White House in calming message to U.S. Jews: Obama is Israel's friend

It may take some time for the implications to settle in. For US politicians -- Israel accepts no compromise or even token disagreement. Unless you totally and unconditionally support any Israeli action, all Zionist support will go to your opponent. The result will be more congressional opposition to Israel, as increasing numbers of politicians find they cannot afford total unconditional support and so they must accept Zionist enemies. For Arabs -- the USA cannot get concessions from Israel even in small things. So when the USA wants peace talks, the message is "I am a total unconditional supporter of Israel posing as a fair negotiator. I will allow no one else to assist in peace talks." So there is no chance for an acceptable peace. For europe -- Nothing has changed about the USA and Israel. Time for sanctions? For China -- USA is hard to bargain with, and now they know why. To get concessions from the USA they will bargain with Israel.

and if you do, well I have a nice bridge in San Francisco that I could sell you. Obama is no friend to Israel period.

Obama may not be the greatest Israel lover of U.S. Presidents, but if he manages to force us to do what must be done before we implode - get out of the settlements, return to the 67 borders, yes, share Jerusalem and come to a reasonable solution to the Palestinian refugee problem - then I will applaud him as Israel's greatest friend ever, who will have saved Israel from itself. What is happening in Israel now is insane. We are being taken over by racist, religious fanatics who cry anti-Semitism as country after country turns against us, instead of realizing that we are incurring the world's hatred all by ourselves. I hope Obama keeps the pressure up, and up, and up, until Israel WAKES up.

It needs a reliable strategic ally which will support it through good times and bad, and not let it swing in the wind the way the U.S. is making it do now. Israel thought its dependable strategic ally was the U.S., but it seems the times are changing. This bodes ill for Taiwan and other small and bullied nations that want to protect their national sovereignty and have come to rely on the U.S. for help.

It blows my mind that so many American Jew's were falling all over each other to support his campain when it was so always so obvious he and his "mentor", the Rev Wright and his other friends were nothing more than anti-Semites.

... how the president treated the p.m of israel ! The real danger is the massage that this can convey to the palestinians & in the arab world ! The massage can be more harmful for the palestinians & increase their resistance against israel & made them more strong headed ! That is the nature of the beast ! Obama; first & for most must know with whom he is dealing. The arabs are not normal. They are the most complicated people in the world. The great deal of their failures due to their own character ! Lawrence of Arabia wrote a lot about that in his Seven Pillars of Wisdom and how one must deal with the Arabs !

Neil, exactly correct. The casino analogy is perfect. You cannot cry to the casino that you lost your money and you want it returned. They'll laugh you out of Vegas. What incentive do the Arabs have not to start a war EVERY year. It is like a free bet. If they lose, its like a do-over. Oops, gotta have our land returned (though they started a war and were the instigator). Keep making bets, knowing you will not lose. Easy to play that way in the casino. Also, why was the PLO formed in May of 1964 when there was nothing to LIBERATE based on the 1967 War. Doesn't everybody see their false claims and inconsistency.

What is this needless soapy sop all about. Obama is doing what every good president must do, and that is first and foremost act in the best interests of his country. The fact that he will no longer let the less then 2% tail wag the 300 million strong dog is a sure sign he is on the right track. Keep up the good work.

If obama is such a friend how does he treat people he dislikes? When you have company in "your house" you treat them accordingly..you don't get up and walk out and have dinner and leave this company alone. It is not only rude and disrespectful but hateful. But what can anyone expect from a man who has the manners of a chicago thug and a friend of ayres,wright and farrakhan. The only sad thing in this story is that Prime Minister Netanyahu did not get up and leave a note that said thank you but no thanks. We will do what is best for our country and to hell with you. Don't call unless you are ready to really listen to what we have to say about our security...our lives...our future.

Population transfer is will occure becuae it is against international law and not practical. Israel had 2 choices: 1 -give the Pals their land, 2 - Give them citizenship, no more no less. The coin however has dropped, and the Fayyad's plan is in ful motion. If Israel does not come to its senses within a year Pals state will be announced and recognized by ther UN, US and the rest of the international community. Get it now? Population transfer will not happan, just get it into your thick head and just move on man!

Jewish folk from Israel going to Jordanian occupied West Bank, Israeli Law in force since independence, absolutely forbids residents and citizens to leave Israel for any country designated by law as an enemy state or hostile entity. http://wp.me/pDB7k-pE

Since Palestinians have no rights that Israel feels bound to respect, and since there is no room for two states now, and no will for one state in Israel, the unrelenting settlement machine will continue until the Palestinians are gone. Or very very small - small enough for all of them to dance on the head of the pin that will be left to them, when all is said and done. It will take a long time. The US wouldn't do much more than a formal grumble if all Palestinians were 'transferred' or jailed, or even starved - I am convinced of it. But others in the world would say nasty things about it, so it must be done very slowly. And someday it will be finished. Then there will be, as so many Israeli leaders have said in the past, 'no Palestinians.'

achi, i never trusted this smooth talker. i just googled as you said obama to aipac june 4th 2008...i practically threw up. what a blatant hypocrisy and 'that was then, and now is now'.i definitely have more respect for ahmedinajad than for this hussein guy. they both want the same thing, but at least the iranian is honest about it!

I am sick of hearing this word "friend" being constantly flaunted. Actions speak louder than words. and so far obamas actions only show his commitment to his muslim brothers

obviously the fact that no jews were allowed to their holy sites in jerusalem until it was LIBERATED in 1967, does not bother you. likewise, the fact that jewish tombstones were used for latrines and tombstones is also of no concern to you. fine. no sense arguing with bigots. so here's the deal buster, therewas a war. israel won. end of story. you go to a casino. you lose your 401k at 21, you DO NOT GET IT BACK. get it now? a population transfer should/will occur (regardless what all these wild eyed leftists say) and just move on man!

New code word for Jew is Is Isreal. The little Hitler in Iran has already threatened Jews of all nations. Why shouldnt we be concerned. By the way what friend of ours flew plane into World Trade Center.

Just notice how many times he refers to himself in each and every speech Mirror Mirror on the Wall, Obama's thinkgs he fairest of all

1) The one -sided pressure on Israel 2) The backdoor entrance and no-photo opportunity treatment of the Israeli Prime- Minister 3) The Obama ordered 'dressing down' by the Secy. of State of the Israeli Prime Minister 4) The focusing on 'the settlements' including the 'settlement' Jerusalem. 5) The total ignoring of the Palestinian incitement, anti- Semitism, violence. 6) The hints at putting pressure on Israel at the U.N. 7) The pressure on Israel not to do anything about the Iranian nuclear program 8) The reports of the Administration's talking with 'Hamas' 9) The total ignoring of the previous Administration's assent to the proposition that Israel would not return to the sixty- seven lines

Why not make Arab East Jerusalem Judenrein and the rest of Jerusalem renamed "Jewish Jerusalem" Similar rules should apply to residents of both sides. All should move to their respective areas, as has been done throughout Europe and the Arab world before. Then both sides can be equally exclusive. The Christian sites can be given to the Arabs. Why not Jerusalem and eventually Israel? It worked from 1948 thru 1967 under Jordanian rule, with no complaints, except from Jews. Apparently it still works for Jordan, Saudi Arabia and most of the Arab world.Once that has been decided, there could be peace negotiations and minor adjustments if needed. Nothing else has worked for over sixty years, why not try it?

Obama is following Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals(neo-Marxist) to get what he wants. Don't listen to his words just follow his actions. He lies, lies, lies about everything. The American people have been stupid, stupid, stupid...maybe they will wake up before it is too late.

Is really not that relevant. Those who are trying to personalize the conflict by claiming Obama is anti Israel are just trying diverting the conversation from the real issue. aka, it is a clash between US foreign policy and Israel's agenda. US had defined and recognized the resolution of the Israel/Palestinian conflict at the top priority of US national security issues. It would have been the case even if your republicans were in office. Bush toward the end of his term recognized it as well. The recent remarks by General Patraeous, secretary Gates and VP Biden just confirm it. None of those personalities could be classified as being not friendly to Israel.

All of the people you mention as understanding the situation are people who do not care for truth. They support the manmde religion that is only 1400 years old called Islam. This religion rewrites history and uses western freedoms to cram that history down everyones throat.It has worked though, this underhanded usurping of Israel's land, rights, and security. The PA and it's allies have figured out that there are a large nuber of people who are scared to death of war and just want it over. These people just want to feel safe again so they will say and give up anything that they believe will make that happen. In the end, there is an Islamic Crusade happening with the weapons of media misdirection, terror, and history revision. The new weapon is counter-freedom. You guys are using western freedoms against us. The time will come though when we will have had enough. That time always comes for Islam doesn't it, such as the Christian Crusades.

talk to american jews to pat them on the head and tell them about how much Obama likes Israel. Right! If you are dumb enough to believe this propaganda line, maybe you'd like to buy the Brooklyn Bridge from me.

Obama has brought change all right, the change of American morality, which has always remained above the fray of international anti-Jewish obsession to outright Jew hostility. Make no mistake about it, the policies that Obama is pushing is bad for Israel, bad for America and is the start of Islamic dominance in the world.

What's interesting about this whole mess with the Obama administration is that he even has the American Jewish community fooled. Wake up Jews of America, it doesn't matter if you're a Democrat or Republican, the current administration will sell Israel down the river if we don't stop it in November! Send the message in the next election.

In politics there are NO friends,ONLY National interests! How dumb does this man think the US-jews are? They made a mistake once, they won't make it again.Obama is a 'danger to the West and free world but a 'blessing to the radicals and totalitarian regimes. Let's just hope it's not to late!

"...Shapiro said that Friday's meeting was intended mainly to calm the anxiety of the U.S. Jewish community...". Well, as a member of this US Jewish Community let me state that my anxiety is in no way caused by Obama but very much so by ":Bibi" and his insane cohorts. David

The only reason he is mildly backtracking is because major Jewish supporters & contributors are publicly outraged at him. Have you read the artcles written by former NYC Mayor Ed Koch? He was a strong, active supporter of obama during the campaign & now declares obama wants to make Israel a pariah state, that obama isn't neutral in the Mideast - he's pro-arab. Dershowitz is also strongly criticizing obama. I think it's too late for obama to repair the damage he's done with those who support Israel.

What does Israel want more from Obama? 1) Weapons 2) 3 Billion in aid every year 3) Vetoes at the UN 4) unqualified support in its "fight against terrorism", and constant state of war with it`s neighbors. It is quite simple.

Well done Obama! You have done in a year what Bush didn't have the guts to do in 8 years - tell Israel that they have an equal part to play in the peace process. Israel attitude has been one of nothing but selfish greed and modern apartheid!

Why? Why? Why? Malcolm Hoenlein??? What a joke, one of the biggest racists alive, perhaps the greatest of all Israel-firsters, and there are plenty. Screw this bunch.

National Security Council Middle East Senior Director Dan Shapiro stressed to American Jews that that the U.S. did not intend to insist that Israel halt construction in East Jerusalem, and that the recent bout of tension was a matter of bad timing which was overblown by the media.

Calming messages from Obama only reinforce Israel's determination to undermine peace. Obama needs to make it clear, crystal clear, that America will no longer tolerate lies and deceptions. No more games, no more winks, no more platitudes. Further actions to undermine peace will be met not with condemnations, but with actions...no more economic and military aid, no more support in the U.N., no more visits, no more nothing! Only this kind of action will make America and Obama true friends of Israel.

Israel needs saving from itself. Its long term interests demand it reaches a just settlement with the Palestinians. And does so now. Continuing settlements in East Jerusalem and the West Bank and will soon render that impossible - if they have not done so already. At that point Israel's place in the middle east will rest on force alone. That way lies pariah status, isolation and, almost certainly, eventual defeat. It may take a long time. 100 or 200 years. But, nuclear weapons or no, all balances of power change. Always have. Always will. The time to cut a deal is when you are strong. Not when you are on the skids. It won't be easy. But the alternatives are bleak. And remember this about your redneck supposed "friends" in the US. When the times comes to face the music a few generations down the track, they won't be there. But you will.

As a private person he can say anything he wants about Jerusalem; as the president he has to say what is good for the US. If he now thinks Israel is wrong, should he continue to repeat mistakes from the past?

He's not supposed to be a friend of Israel. He's the president of the US; every other country is optional.

---israel is contributing to your lousy economy!--- According to your logic, If you give me $200k, I would buy your apartment in Montreal for $125k. This is a real good deal. I can't wait till start transferring the money so I can buy it and fix your Montreal economy too.

To all those that believe that Obama is Israel's friend I have a deal that cannot be turned down. A bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan, old but in great shape. Great price, but that only can be disclosed in an official prospectus available through the firm of Ayres, Wright & Kahlidi. Don't miss that once in a lifetime bargain !

"Obama cannot be a friend to the American people and a friend to Israel at the same time" Why not? Although short term the Israeli might not like it long term coercing Israel to go for a just peace is what is in interest of the Palestinians, Israeli and Americans. The current Israeli strategy is long term extremely dangerous for the whole world and even more so for the Israeli people. Unlike war, peace is not a null sum game. Everybody profits.

...one can be a friend to Israel (the nation) while simultaneously believing that certain specific actions and/or policies are counterproductive to its long term well-being...and thus--God willing--work out a reasonable deal that avoids that "either/or" choice. (Otherwise, I respectfully submit, we're ALL probably screwed--current rantings aside.)

Obama is like a weather vane, swings with the wind If you don't like what he said yesterday, he'll change it today, if it suits him politcally Meanwhile his rating have tanked, if he were to run for President today, he coulnd't catch a cold

Little Pal, that's a simplistic cheap shot. At least 80% of US to Israel financial aid is spent in the US (e.g. jobs, research). And, the US benefits from Israeli weapons technical research and lots more. Don't keep trying to play the "welfare" card. US citizens are too smart to buy that.

It is so patently evident that Obama IS, indeed, Israel's best friend the way none of the Israeli hawks would ever have enough wisdom to understand. The wisdom I am referring to is the reasoned acknowledgement that respect for the dignity of the Palestinians, combined with robust (but not necessarily totally riksless, for such is unattainable) security guarantees for Israel's population, including its legitimate developmental aspirations, is the only way to achieve the peace that is essential for Israel's continued existence as a Jewish State. The majority of Israelis, in the image of Gideon Levy, of Uri Avnery, of Amira Haas, even of hawkish-but-realist Robert Aumann, probably understand that, deep in their hearts. But, on occasions that have become far too frequent in recent years since George Bush ushered-in the era of perpetual war, the likes of Lieberman and Netanyahu have, with their fiery rhetoric, pushed that majority of Israelis into unreason.

i am constantly amazed at ignorance. get this straight, PAL, israel is obliged to buy us fabricated weapons and since it is not to its specifications, israel must improve the american product. you should be happy, PAL, that israel is contributing to your lousy economy! oh by the way, exactly what is us getting back from aid packages to egypt, jordan...lol...btw, your very close ally, saudi arabia to whom your newbie teleprompter reader bowed, just postponed a public beheading... you guys have such fantastic 'friends'...i guess birds of a feather...you know the rest, PAL

r u sure November vote count was/will be not corrupted?

in the process, creating lots of problems to the U.S.

The U.S. tirade about houses in East Jerusalem has already cost lives. More missiles will fall and terrorist and Iran will be emboldened. The U.S., Israel and the free world are less safe.

i'll be polite durson. if you fail to understand that the interests of us and israel are IDENTICAL you are either hopelessly naive or a hard core antisemite-israel basher. will you change you rhetoric when suicide bombers start to carry out missions INSIDE the good ole' u s of a?

Are you talking about the $3 billion we send you every year, or am I missing something? Arabs in the States now are asking for their own category on the census report, do you know what does that mean?

The fact of the matter is that life is changing in America - there are far more hispanics who could care less about what happened in europe and are far more Catholic a religion the jew is antagonistic towards - OBAMA does well to target them that the few million aging jews - dwindling and undivided.

Obama cannot be a friend to the American people and a friend to Israel at the same time. The interests of these peoples diverge greatly. Obama, and the rest of Americas politicians need to pick a side. The day has come that they will be judged on the choice they make.

amen brother! and the sooner the better!

Obama intends to close the Iranian issue quickly because he now realizes the dangers for the USA are real. Obama who ushers Netanyahu in through the backdoor of the White House,,is determined to divide Jerusalem,(thus stabbing the Jewish soul),is determined to hand over the West Bank to Hamas.Obama intends to uproot thousands of Israelis from their homes and thus far demanded nothing publicly from the Palestinians is not a friend of Israel ,Obama is a bully and disrespects an independent Israel. Obama philosophy is you agree with me ,or else I will deal harshly with you ,time Israel said no to this man.

you mistreated our elected leader.

Just like the 'so called' Paedophilic Priests who were actually only ever showing love to those children in their charge, so it is with the President. No Pain no gain, Obama may appear to be hanging Israel out to dry, but in actual fact it's for their own good and it's really an act of paternal kindness and Love.

... who needs enemies? As a UK citizen, I unfortunately can't join 'American Jew' at the polls here in November to express similar sentiments - but Gordon Brown's Labour government will get to hear from me this year; that much is certain. Let's put the Left's fashionable anti-Semitism out of fashion! MV MV

Thank you for the best laugh I've had all week. The assurances from this President and one of his "Jew Boys" reads like a bad vaudeville line - "Who do you believe? Me, or your lying eyes". What nonsense.

Obama Comes, Obama Goes, But, Israel stays Forever !

Who still cant see what obama ?

What is this the first of April ????

i hope you get the answer you deserve come the election.we tried you and we found you wanting. we will not help you again.

Quote "If this is how Obama treats his "allies" then how does he act with his enemies? " It is the reason the sunnis arabs dictators of Mideast have no trust in Obama administration to stop Iran regime nuclear weapons ambitions .

obama sets the furies on us.not only does he forget his words but attacks us most on the very issue on which he gave his solemn word.jerusalem. who can trust this man?

"i support an undivided and united jerusalem under israel's control." there are no ifs and buts.those were his exact words. 1 the transcript is on google. 2 the speech in full is on youtube. who can trust such a man?

go before the media and insist israel had insulted the united states. axelrod carried the message unwillingly.hilary did the work with enthusiasm. this man is no friend to israel

first time shortly after Bibi's election..Bibi had the "full monty" : flags, ceremonies, joint press conference, photos for everyone.. if I remember late apri early may time period..

from the hurricane and devastation he unleashed on the israeli body politic. i do not trust obama one single atom.anyone who does not see his hatred for israel is as blind as samson in gaza. president obama i understand you completely.but your slyness is unworthy.do not try and worm your way into our affection.

y . In a fast changing world in which energy control alliances and agreements are forged day time and broken night time , History records are best indications for the choice of friends , partnerships , traitors , enemies ...

Obama should be no friend of any country.How can he be when the intersts of the so called friend is in conflict with America's.It was really absurd to have made that claim.If Israel persaits with its presant policy ragarding settlements wich US sees is in contraavwention to its interest what will be Obama's stand?Obam's statement smacks cowardice.He is afraid of Israel

Jewish fundraisers and Jewish voters must cut the aid package to this ugly administration. Obama is a liability for Israel.

Yes Obama has met with Bibi in the White House more times (2) than any other foreign leader. And on both times Obama gave him the royal treatment- no joint statement, no photos, and no joint press conference. If this is how Obama treats his "allies" then how does he act with his enemies? Make them honorary American citizens?

you gotta give it to the teleprompter reader. he's got chutzpah. and lots of it . and that's about all he's got!

Obama doesn't show it and lit this latest fire.

to add insult to injury, now this guy is insulting the intelligence of the jewish community..rest assured hussein, by 2012 (if not before) YOU ARE OUT!

Only the Obama govt. would spit and disrespect the Jewish state and its elected leadership then "claim it's actually a friend..." NONSENSE! We will see you in the polls in 2010, and 2012!