Top Obama aide: U.S. commitment to Israel is not a slogan

Your diatribe to me about ID's consumed you; but you didn't mention Lieberman's Loyality Oaths. Arab League Proposal is exactly that a proposal. Livni and Olmert met in Annapolis in Nov '07; therfore it was not immediately dismissed. What PEACE proposals have Israel put down and not reverse? Sen Burris was appointed not elected. The fact that Burris is black had nothing to do about it. Jabo you're way off on this one. I was there in the early 80's. I still believe the request to be recognized as a "jewish" State is just another obstacle. This was not discussed during Oslo or under Sharon. It's a Bibi stalling tactic. Jabo: You said you fought for IDF--big deal. Move to Israel if you want to. Israel's screw up: by not making peace. Now it has become a national security threat to America. The money flow, especially military aid, to Israel is excessive and Israel breaks promises like uses the weapons only for defense.

If you drive a car, by law, you carry a drivers license for I.D. purposes That same license is used when you want to cash a check or use a credit card in a facility that doesn't know you Have Blue Cross? Then you should be carrying their card in case you need medical attention Every Israeli adult carries an I.D. card, including those wearing IDF uniforms, theirs being military I.D. Visitors have their Passports, which are checked at the Hotel when they register I live in the USA, carry my VA identification card, drivers & pistol carry licenses, I don?t consider having to carry I.D. a burden of any sort The Arab League Proposal was an "ULTIMATUM", on a take it or leave it basis, without allowing Israel to have any input, under those conditions Israel didn't deem it wise to agree to such a lop-sided arrangement I seem to recall the Rhodes Agreement, signed in 1949, which the Arabs violated when Nasser closed the Suez to Israeli shipping, an Act of War, by International standards You can talk Greenline till you?re blue in the face, Arabs have disregarded it almost from the day it was defined You might also wish to recall that Israel left Gaza, which resulted in increased volumes of rocket fire from Gaza People are always "shifting", right now they've shifted pro Israel 70 to 30 America is a Christian county, Saudi Arabia & Turkey, are both Muslim Any country, including Italy, is defined by the majority religion of it?s inhabitants Apparently you?re unaware that some Arab MK?S were engaged in espionage for Israeli?s enemies America also had problems seating a few Senators, does the name Burris come to mind? Just to let you know, I also served in the IDF alongside some Christian volunteers, who did NOT consider carrying I.D. to be a burden, they took it as a matter of volunteerism and pride In the States, if a young person wants to enter a bar, they?re required to show I.D. to establish their age Since we?ve gone this long correspondence, one question remains, when was the last time you were in Israel??

This "Jewish" state requirement is a step too far. Everyone knows that 75% of the population is of jewish background/religon. It's the other 25% that I am concerned about. With Mr Lieberman in power and the couple of things he has proposed is alarming. The loyality oaths..what country does that now? Also Lieberman wanted national ID Cards for non Jewish Israeli citizens , What's that about? A couple years the Knesset wouldn't seat legally elected members (2) of the Knesset who are Arabic Israeli citizens. What was that about? I see the word "jewish" injected into the requirements as a obstacle to peace and peace talks. The Palestinians acknowledged Israel in the '93 time frame; and the Arab League countries recognize Israel in their 2002 proposal. Now, Bibi wants more-- he wants the word the "jewish" in their recognition.

I'm familar with Gallup and large majority of Americans who like Israel and have been favoring Israel in their conflicts for decades. Because I'm one of those Americans. There is a shift in America towards Israel as a direct reult of Israeli actions such as: There was peace called Oslo Accords that got reversed; the second intifada from Sept 2000 onward; Sharon denying my Pres (Bush-even though I didn't vote for Bush) to give Arafatt a "round-trip" ticket from Ramallah to Beiret and return. The Arab League Proposal was agreed to and signed by 22 countries--an excellent starting point for peace talks. Annapolis occurred and then it was dropped. Lebanon '06 and Gaza "09 were terrible events. Mr Ben Jabo, that's why I'm excited by JStreet advocacy group. There's new hope. I know that US national security is now linked to peace between Pals and Jews.

HaAretz and it's posters aren't representative of either Jews or their enemies These forums are infested with anti-semites who feel free to talk about whatever they fantasize when it comes to Israel..A similar freedom would not be accoreded to them if they tried doing the same crap in an Arab paper against Muslims If you really wnat to see what American's think and feel about Israel, try a reputable Poll such as Gallup, 70% pro-Israel Israel is a Jewish Nation, much as the USA is a Christian, both are tolerant of other religions, unlike the Muslim's who condemn all non-believers If you truly want a review of Muslim on non-Muslim violence, try www.thereligionofpeace. com, up-to-date body counts, time, date and places

Since you took it upon yourself to mention "Colony", it might interest you to know that if it wasn't for Haym Solomon, a JEW, America would still be a colony of England Haym Solomon is in the History books, because of him, America owes a debt to Israel Matter of fact, you can also GOOGLE him, to increase your lack of knowledge

Growing up, I believed that Israel was in favor of peace and would do anything to get peace. W said that Sharon is a man of peace. I don't believe any more that the government of Israel wants peace. I will believe that when the government throws in jail some of the settlers who are vandalizing and the olive crops and the olive trees belonging to Palestinians.

just annex america already.. the cowards in washington wont stop you. they will even fund the israeli takeover of america.

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Libya, et al Any comments on their reasons not to exist Last I heard the USA was a Christian Nation, unlike the Muslims it tolerates other religions

So far he's thrown both Czecheslovakia & Poland under the bus, to join his Pastor He promised "Transparency", yet everything is done behind closed doors He also vowed to post all proposed legislation on the Internet, at least 5 days before it was to come up for a vote, he hasn't kept that promise either At the present time he's trying to con us into Obamacare, something the majority don't want, at an unknown cost, which he said won't add a dime to our taxes Anybody want to buy some GENUINE GOLD BRICKS from the Brooklyn Bridge??

If Israel were to decide to return to the 1947 Lines UNGA 181 as the Palestinians demand, would J Street oppose that?

This is tiring the double-digit, sophomoric responses by some Israeli Jews towards J Street is rediculous. What does "pro-Israel" mean to these people: whatver Israel does is correct, all Arabs are terrorists, Jews are infallible??? J Street wants a just peace between Israel, Palestine and other Middle (Near) Eastern nations. How is that anti-Israeli? It's one thing to disagree with their policies or their approach, but this rediculous name-calling (they disagree with me therefor they are "self-hating Jews", "anti-Semites", "anti-Israeli", "jewboys" or anyother immature name they can hurl. Is this what passes for debate in Israel, or atleast amongst people like JJ Gross?

Germany is teh state of teh German race, Greece of the greek, Turkey of the Turks, Japan of the Jaopanese, Saudi arabia, Kuwait, Yemen of Arabs etc. Minorities will be treated as they are treated in Germany or Japan but not as in Saudi arabia, Kuwait, Yemen. Is that fair enough?

It is interesting to compare US and world coverage of General Jones's speech to J Street with the Israeli coverage. Israel, in horror of any opposition to the ultra-right AIPAC, is utterly hostile to J Street. General Jones split the difference in many ways. He made it clear that the influence of J Street was welcome as it represented the vast majority of American Jews and opposed the view that only an ultra-right wing government in the US could be anything but a threat to Israel. To Israel J Street is just another component of the Great Peace Scare of 2009, and overkill is necessary. The problem with having a blatant 'Kill Ugly Peace' policy is that the world, and the USA might eventually catch on. And there is always the problem of what happens if Obama grows a testicle and takes on those intent upon destroying him. The counter-attack against the Health Insurance industry is paying off bit. Obama might be a nice guy, but he is also smart enough to learn.

I usually disagree with you, but in the last paragraph o fthe #3 posting, you express the kind words towards the United States and implied its government. We have been loyal sometimes at great costs. Israeli polls are against Obama, but he will help Israel a great deal when peace comes. Americans do not feel appreciated by Israel, one seldom sees it here in the postings. p.s. I still disagree about Israel should be a "Jewish" State. How will minorities be treated, under a jewish state?

israel is the national homeland of the jewish people. that does not mean that there are only jews in israel. 20% of the population is arab muslim. italy is the nation state of the italians. although there are some imigrants to italy, on the whole, italy is italian and officially catholic. lying, bob, shows only the ill intention of the person who profers the lie.

Your continued idea of a "Zionist, Jewish State" is about as silly as having a strictly "Catholic State" in Italy, a strictly "Mormon State" in Utah, etc. Why don't you fight and figget for a purely Armenian State or a Kurdish State or any other kind of purely racial or religious or ethnic state? The idea of a strictly "Jewish State" was preposterous at its inception and will ultimately fail. We are all people----just people. The other attributes are glued on and will not stick. Get in the real world before the real world isolates you to your own crazy designs.

A dear friend of Israel such as General Jones speaking to the sole representative of the Jewish People - J Street is somewhat and I emphasize somewhat analagous to Herman Goering giving a speech to the Judenrat of Berlin in 1939. I am not making a statement about General Jones, but about J Street

Did someone say they were "pro" Israel? - hey, with friends like that who needs enemies? I think ol' Yassir (the Egyptian) would even be willing to join Soros and friends.

The AIPAC and J Street can do one useful thing. Stabilize the secular moder enlightened nature of Israel. Other Palestinian think tanks should contribute to the internal terrorist free rehabilitation of Palestine. Other objectives, eliminate the terror centers of damascus, tehran, baghdad, kabul, islamabad...

Stella - one has to be delusional to believe that the Palestinians have tried to "embrace peace for decades". I hope you believe your own words, which I seriously doubt. Seems like it is you who don't get it.

interpreted in a way, i notice how you always link the words, islamic+terrorists, trying to put this into peoples minds that ALL muslims are terrorists, funny, christians (americans)of this day have killed more than muslims.

can't assure safety of Gypsies ,scrabbing living at outskirts of Italian cities? Their camps are being bulldozed and they deported to Romania ,despite EU laws granting them right of residency in Italy. Busy yourself with it ,oh Peter the Socially Conscious one

"What you would not want done to yourself, do not do to others" is so commonly quoted that you'd think it's a universal norm. But what if it's not. What if Palastinains have no problem with the concept that (1) they would not want someone to deny them a state but they are happy to deny it to Jews; (2) they would not want them to deny them worship in their holy places but they would be happy to deny it to Jews; and (3) they would not want someone to kill or expel them but they are happy to kill and expel Jews. The golden rule is a fine principle at the heart of Jewish values. Refusal to dehumanize the "Other" is a Jewish value that will help produce Tikkun Olam. But J Street people and all people of good will must deeply consider the question, what if Palastinians on a fundamental cultural level do not share this value?

You have laid out the credo of the new, global Jew-haters. That the "Palestinians have tried to make peace with Israel for decades", for example. And every sentence of yours is outregous in its falsehood, its perverse absurdity posing as logical, pontificating others. You have no idea how twisted your mind really is.

You laid it our very well. I would add though, that the Obama Adminsitration is falling in the trap of anti-Israel propaganda. First Arabs and Muslims are furious over something to vent out their frustrations artificially. That something, conveniently, is and has been for the last 61 years, Israel. So the delusion is that this psychological obsession with Israel, will be solved by imposing "peace" when there is nor unity neither ardent desire among Palestinians for true statehood, governance, responsability and accountability, except in small pockets. When Hitler spoke about "the Jewish problem" it wasn't a Jewish problem; it was his problem. When people speak about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as the epicenter of all problems, they apply the same logic.

Only the Jewish people can decide whether any state is their nation state.

So EL,please enlighten me on American war crimes from Vietnam through to Iraq and Afganistan, never mind the fact taht you live on lands stolen from the Red Indians your forefathers massacred. Please do an internal American war crimes enquiry, should be very very interesting. Thank you.Then maybe you all you settlers can go home and leave the lands of America to its true population. Start packing m8.

Js street was created by soros as a support group for Obama when he cuts off Israel. He will claim the support of these US "jews" who work for the arabs and soros http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2009/me_gulf0835_10_26.asp

As the US is unable to alter the thing which most makes it unable to function in the mideast, then it should cut it's losses. As there is no hope of altering the political situation sufficiently to end cultural resistance to the presence of the US in the region, we have only one practical alternative. Immediate withdrawal from Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Persian Gulf. Another decade of war will produce nothing but a larger national debt, more expensive oil, greater dependency on oil, and the massive resistance of the populations in the region. We should also terminate the money we waste propping up the governments of Egypt and Israel. That money gets us nothing and is a waste. Time to look out for America instead of the thankless.

If Israel is (G-d forbid it!) is accused of war crimes and crimes against the humanity, what of the US, NATO, EU, etc troops fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq? That leaves a legal precedent for any idiot to bring up war crimes charges whenever a dirty terrorist uses a human shield and once again - G-d forbid - that poor civilian is killed. Think about who the civilized world is fighting. We are fighting an enemy that has no laws, no morals, and no sense of right or wrong. Driven simply by the hatred of Jews.

They represent the part of the Jewish community that one can talk to..... ....the other part unfortunately will have to be fought (by non-violent means, of course).

Most of the violence of the last 5 decades has been between Moslems and their neighbors. Count em: Iran and Iraq war, Iraq and Kuwait war, Moslems vs non-Moslems in the Sudan, Chechnyan war, Bosnian war, violence netween Uighurs and Han in China, between Moslems and Hindus in India, Shia and Sunni in Iraq, India and Pakistan war, Russian and Afganistan war, Syria and Jordan threatened war (prevented by Israel backing up Jordan), Lebanese Civil war (several), Syrian invasion of Lebanon, Turkish Kurdish wars, - I could continue but I hope you see the point. The Israeli -Palestinian conflict is only a drop in the bucket compared to all that. From this I think we can conclude that Islamic societies make war on their neighbors far more often than say, European ones do (at least in the last half century) and that perhaps Israel may not be entirely at fault for all the wars it has been involved in.

I'm here to tell you, EL, that there are many gentile Christians like me who don't give a rat's patootie what the world says about Israel. We stand by Israel no matter how much anyone else hates her -- and in fact love Israel more than many Jews do! Through the Bible, God says that the world will turn against Israel, but that He will not allow His Jewish people to be driven out of their land again (for example, Ezekiel 39:25-29). We believe God, not the "world." We believe that the Jewish people have every right to live there in peace and safety, and that the 20% percent or so of the Israeli population that is Arab is far better off than their Arab brothers and sisters in neighboring countries. And we believe that the Messiah, Jesus (Y'shua), will return to Jerusalem, and His Jewish people will recognize Him -- as God said in Zechariah 12:10, "they will look upon Me whom they have pierced." Because we love Him, we love Israel!

J(ew) Street is so pro-Israel that it jeered at Rabbi Yoffee when he was critical of the Goldstone Report. I am sure that J(ew) Street would welcome Neturai Karta next. These guys are so pro-Israel that they had to remove the words pro-Israel from their campus slogan. Sick people, sick cause, waste of money, so much ignorance.

J Street was "boycotted" because it aligns itself with a single party in the United States and a single, left-leaning view that is sometimes compatible and sometimes not compatible with the policies of the democratically elected government of Israel. AIPAC is truly bi-partisan - it serve to educate politicians and the public regarding the views of Israel - whether run by Peres or Livni or Netanyahu. Because J Street is tied to the left of the Democratic Party - it means that it is naturally adverse to the Republican Party. Israel does not want to be in a position where it is joined to a single party. And, to boot, J Street has the utopian view of the world that if Israel just withdraws and behaves like Christ, it will not be subject to attacks. That is not reality, clearly. It withdrew from Gaza, was attacked and is now subject to claims of 'war crimes" by a biased body for daring to defend itself against attacks. Not a good template for withdrawal from the West Bank.

1. Isn't Chinathe state of the Chinese race, Japan of the Japanese, Turkey (although founded on Greek, Armenian and Kurdish land) of Turkish,Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen of Arab Race etc.? So why is it so bad for the mall Jewish race only about 15 million around the world to have their state? How come it is not racist for Chinese, Turks, Greeks Arabs to have their states but it is racist for Jewish people? Do you realize how racist and hateful your comment was? 2. Israelis are insecure because there are the likes of Ahmedinejad in Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas who are threatening to wipe it out of the map. How about for the Arab/Muslim world to change their tune and tell Isarel in a sincere and diplomatically believable way 'we accept you as our neighbor and we expect to open all the good relations with once you resolve your issues with the Palestinian Arabs' instead of wiping off the map? Maybe then a secure Isarel would be more willing to make peaceful compromise.

never a dumber post have i read....go look at all the trouble spots in the world and ask yourself just one question...would the warring parties suddenly embrace and make peace if the arab israeli conflict ended ? The answer my dear is NOT EVEN ONE and there are 100's of them.

Abdolutely true. Who wants to be linked to crimes against humanity.

Absolutely true, Humans are created to collect friends and not enemies. Unfortunately Israel prefered to collect enemies, occupation and distruction.

Well said.

when did israel ever receive "respect and fair, equal treatment" from the arab world. indeed, when did israel receive such treatment from europe. when the world will take for its own and adopt the jewish values that you advocate, then there will be peace.

The fact that Obama totally destroyed his often touted peace plan by craven submission to Israel stands. Those that accuse him of being anti-Israel are void of any substance and refuted by all evidence.

Couldn't agree more. Stop the Expansionist policy and make lasting peace with your cousins.

it that were only true. Israel today stands accused of war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity. Americans are not likely to be associated with such a label in the long run. If Israel refuses to set up a committee to seriously investigate such charges and find out the truth, the labels will stick no matter what Jones, Obama, Bibi, Ehud, Peres, Livny, Olmert and the others say. Very few Americans, if any, would like the U.S. to associate itself with a country found guilty of war crimes or crimes against humanity. Would you, Cipora, # 3,7,9...?

president obama has specifically acknowledged in his speech to the un general assembly that israel is tha nation state of the jewish people.

Yes, Israel's security. It has a powerful state, a massive military machine, but, given history, requires our backing. No one quarrels with that, We simply ask, why is Israel, with its security obsession and huge intelligence resources, and ultra-efficient army, incapable to ensuring that Palestinians can go and harvest their olives near settlements. If Israel cannot protect hardscrabble farmers trying to pick olives, with adequate security, from its own settler fanatics, why should we be sucked into this chronic argument about Israel's security. So far, Israel's security means making a great many of its internal proletariat, and its neighbours, feel congenitally insecure.

Are the recent events - Iran/and their declared preparing of the bomb (because Israel has it), the handling of Gaza war (beyond the first few days when Barak wanted to stop), the Goldstone report, Abbas stopping peace negotiations because settlements keep growing right now, and of course Obama's declaration "Israeli security and peace are inseparable", unexpected to Israel government?

Islamic fundamentalists have done a lot of damage, it's true. As have Jewish fundamentalists and Christian fundamentalists, among others. But the greatest danger to western civilization is due to America's outrageous support of Israel. Most of the violence in the world today has its roots in Israel.

If only Israel would sincerely embrace peace, which the Palestinians have tried to do for decades, there would be no problem with "security." Why do you think you are insecure, Cipora? Why do you think people hate Israel? It has nothing to do with your being Jewish (except for the racist idea of a "Jewish" state which can never survive as such) Who has paid the price so far? Not Jews for sure. Surely you see the silliness of your claim that you have to occupy the land of others for "security." The only reason Israel has to worry about "security" in occupied Palestine is because you have bored soldiers and rabid settlers preying on the native population.

we must respectfully disagree. the epicenter is wherever radical islamists would threaten world peace. the epicenter is the nuclear seaking iran, and its shia revolution which has been exporting terror worldwide since the shia revolution of 1979. iran has directly caused the deaths of american military personnel, the military personnel of allied nations, as well as israeli and jewish citizens in argentina. the fanatic regime in iran cannot be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. nuclear weapons in the hands of iran will cause a cataclismic event which will affect the entire region and the entire free world. iran has just recently armed its proxy hezbollah and syria with sophisticated naval capacities which are a direct threat to israel and lebanon. this situation cannot stand. at this very moment, al qaeda and its many supporters threaten the stability of the entire region and beyond. pakistan is fighting for her life in the tribal areas.

a few words from the KAPO soros who is behind obama, behind jstreet and behind moveon.org..interview taken from 60 minutes... Kroft: "And you watched lots of people get shipped off to the death camps." Soros: "Right. I was 14 years old. And I would say that that's when my character was made." Kroft: "In what way?" Soros: "That one should think ahead. One should understand that?and anticipate events and when, when one is threatened. It was a tremendous threat of evil. I mean, it was a?a very personal threat of evil." Kroft: "My understanding is that you went ? went out, in fact, and helped in the confiscation of property from the Jews." Soros: "Yes, that's right. Yes."

israel and her people much appreciate the continued commitment of america and her people to israel and her people. in these times of great peril from islamic extremists, israel is under new and more sophisticated threats from all islamic fundamentalists. undoubtedly, president obama and his advisors are fully aware of these threats which know no borders and which threaten western civilisation wherever it is to be found.

May J street movement be more successful in the years to come. Happy birthday

More was to have been expected from Jones than mere coddling of Israel. That we can get from AIPAC. Israel's security is not thretened nor is America's commitment to that security. What is threatened is the formation of a Palestinian state due to Israel's commitment to occupation and expansionism and to that apparently Jones said nothing. Disappointing.

Peace comes from respect and fair, equal treatment. Violence comes from abuse and oppression. We honor the historic Judaic values of truth and justice. Being pro-Israel requires a resolution of the conflict in the context of those values. Reliance on checkpoints, home demolitions, colonialism and a military occupation diverges from those values. Being pro-Israel is being for a just peace that will endure. However being committed to the expansion of Israel at a cost to the Palestinians is not pro-Israel. Our search for human values should not be blinded by zealotry.

there can be no peace without security. israel must be free of threats to her security from terrorists and their sponsor states. israel must be allowed to exercise the essential right of all sovereigns to self defence without the continual harrassment of ill-intentioned non-state actors and individuals who abrogate the rights of nations. israel's security cannot be compromised by an automotic majority of anti-israel nation blocs in the united nations or by those who would blackmail nations with their petro-dollars. israel cannot be singled out as the pariah nation of the world and then expected to make concessions to those who would murder her children. israel will be a loyal ally to the great united states and her people. israel appreciates the significant support of president obama, the congress and the american people. may the united states remain the leader of the free world.

Its amazing that the american jewish community didn't have such an organization 20 yrs ago. Where were they??

Congratulations to the University division of J Street which had the decency and honesty to drop "Pro Israel" from its slogan. Now if only the senior division of this anti-Israel group of intermarried Bu-Ju self-haters would the same integrity.