to fling accusations of guilt upon Israel with every blessed posting after every blessed article. Your type fancy yourselves as oh-so righteous, while basking in the self-deprecating hatred of your own race and Country. Liberal nutjobs need to hate yourselves in order to feel better about yourselves

But every one have the right to hate what he is doing ! And that is democracy ! Obama have no right to decide the destiny of another democratic country. And that is also not democracy ! Israel is not a terrorist State ! And Obama have no right to tell Israel what to do ! Israel accepted peace & 2-state solution the first day it was born ! Obama never reminded the Arab of the truth & keep bullying Israel ! Israel wants peace with security ! Obama wants to have only his promise the security Israel ! Obama made himself the voice of the Arab-Islamic world ! But he himself never listens to what the Arab world is keep saying ! Obama is not the voice of America. But he is the voice of himself & nothing more !

There is also a simple fact. The incestuous right-wings of the USA and Israel hate any person they perceived as 'liberal'. That includes Clinton and that RINO G.H.W. Bush.

"They call him every manner of names - Communist, Muslim, racist, Jew-hater. They call him all manner of names, and he is none of these. Curious, isn't it, that they never mention what he actually is. Which is, for many of them, enough reason to revile him, all by itself: Black." - Bradley Burston Race is certainly part of the hatred aimed at Obama, There is a deeper reason for that fact, people who inhabit the extreme right are usually racists. They are usually racial supremacists. Racism is a major component in America's Tea Party. Here the racism is not only aimed at blacks, but latinos and asians as well. Hitler's followers hated those races they considered 'inferior' such as black and Jews, and harbored fantasies of their own racial superiority. The profound sense of insecurity and doubts about inferiority which lie in the deep recesses of the right wing mind engender delusions of superiority and hatred for easily perceived others.

"What the Kahanists are saying, in effect, is that there is no longer any difference between the Occupation on one hand, and Judaism on the other." - Bradley Burston A succinct appraisal. A truth that applies to far more people than just Kahanists. There is a large body of people who believe in the Revisionist goal of a land from the sea to Jordan inhabited only by Jews. Those people usually consider anyone who does not share their vision as an anti-Semite and an enemy of Israel.

What intellectually dishonest tripe. The kahanists view any attempt as a vivisection of Israel as a threat to Jewish survival. you can agree or disagree but to say that it really is hatred for a black man is so typical of the politics of race. I have not seen Burston condemnation of the venomous hatred by the left in Israel of the Settler population, most of whom were sent to their homes by the Israeli governmen. They are called Nazis (though many are holocaust survivors or their progeny) murderers (justifying their summary execution) and so on. Though 99% are ordinary hard working loyal citizens, no less than Bradley). Never heard a peep from old Bradley. Every piece is agenda driven without any integrity to the arguments he makes. In fact no president in recent years (at least 20) has so openly vilified Israel and labeled it as the problem ignoring decades of terror, incitement to Jew hatred (even at pre-school level) rejection of various offers of compromise etc. Black-not relevant.

Racism is deeply rooted in American society, in all sectors. Sometimes it is blatant and sometimes it operates under cover, but it is always there looming over the claims of this society as being open and democratic. But the government recognises that and has legilated against it. Yet it persists. Remember that these slanders and lies spread about Obama were often, as in Florida, instigated by right wing hotshot zionist groups that worked relentlessly to defeat him and spread rumours about him and his biography. The majority of Ameican jews had nothing to do with this campaign and voted for him, but not the groups like the ZOA or their supporters.

"in fact, prior to the introduction of monotheism there were never any wars in the name of god or gods, people were more tolerant." - Corrector Actually, wars were sponsored (supposedly) by the national gods, and a win could (and was) interpreted as a victory of one god over the other. Sometimes, in defeat, it was understood that the god wanted to punish his people. (An Assyrian example comes to mind.) Wars are a human endeavor, not a divine endeavor, so wars were here even before the gods or God. If you want to claim that the bible has many phrases that indicate that other gods were viewed as real, indeed this is the case. Monotheism took hold only after the Return from Babylon (538 BCE) so older documents incorporated into the bible still show other gods as extisting.

Plain and simple.

Because he's black, and with an African-sounding name, the nuts start pulling their hair out. I don't remember Bush I's picture being thrown into the bonfire even though he suspended loan guarantees. Something Obama has not done.

It is in part because he is black - many jews still carry the european mentality about other races, ignoring the fact of course that jews themselves are asian and not european.

you said "...Before Monotheism, there existed many gods..." They still do, in fact, billions of people around the world reject the monotheistic concept - in fact, prior to the introduction of monotheism there were never any wars in the name of god or gods, people were more tolerant. This tolerance ended when the concept of one god was introduced and then the "my god is better than your god" mentality took hold, a mind frame that was and is completely foreign to a polytheistic people. Jewish Commandment: Thou shall have no other gods before thee Does this not imply that THERE ARE other gods that the Israelites could have chosen to worship? Just a thought...

If you talk like Hussein,do like Hussein,name Hussein........ Apropos war crimes,he should rein his own troops crimes,which are numerous and worse than any troops on earth.

Before Monotheism, there existed many gods, some of them national gods, and they had different charachters, some were severe and some were loving, etc. Men created their gods in their own image and their own need, so the gods also had a variety, as humans do. Did the situation change after monotheism? It couldn't, because human needs differ. Within the framework of Judaism there were also many sects during 2nd Temple times, and even Jewish Christians. Even after the Second Temple, when Rabbinism won the day, sects have developed. Today we have the Haredim, the Orthodox, Conservatives, Reform and more, even Jews for Jesus. M3en shape their religion according to their own character and needs. I wouldn't blame the religion of the Kahanists. This is shaped by the character of the Kahanists themselves. And they are HATERS. They also hate Arabs and probably others that would not agree with them. I heard Meir Kahana himself referring to the "stinking (Israeli) Arabs", for whom he demanded "national service" instead of IDF service, which should be fulfilled in the form of hard labor, like building roads, not office work. He was a hater who was killed by haters, and his killers will also die...

In the same way, as Rabin was vilified and demonized by the Likudniks (led by Sharon and Netanyahu) before his assasination, president Obama is today vilified and demonized by Republican wingnuts and right-wing Zionists in the U.S. While the crazy right-wingers in Israel called Rabin a "Nazi" and a "Hitler", the Republican wingnuts and right-wing U.S. Zionists are calling Obama a "Communist" and "anti- Semite". There are only 3 words, that those right-wing "thugs" hate, namely peace, justice and fairness....

Unless you serve the interests of the right wing gangs of usurpers, then you are the enemy and there is no compromise. This is a group that thrives on isolation, hatred and contempt for the other and a tribal instinct that permeates every aspect of their lives. They are sort of a semitic version of Jim Jones group in Guyana.

Here you have posters who slabder the President of the US, insult his VP publically, have an apartment building in EJ, the annexation of which by Israel is not recognised by the US, that have nationals who burn the President of the US in effigy, and guess what/////They are called our strongest ally, linked wwith an unbreakable commitment to their security and on top of it the greatest amount of foreign military aid in the world. With friends like these who needs enemies!?

You are so very right, Mr. Burston.- And Caroline Glick from the Jerusalem Post is the High Priestess of that religion.-

I don't hate the Jews but I dispise Zionism. My fear is that more Jews are being indoctrinated into Zionism everyday. Where will Israel be today, if God has not used the United States to support Israel since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. Israel is a beneficiary of US$3billion US Grants every year. The US has been a defender of Israel from the machinations of its Arab neighbors. The activities of Israel in Gaza is however, jeopardizing American Interests in the middle east. As America is working frantically to ensure Israel's wellbeing, Israel should on its part should stop behaving like a spoilt sibbling who refuses to harken to the admonition of his Elder brother, yet goes out to look for trouble while expecting his brother to defend him even if he is at fault. For the Kahanists, let them keep teaching their Children to hate. In future, when there is nobody to vent their spleen on, they will turn on their parents who taught them to hate.

Socialism plays an important part is some aspect of the live of the weak. At the same time it has been devastating for Judaism and the idea that we must help the weak and the have not?s. Judaism incourages that we donate at least 10% to charity. Those who are relatively successful financially are over-taxed and feel that the government is plundering. So more than 10% is being extracted from you. This is socialism. This would be somewhat acceptable if at the same time the same government was demanding excellence from sectors like education and government services. Socialism allows bad teachers and bad schools to continue, business as usual. Enough! Socialism for the secular (Israeli and others) then develops into a religion, the religion of hate.

established US tradition. The vast majority of Jews voted for him and are traditional Democratic voters no matter what. Go complain to the USA

Steve, you really need a valium.

burston is not the only one hallucinating in the ME. He cannot separate his whishes from reality. Israelis in general don't hate Obama, nor do Israelis burn Obama's affigee.We love America for all the sacrifice it makes on Israels behalf

You got to give him credit. If a President's middle name was Schmulik he would go out of his way to distance himself from Israel and bend over backwards to Muslim nations as to not be suspected of being "Jewish". Well, we all know Barry's middle name and he has no problem betraying Israel and bowing to the King of Saudi Arabia even if people will accuse him of being "Muslim". Otherwise I don't think Israelis hate him because he is black. Bradley is ignoring the fact that 80% of Jews voted for the dude despite his ties to anti Israel radicals and his exposure and affinity for Muslim nations.

"Burning an image or an enemy be it Hitler, Obama or anytbody else is not wrong its freedom of speech and making a point of how we feel about somebody. Just because he is a US president rather than Hitler doesn`t mean we should not hate him and want to burn his image" WOaaaaaah. First of all you are comparing a mass murderer to a president and a nobel price winner! What is wrong with you ? How do you even dare to make such a parallel with a man , that publicly states to stand by Israel, and defend her interests? I dont know how old you are pal, but your message was rather disturbing. You are labeling a pres. of the only superpower , as " Enemy" because he voices a legitimate concern?

What a great article , very witty too. There is too much unoconstructive/ overemotional Obama bashing. Look guys , we had Wbush that started 2 wars that still can`t be finished. Crashed the economy with his insane military budgets and unwise real-estate management. The one before was publicly caught receiving fellatio in the oval office. It is nice for a change to see an American pres. getting a Nobel price, providing his citizens with free health care , all that in less than a year.. Haters make me laugh , because they tend to repeat the same accusations, over and over again. After all , it is under Obama`s signature that 3BIllion $ funding is allocated to Israel , annually...

it really was in pre holocaust Germany. To make the Jew into a scapegoat. Old hatreds just under the skin are easily brought out as then like now in the USA( black with an Arab middle name). Only 75 years ago Lynchings included (all to the same victim) tar and feathering, hanging, burning, shooting and body part mutilations, sold to spectators along with picture post cards. Probably Tea Party grandparents. Orwells "Two Minutes of Hate" has become 24/7!

This article says a lot more about the author than it does it does about The subject. Any disagreement with Obama's Mid-East policies is cast as racism? Ritual terrorism?(whatever the hell that is). The real documented hater in this article is the author.

If there's nothing wrong in hating a person whom you think is your enemy, then surely there could be nothing wrong in hating a racist supremacist nation who oppresses other people, and destroys and/or steals their lands. That seems much more logical to me. I don't care for Obama either, but only because of his foreign policy which treats Israel with kid gloves. I haven't heard him make any threats of imposing sanctions to Israel, or that he intends to stop the billions of dollars that the USA sends each year. Perhaps he too has converted to "Israelism"

If hundreds of thousands of Americans feel the welfare of another nation is more important than that of the US, their leaving can only be good for us.

The campaign aginst Obama is spitefull and populist. He advocates a sane policy Israel can only benefit from. Marin Indyk quite correctly said that if israel would be a superpower, it would not need the US. But israel is a tiny state that cannot survive without support. israel is suffering from a too large appetite for land. And Obama is going to Israel on a diet. Quite rightly so. And necessary because democratic states will not tolerate another 43 years of occupation. Israel needs protection from itself. And hopefully Obama will deliver that.

... those of us who are critical of Obama are critical because Obama shifted US policy towards publicly blaming Israel for the lack of progress towards peace. Yet at the same time he refuses to blame the Palestinian leadership for their total intransigence and refusal to even negotiate without pre-conditions ... That is unfair and an inaccurate portrayal of even very recent history in which Abbas ignored Olmert's peace offer which involved land offsets from Israel proper in exchange for the main settlement blocks that Israel wants to keep ... That deal would have resolved the issue of the settlements and it would have ended the "occupation". Why did Abbas ignore it? And why does Obama ignore that very recent history? Why is he only pressuring Israel (publicly) and not Abbas? It seems to me that he intends to make Israel appear to be the villain in order to appease the Arab/Muslim world, at the expense of Israel ... And to those people who claim that it's in America's interest to get closer to the Arab/Muslim world at the expense of it's ally in the Middle East (Israel), I urge them to look how things worked out just before WW2 when the West in it's dubious wisdom decided to sacrifice Cheslovakia in order to appease Nazi Germany ... By the way, rest assured that Israel will NOT allow itself to become another Cheslovakia and rest assured that the consequent results will not end up pleasing anyone because there won't be ANY winners, everyone will lose. That's where Obama's current policies are steering history ...

mind with an inflated view of himself. He forgets he is a mere journalist. the smartest people do not become journalists although there are a few top quality journalists like krauthammer etc

Why would David talk about the "liberal left"? There are no liberals who are not left, although there are those further to the left than liberals. So why then the term, "liberal left". It's for the same reason David believes Obama is promoting socialism. David does not know what is liberal, what is left, and what is socialist. Yet, he professes opinions on all of these things. Socialism seeks is common control of the means of production. If you find someone who thinks that's a good idea, they are probably well over 90. Liberal is belief that government needs to stand up to powerful economic concentrations and regulate them because otherwise they will do bad things to common person. That's why Liberals are trying to regulate Wall Street and are opposed by conservatives . Whether Obama's foreign policy ideas work or not remains to be seen. Ignorant labels won't help the analysis.

A sure sign of paranoia is that you are sure that nothing is ever your fault. So Obama doesn't accept much of the Israeli right-wing stupidity. Either do I, you don't like it, reform!

YOU REALLY ARE SO RIGHT.THE DEVIL WORKS HIS EVIL AMONGT US.WHEN YOU SAY THAT FOLLOWERS OF MEIR KAHANE BOAST OF MAKING EFFIGIES OF OBAMA FOR INCINERATION.THAT REALLY IS SIDING WITH THE DEVIL AND CARRYING OUT HIS EVIL WISHES.THE THING THEY DONT REALISE IS THAT THEY HAVE SOLD THEIR SOLE THE MOMENT THEY HAVE MADE THAT EFFIGY AND STARTED TO DESTROY IT.I KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO DID THIS AGAINST A PERSON HE HAD FALLEN OUT WITH AND WHEN THE EVIL MAGIC WORKED,HIS LIFE WAS LADEN WITH A SENSE OF FOREBODING AND FEAR AND HE SPENT THE REST OF HIS LIFE A VERY FRIGHTENED MAN.HE DIED VERY SHORTLY AFTER THIS AND HIS DAUGHTER WHO TOLD ME THIS STORY,SWEARS IT KILLED HIM BEFORE HIS TIME.I WONDER WHERE HIS SOUL IS RIGHT NOW

Now let's see if I have this straight, you have nothing against Jews if they are an "ethnicity" but once they're a nation, you don't like them. But you are not an anti-semite because you have nothing against the "ethnicity", just the nation. You also don't like "transfers" which are "racist". So, you villify Jordanians and Palastinains who "transferred" Jews from East Jerusalem in 1948? Isn't that right? You don't like Russians and Poles who "transferred" Germans from Silasia and E. Prussia, and they, too, are "racist". Isn't that right? Or could it be that you don't know or don't care about anything else but somehow Israel is on your radar as "racist", but you are in no way an anti-semite? Do you think Quisling protected the Norwegian motherland in WWII with the same quality reasoning?

Yes. 99.9 percent of people of color in the US know why many whites hate Obama. Many whites cannot accept the fact that a whole lot of white people that are critical thinkers voted for Obama. Many can't accept the fact that we are actually evolving. It is comical when you think about it and it is also very sad. The world is almost out of oil, the banking system and capitalism in the US has finally been exposed and is on it is on the way to total collapse (which is a good thing) and he is the person who is demonized. He is the person to be blamed. Makes one wonder how stupid racism is. All of the evil that went on under the Bush administration, all the pillaging and all of those innocent lives lost for a lie and Obama is to blame. Wow. Something is seriously wrong with that picture and something is seriously wrong with the people of Israel who feel that way.

Rational, thinking people have decided their patience and loyalty toward this Black Kenyan President who's been proved to be an Abject failure, is now ENDED.. The highly educated, rational, thinking people I know; "DON'T agree with Obamah on Anything he stands for." Our former good wishes have turned into complete Abhorence; hatred, and loathing of Barack Abdullah Obama.... After seriously observing Obamah's propensity toward numerous Misrepresentations; Lies; Falsehoods; and Deceptions. And watching his general inexperience; massive Incompetence, and Socialism... "We, the people Have Had enough of Obamah the Socialist; Temper-Tantrum-throwing Childish- Democrat; Muslim idiot; and Buffoon." .... Steve.

Seems to make about as much sense.

If calling Obama a "muslim" is considered "name calling" like you mentioned in your article, than you are an anti muslim racist.

Should any one not to tell the truth every time it's about Israel even when it is wrong? Regarding the Kahanist as all extremist they are just silly.

My intense dislike for Obama has nothing to do with my level of observance, and certainly not his race. I grew up in a place where I was used to getting the s@#t kicked out of me because I was a Jew. I value Israel because, as it says in Hatikva, "to be a free nation in our land." The politicians in Israel have sold it for U.S. aid that it really doesn't need (if it made the charedim go to work.) Obama and Bibi both show the need for Jews to trust in G-d and not in people.

The last word in your article says it all. I think that a lot of opposition to Obama in every community stems from racism.

The reason it's there, and that it stands out enough for Burston to mention it, is because it IS the ONLY difference between Obama and any other president. His policy regarding Israel is NO different than previous presidents, and as a matter of fact, all he's doing is following THE official, and longstanding, American policy regarding Israel's occupation of territories designated as "Palestinian". What makes him stand out from previous presidents involved in brokering a peace agreement, is that he's not as prone to being weaseled into quietly acquiescing to Israel's blatant disregard for that policy - at the expense of an equitable peace settlement. It has nothing to do with anti-Semitism, or anti-Israel, or anti-anything; it has EVERYTHING to do with the integrity of American foreign policy - which previous administrations sacrificed to political expediency under pressure from AIPAC and its congressional drones.

Obama bashes Israel at every turn. Iran is building the bomb to incinerate 5 milion Jews and Obama does nothing about it. I think Obama deserves to be booted out of office not just burned in effigy. Once again Bradley burston shows his true colors as an Ultra Liberal leftist who objects to every form of right wing Jewish pride and muscle. See WWW.AMERICANJEWSAGAINST

The liberal left was just as bad if not worse against Bush. AT this point I would say the liberal left is more hateful and racism than the extreme right. Not that either is good, but Obama is doing alot of damage to the US internationally and domestically now from inexperience and ideals that dont work.

THE KAHANISTS ARE 100@ FOR THE JEWISH PEOPLE UNLESS THE ARE HUMANITARIANS WHO BELIEVE IN COMMON DECENCY .

All, I think we as Jews are starting to "dumb down" the concept of antisemitism. If every time someone says they disagree with Israel, we call them an antisemite, then when the Jewish community is faced with a real one, our words needed to fight him will carry no water. Look, even if you think that Israel should pull back to the green line (not my position by the way), that doesn't make you an antisemite, or even an anti-Zionist. As a matter of fact I know a few Jews who hold that position - and no, they are not "self hating" Jews either. They love there religion, and the state of Israel, they just hold a position that I don't agree with. And by the way, read what the Palestinians think of Obama, he's got about 3% approval rating with them too, which makes me think his ideas are probably as close to the middle as possible. Peace, Cosmo

Or do you always rely on generalizations, like every other right-winged fanatic? Give some REAL examples of some actions of his that show "he is an enemy of Israel". And please don't include anything that involves him sticking with the official U.S. stance on issues in the Middle-East. But maybe you should look into that first, before you make a complete fool of yourself.

They are no longer a fringe group. They are at the vanguard of those Israelis who hope to be rid of the Palestinians by dumping them in Jordan and who would never give up sovereignty over the bloated assembly of neighborhoods and towns now dubbed Jerusalem. They are the spoilers, they are the people who because like all thugs, they feed on violence and mayhem, have been allowed to ride roughshod over all the rest of us more conciliatory folk. They have been allowed to do so by the suits and ties in government offices because it serves their purpose while permitting them to shrug them off with a charade of embarrassment from time to time. Which is more or less what you have done.

Don't count on it, Choni.

Are you suggesting that these people didn't say what they've been quoted as saying? Do you really think that Mr. Burston isn't aware of the potential legal penalties for "libel"?

Hating is by its nature not correct & of course not rational. But, hating becuase of a man's color is an eternal curse for those who excercise it. Imagine something happens to Obama & is associated to Jews directly or indirectly in a planet where every second person is dark in complexion !!! The future doesn't allow hatered. Get civilized and try to go through your personal case of hatred. If it is color, then work on it. Nether your God, nor Obamas God is in favor of it

"These are people who speak in a new spiritual language, that of ritual terrorism." There is nothing new about this spiritual language and, no, I'm not going back in distant history here. I personally came face to face with them during a rally to welcome a refusenik more than 20 years ago during which they shoved, prodded and threatened anyone who objected to having their view obstructed by them. I had never encountered Jews like that, let alone with beards and kipot. They are simply thugs. It is no more complicated than that. They have found a political cause as an outlet for their aggression, but at core, they are violent thugs. They should not be lumped together with "hardalim" or religious Zionists (some of whom could qualify as ritual terrorists). And is it Obama's colour or is it his middle name? How often have you heard him scornfully referred to as Hussein?

The reason it's there, and that it stands out enough for Burston to mention it, is because it IS the ONLY difference between Obama and any other president. His policy regarding Israel is NO different than previous presidents, and as a matter of fact, all he's doing is following THE official, and longstanding, American policy regarding Israel's occupation of territories designated as "Palestinian". What makes him stand out from previous presidents involved in brokering a peace agreement, is that he's not as prone to being weaseled into quietly acquiescing to Israel's blatant disregard for that policy - at the expense of an equitable peace settlement. It has nothing to do with anti-Semitism, or anti-Israel, or anti-anything; it has EVERYTHING to do with the integrity of American foreign policy - which previous administrations sacrificed to political expediency under pressure from AIPAC and its congressional drones.

hahahahahaha! he's no communist, he just attracts them to him like a magnet. He's no racist, he just hires them. He's no Muslim, he just studied in a Muslim school and took a Muslim name. He's no Jew hater.

I don't think Barak Obama hates Israel, he hates Israels policy. But because Obama tries to help the Palestian people, the right wing of Israel calls him anti-Semitic. Poor Israel people you don't know better, always looking for excuses.

Unfortunately these are the people that Netanyahu, Lieberman and the Ultra Orthodox coalition are empowering. This is surely a sorrowful reflection on the character of Israel.

Mr. Burston ought to show a more neutral position with regard to Obama and politics and Israel. The more the president tries to pacify the terrorist regimes, the more he will lose the respect of the Jewish voices. Israel is a sovereign country and the best friend America ever had and will continue to have! Let's keep our heads and cooperate with our loyal friends, for Freedom's sake. grace

It originated and being supported by the Israeli goverement itself. If you follow remarks and coments by high officials in the office of the PM, you will find comments that support such thinking. It is a calculated aim of this Israeli goverement to personalize the conflict with the US, vs. the actual case of a direct conflict between US foreign policy and right wing Israeli agenda.

Rabbi Kahane had a policy, a platform, ideas (whether you agree with them or not...) All these guys have are gimmicks and empty publicity stunts.

Kahanists are by definition people in the Kach party. They have been banned from the Knesset. Lieberman and Shas do not belong to the Kahane party, they belong to their respective parties. Unlike your friends the Palestinians, who openly elected Hamas, an anti-Semitic terror group. Talk about hating as a form of religion! But Bradley won't win any European peace prizes by writing about Hamas...

Ah, there's the difference, proud zionist. I do not hate individuals. I condemn policy of a government that claims it desires peace and acts just the opposite. Millions agree with me on that. I am a dual citizen so I have that right to condemn the policies of Israel and I certainly do not hate individual Israelis just because they are members of a vile government. I despise what Kahana taught and stood for but I have not nor would I burn him in effigy. Hating Obama is not part of my religion, as it is yours. Hope that clarifies things for you.

I think Y.Sullivan has it right. It's about ideology, "tribalism," but not "race" or pigmentation.

Can someone explain to me logically why any Israeli should support a US president who treats our prime minister like dirt and incites Arabs towards a third intifada?

Kahanists do not represent the People of Israel. They are lunatic, dangerous marginals. We don't hate Obama, we are only very sceptic of his grasp of the Middle East. As a matter of fact, his grasp is off the mark. But that's what we have, and that's what we have to cope with. No religion here.

Nonsense. So the Kahanists are baned from the Knesset? Wrong. Perhaps the Kach party is not allowed representation but what is the difference between the ideology of Kach and that of Yisrael Beiteynu, the National Front, Shas and a considerable number in Likud? There is none. They hold the majority.

So the poster who literally comes to this website every single day to spew anti-Israel venom is now counseling others not to hate. Pot. Meet the Kettle...

Obama should not visit Israel becuse there is a high probablility that some zionist terrorist who carry out an attempt on is life as they did with Rabin. That would provde the judeoterrorists with an occasion for dancing as they do annually on the grave of their herokiller goldstein in Hebron. The zionist al queda at work.

So Brad has now taken on a tiny group of extremists in Israel representing no one but themselves (and they are officially banned from the Knesset). Maybe you should take on the KKK next, because they are very relevant. Yes, everyone who opposes Obama is racist - and everyone who supports him wants peace and knows what is best for Israel. And everyone who thinks another "evacuation" will bring more war is an evil imperialist who supports "occupation." Seems simple enough, this article should get you a few more "peace" awards...

Survey of the money managers in WSJ says Mitt Romney will be next President; of course, they don't always predict the market right also. What will be the issues with Romney, a Mormon: they have trouble separating religion from state, practiced polygamy, were converting Jews who died in the Holocaust to Christianity in their services. If Romney is the candidate, maybe the winner, these issues will come up. Kahane and his followers seem fascist and criminal. Obama is being slammed too hard; but if the vendetta of American politics comes to fruition, it does seem possible Romney could be next Pres. Mormons and Israelis, have a lot in common and a lot in divergence. After all, they both built religious communities in the desert, have the same problems, Utah was only reigned in by the USA law when Utah was made a state. Maybe they could make Israel the 51st state and the Palestinian territories 52nd. There is a solution unthought of before.

Charlotte I agree Obama should never go to Israel for the simple fact most Israelis DONT WANT him to ever visit. If he did although the diplomats would show everybody shaking hands and smiling the ordinary people would be burning his images & possibly even and telling him to go home. If he ever came he would be the first US president who Israelis would demand go home. In Israel nobody wants him and he is welcome to go bow down to Saudi royalty, visit Hamas in Gaza if he chooses just stay away from Israel, we don't like the idea of our enemies coming to our country to tell use what to do. The Europeans & islamic world might love him but that doesn't mean Israelis should and the sooner 2012 comes around and he is voted out of office the better.

Thats why you just keep making more enemies and no friends. You think its all about them. You sure spend alot of time hating. You should listen to Gandhi on that trait and see where it gets you.

I agree with you Bradley. Obama-hatred is beneath us and not worth anyone's time. But those on the left who so self-righteously criticize passionate rhetoric on the right should examine their own heated words - typically directed at our own leaders and fellow citizens. When Bradley Burston defends Bib or the settlers against venemous railings from the left - peace will be near.

Obama has through his actions shown he is an enemy of Israel and as a result he has made himself hated ( he has about 2% approval rating in Israel ). Burning an image or an enemy be it Hitler, Obama or anytbody else is not wrong its freedom of speech and making a point of how we feel about somebody. Just because he is a US president rather than Hitler doesn't mean we should not hate him and want to burn his image. Obamas policies are anti semitic, he wants to stop jews living in their capital. These things are religious issues because if he is an anti semits he hates jews & if he wants to stop jews living in Jerusalem which was given to jews by GOD then it does concern faith. Neither Khane or anybody else is saying Obama hating is a religious duty and its not just the orthodox who burn his image its anybody who has a strong hatred towards the man & wants to make a statement. Obama has made himself an enemy of Israel and so lets not condemn people for burning the image.

...that even when they don't mention race Bradley Burston does it for them and attempts to paint them as racists anyhow?

Obama doesn't hate Israel. Like millions of Israelis, he believes a two state solution is the best remedy for a semblance of future peace. If he really hated Israel, there is so much more he could do to rein in Israel war crimes. George Bush the First- Now there's an American president who didn't like Israel. Humble Jew is a silly racist.

Today's Israel is not a US ally. In fact, the majority of righist Israeli Jews and all of Israel's expansionist apologists would like to see Israel succeed at the expense of the U.S.

The fact that these judeofascists attracted a smaller than expected crownd in Silwan is not the point. They have many supporters or better, sympathisers who share their views on human rights and minorites. As for Silwan, the judaisation of that village is not dependent on the mob actions of the kahanists. The Israeli goverment has displaced the Palestinian residents and tken over property there in their campaign to judaise all Arab sectors remaining in EJ.

Two reasons why Obama is good for Israel. Firstly he has shown many Israelis that at last America is not the friend it is made out to be, and secondly and more importantly before his term is up hundreds of thousands of American Jews will make Aliyah

The fact that the extremists could hardly gather many supporters for their Silwan march just proves that the media blows their importance out of proportion. To insinuate that their plans are widely accepted is misleading but will certainly be picked up by the gullible international media who will create more international anti-israel sentiment.

...the woeful fact that I can't draw worth a damn--and thus could never become a famous political cartoonist--because if I had become one--this would be an absolutely WONDERFUL time to be alive! (If some nut-job didn't kill me, of course.)

I marvel at how intelligent people like some of those on the left see racism in everything. It is like the paranoid Jew who goes to a restaurant and the waiter says we have orange JEWS, lunch we have meatloaf with au JEWS. Isn't it entirely possible that people like me who intensely dislike Barack Obama dislike him because of his lying, terrible policies here in the States and for the State of Israel. Oh I see Obamas approval rating in the states is around 45 percent now down from almost 80. What happened Bradley is that after electing our first black President one year later we all discovered that he is ...... black.

Hating Israel isn't the same as hating jews. Israel is a nation, not an ethnicity. As for demonizing Israel, who wouldn't? Israel's racist policies deserve demonization. The politics of "Transfer" are inherently racist and the results are obvious. PS: The "anti-semite" card no longer works.

in certain (rightwing) Israeli circles is kinda scary. But then these days anybody who is not with them must be an antisemite who ( albeit indirectly ) supports terror. That's how Obama's perceived, that's how he's judged

It was these same circles who organised and led the anti-Obama campaign during his election. Scurrilous attacks, all ungrounded. Lashon Harah by the religio/nationalist set. Most of Orthodoxy today has been overtaken by this pagan ideology that undermines religion with a tribalistic cult which hates and scorns all those who do not buy the Kahanist line. Democratic values, compassion to others, compromise are viewed as too "christian", too goyisshe. Particularism is triumphant, while the more universalistic values of Judaism are not only downplayed but scorned. They wish to go back to the time of the Judges and glorify vengeance. Hatred of Obama is just part of the picture. They generally hate anyone who calls into question thier perverse ideology and distortion of relgion.

The only thing I thought at the time was that it was a cheap cowardly shot when they killed him. Little did I know at that time, was that the shooter, who killed Kahane, was tied to Al-Qaida. I don't have a problem with Obama. Only that he act on Iran before it is too late. Before the Iranians can reach over here with their missiles. The main problem Obama has right now is with jobs. I can hear people who aren't necessarily Jewish saying things openly about Obama that are distressing for me. They are people on the verge of losing their jobs due to downsizing and the emergence of the automatic cashier machines at the stores and markets. People are blaming Obama. It's just stuff I hear. Anyway, I support Obama.

I agreed with everything but your conclusion. At least, I hope you are wrong about the racism. I am a lefty politcally but a traditionalist in my observances so I socialize with some people who are more or less Kahanists. They tend to view Democrats (and I am one) as evil. Somehow this is not as disturbing to me as a color based bias would be

I do not know what gives you the right to make sweeping statements like yours. I see no reason to accept that Obama's colour has anything to do with the opposition to him in extreme right-wing circles. Nor for that matter do I believe religionhas anything to do with it. I am ultra-orthodox myself and in my circles I register the same dissapointment for one who came in with such messianic fanfare as in secular ones. Your final sentence, served up with nary an attempt at justification, just serves to remove your benefit of doubt and to make this just another anti-rightist and anti-religious rant!

Too stupid for words, this is really not productive , actually burning Obama's picture will make all the Muslim world very happy indeed. Maybe Obama does not agree with us on all counts , but the U.S is still our best and only friend. It seems there is no end to our stupidity.

Shame on them, shemzaznictz, bush ve cherpa !!! First for desecrating an occasion like lag ba omer, where the brave and pure of heart fought a battle that was considered by many lost. But above all by acting like some other nations (yemach shmam) "People how burn books (effigies) burn people" Heinrich Heine

The original story was nothing more than some Kachnik saying that they were going to distribute effigies of Obama to burn on L'og B'omer. No one saw one, because they do not exist. I actually live in Israel and I have not seen any of these. Its irresponsible of Haaretz to run such a story without corroborating it. Then his guy goes and blogs about it. I challenge Bradley to actually locate one of the effigies and publish a photo. If he cannot he's been hoaxed and should apologize to the Israeli right and then go to the social re-hab facility Avishai Raviv disappeared into. Be responsible and prove your fake story.

You've hit the nail on the head Bradley. Hatred of Obama is 99% due to his colour. Just ask Cipora.

David Frum, former speech writer for George Bush! No wonder the world is in a mess!

It has nothing to do with racism. No one would have a problem with Colin Powell being president of the US. It's becaause he visited the Arab countries in the middle ease but not Israel. Everyone knows he does not like Israel. As for Mr potobac #1, occasional criticism is OK, demonizing the Jewish state is anti-semitism. It is definitely better and more humane than other states in the middle east.

But I'm not very fond of his policies towards Israel. Label me as you want Bradely. But I think many liberal American jews are in the same boat. After all, what's a Liberal American jew to do? http://anothermudpit.blogspot.com/2010/04/whats-american-jew-to-do.html

This should be no surprise to anyone. How often is anyone who criticizes anything about Israel called an anti-semite? Same old, same old.