Why do Israelis dislike Barack Obama?

I do not believe there will ever be peace with the Arab nations, I do hope that the Jewish people will take back and also keep all the land that was given to them by God, none of it belongs to others. Obama, Biden & Clinton by their actions have caused a tremendous hurt on our friends in Israel. A majority of Americans Love the people and the Land of Gods people. Be strong don't give up or in. Jesse( Yeshai ) Brown, USA

Obama must work to implement the two-states for two peoples solution, for the sake and survival of both the Israeli and the Palestinian people.

Well with Obama saying he wants to work with the Whole world even that insane Iranian President. I can see why Israelis dislike Obama. In the United States Obama's National Security staff are more pro arab and not fans of Israel

Israelis and their defenders seem to be so blinded by fear that they are unable to see clearly, as people like Henry Siegman and Avrum Burg can. The world can no afford to kowtow to this paranoia any longer for their own good and that of Israel.

Israel you can't always get what you want.

calm down, Bradley - or people might begin to think that you believe in what you write. this was a pre-condition of the "Roadmap" and Israel (according to Israel's own statistical office) increased Settlement building by 30% + during that period - so perhaps while howling in feigned outrage, you might consider that Washington does not like being sneered at. as for "peace", I (a Jew) consider that Israel is heading at increasing speed for a war - a civil war of Jew against Jew. wake up, Bradley

"israelis are profoundly racist," you said. Israeli Jews are not a special kind of Jews. Jews are not racist. Certainly not profoundly. Some of them are, like this rabbi-settler Yitzhak Ginzburg who claims that "while the Jews are the Chosen People and were created in God's image - the Gentiles do not have this status, and are effectively considered subhuman." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yitzchak_Ginsburgh#Works_in_English But what nation has not produced its own share of religious lunatics?

In addition to leaving a trashed economy, Bush has left the USA with another legacy - that of genuflecting before any Israeli government and its lunacies. Israelis are so used to this prone position of every US president, they get into a fit if one finally stands straight. Unfotunaely, even this latest one haS started to bend. Too bad. Friedman was right ! David

True, some Jews don't believe in G-d, but most do. Does the faithlessness of a few negate the reality of G-d's existance and on going dealings with His people. Isaiah said that "His way are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, as far as the heavens are above the Earth so are His thoughts and ways above ours." G-d made a covenant with Abraham and no matter what a few unbelieving Jews say or do He will never forsake Israel. He who curses Abraham will be cursed and he who blesses Abraham (and his blood line) will be blessed. The hammer will not fall on Israel.

The Palestinians are in their rightful land, Palestine. Things haven't been "Right" for them for the last 42 years, and they wont be right without a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria. Palestine is where they originated and where they belong. Palestinian people predate Israelites in Canaan, When Israelite tribes crossed into Canaan, Canaan, also know as Palestine, was occupied by semite tribes, Amorites, Hittites and Jebusites. The words Jews and Arabs weren?t known yet.The Jebusites built Jerusalem and occupied it for 100 years after the Israelites arrived in Canaan. The New York University School of Medicine, and the National Academy of Sciences have discovered that Middle East Jewish men have common genetic signature with Palestinian, Syrian and Lebanese men, and not with any other non-Jews in the world. Many noted historians maintain the Jebusites are forebears of the Palestinians. If that is true, the Palestinians forbears built Jerusalem. Is so, they deserve a state.

Toss the Arabs that live in Jusdea and Samaria back to their rightfull Arab lands. Then, things wouldn't be any better, but at least things would be right. Thoma

Every Jewish American who voted for Obama now regrets it. Obama will be a one-term president and will leave office with an approval rating as low as that of George W.

"just leave us alone", said you. Be patient. We will be soon be left alone. Then, God help us. In less than 10 years there will be a solid Palestinian majority between the Sea and the Jordan River. We will then be facing an impossible choice. Either to be a Jewish minority ruling an Arab majority - in an apartheid regime, OR to resign ourselves, those of us still here, to live under the rule of a Palestinian prime minister. "Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no space is left and you live alone in the Land." Yeshayahu/Isaiah 5. Alone - the Nations telling us, "Sorry guys, but you had your chance." "We must either have a Palestinian state in our neighborhood, or we will become a Palestinian state." Yehoshafat Harkabi, "the only commander of military intelligence to have had a good command of Arabic, in addition to genuinely professional knowledge of Arab civilization and history, and of Islam." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehoshafat_Harkabi

Henry Siegman misses the point completely.Israeli's do want peace,and are willing to negotiate for it,while the palestinians for the most part make demands and back them with violence.Israel as the stronger of the two can rightly demand the upper hand in the negotiations,and Israeli's can rightly expect it. Henry Siegman lives in a world when Israel was a tiny weak third world nation,and jews needed permission to survive. Mr. Siegman it is time for you to join this brave new world where jews can negotiate from a point of strength rather weakness.

As Tom Friedman of NYT's writes: "Call Barack when you're serious"....It's obvious that Israel is anything but serious about Peace. Does anyone believe that Obama has made "mistakes" that justify a single-digit approval level? Anyone? Seriously? Obama's got higher approval ratings from "White,Southern Conservatives who have Klanmen in the family"..But, make no mistake about it, America's got much bigger problems. We're at 10% unemployment. In other words, when Israelis get past the fact that the POTUS is named "Barack Hussein Obama", then I'm sure that Israeli peace efforts AND "Obama's approval ratings" will both edge higher...But don't take my word for it. Continue on the well-worn path of lip-service. I submit that Obama "cares" more than the average US citizen does, about "middle east peace" OR about Iranian bluster. Things change. Priorities change. The US is just not that into you right now!

It seems to me that BOTH the Israeli left AND right doesn't like Obama, the right because he's too harsh on Israel, and the left because they feel he's not harsh enough on both the Israeli government and on the Palestinian governments.

The FBI statement about Israeli espionage was 2005, when the Government Accounting office released an FBI statement.The date is irrelevant, the charge doesnt need repeating yearly. There have been 4 federal indictments against accused Israeli spies since then. The last in 2008. You are curiously wrong about US aid to Israel. You should know better. The US has been a steadfast Israeli ally for over 60 years. The US protects Israel in the UN with vetoes, guarantees Israel's international loans and supports Israel with aid, last year $3 billion. As of 2008 US aid to Israel since 1949 totaled $103.6 Billion not including interest lost on grants, unpaid loans etc.: total cost to US is over $3 trillion. US aid to Palestine gives US sense of humanity to a terribly oppressed population. Aid to Afghanistan and Pakistan supports US war effort. From Arabs we get oil, military bases, support in UN,IMF,World Bank and valuable intelligence against terrorist targets. We get none of that from Israel.

Ha ha, American Jews (who voted for Obama) and other western gullibles came to cry here, why Israelis don't like Obama, oh why why .... how could you, he's so awesome and wonderful....whyyyy.....you must be ignorant hateful people for not liking him. The answer is simple, we (Israelis) didn't loose all of our marbles quite yet and would like to remain alive and in our own country, sorry world Obama just doesn't fit in those plans, but it's all right ... you can have him all to yourselves we don't mind... really we don't, just leave us alone.

Part II (read part I first) Second, talking about the ridiculous claim that Ashkenazis are not Semitic, it was proved many times by scientists thru DNA research that in fact Ashkenazis have the same Semitic trait as Mizrahis with it varying from higher or lower degree depending on the test subject. Here are some personal examples: my family on my mother?s side who are Ashkenazi Jews on both sides look more like Mizrahi Jews than European (despite living in Europe for generations). While some Moroccan and Iraqi Jews (with whom I?m acquainted personally) look like Ashkenazi Jews (despite having no Ashkenazi ancestors). So my point is, it doesn?t matter how they look, the DNA is what proves their belonging to a certain group. Ashkenazis and Mizrahis are Semitic period, so don?t waste your time stating otherwise and save the embarrassment.

"when we gave up the occupation in Gaza, there was outright war." (Dani) Right you are. This is indeed what we got. But the only surprised ones are the bird-brained. In March 1979, Israel handed back the whole of Sinai into Anwar Sadat's hands, against a signed treaty, and we got peace. In summer 2005, Sharon idiotically abandoned the Gaza Strip to no one, without asking for any return, and we got war, with an tiny Islamist enclave we now cannot live with, nor defeat, we who 42 years ago knew how to crush three Arab armies in six days. Every folly and its price, Dani boy. "When there was no occupation, there was no peace." (Dani) Right you are again. When not one of our leaders was prepared to acknowledge the very existence of a Palestinian people. Some of them were even fond of chanting, "This side [of the river] is ours, and that one too." The same ones who, today, proclaim they are for sharing the Land with another (Arab) people. "It's about the Jewish right to live in our land, anywhere." (Dani) The only ones to believe that, are fundamentalist Jews. Let them call, as a first step, on all the Nations to convert to the right religion. On the footsteps of Bin Laden and the Ayatullas.

Cipora - you really need to wake up one of these days and stop romanticizing Israel. Sure they have all sort of "jews" - some more so than others - but they are also doing a darn good job of being at each other's throats. Israel - like it or not - is a creeping theocracy. Checked the relative birthrates lately? what happens when over 50% of the "Jewish" voting population is haredi, orthodox or nationalist zealot? you really think the talmud is a good enough protection against racism? You could, eg, ask an ethiopian. Or a mizrahi who happens to be a bit darker. Or you could just read the latest poll in haaretz workplace hiring attitudes. I do suggest you take the time and listen to the way people talk in israel and get a good cross section, OK? As for Sparta - analogy was not meant to be exact. But the spartans reliance on 90% helots and the militarized oligarchic state ring a bell. Oh, what the heck - I said you could mix it with Athens, why not? how about bits of Rome?

The reason israelis dislike Obama has nothing to do with expectationjs raised too high and reality coming in too low. Israelis hoped - quite fervently - for Obama's failure all along - as did most neocon stooges in the US. They don't trust he can kill enough Iranians, for one. Or that he will help yahoo accomplish the west bank annexation he is bent on. And yes, israelis are profoundly racist - unlike most american jews. best I can say is that israel's racism is not only directed against blacks - be they ethiopians or Obamans. the israeli version of racism is distinguished in its universality - to the point one wonders whether there's anyone they like who's not a carbon copy of their selves. As for attitudes in the US - most people do like Obama as person but are indeed disappointed that he is so far failing to push through on his promises. Myself - I always knew Obama was only the beginning. Never thought the corporatocracy the US is will give up without fight. And fight they do.

have you watched max Blumenthal's video? have you heard how the good people of israel talk? have you seen the latest poll on hiring practices by Israel's workplaces? (today's haaretz). Sorry to break the news to you but israel is a profoundly racist, ethniocentric and patrochial state. I think they may have a lot in common with the extremem right wingnuts of the US but hardly with the majority of US citizens and voters. As time goes on, the rift can only get larger. You disagree which means, perhaps you are partial to neocon reasoning. But those of us who supported and the majority who voted for Obama hardly feel much attachment to apartheid state Israel is becoming (and unlike carter, I don't think it's confined to the territories). I hereby suggest that you, in fact, are out of step with the majority of americans on this issue. Perhaps you should consider what's really important to you - democratic values or narrow parochialism? your choice. I know I made mine.

Mr Obama's first obligation is to The United States of America, that's all!

Much of what you say is correct - the current US administration should have reached out more directly to ordinary Israelis, by-passing the hawkish Israeli leadership in the process. This may well have made a difference. But that doesn't mean that many Israelis are opposed to Obama not because he has ignored them, but because he genuinely represents a direct threat to the status quo from which they benefit materially. Do not write this off.

Bradley it is not only Israelis who dislike Obama.The Americans in the main dislike him equally. Barack Obama's reaction to bad news is to play it so cool that Americans yearn for a bit more drama - and some even for his predecessor, writes Toby Harnden in Washington. P/S Bloodless President Barack Obama makes Americans wistful for George W Bush.Yes truly

What does it say currently.? Not 2004 etc.Now! Israel receives no economic aid from the USA,the Arabs do.Strange how you people avoid that topic,like the plague. What does the USA get from aid to Palestine? Afghanistan? Pakistan? Israel gets military aid that is spent in the USA. Can you say the same for the billions going to Arabs. You sure the Moslem brotherhood is no threast to the USA or democracy?

"excellent analysis by bradley burston", said you. I think so too. Which means that one of us has, most likely, missed some of his points. Could this be one of them? : "The grievances of the Palestinians are just." "Diplomacy cannot be carried out by public humiliations or grandious speeches." (CJK) Most certainly. Nor by unilateral moves, nor by calling the leader of the opposing side a "not yet feathered chick", hardly six months after he had been elected by a clear majority of his people.

"large majority of israelis want peace, with security." (CJK) ... with security, AND, of the West Bank, their "forefathers' heritage", a chunck as big as possible. And an unquestioned sovereignty over East-Jerusalem, including the Dome of the Rock and El-Aqsa Mosque. Did I forget something? Yes, an Israeli enclave in Hebron. And in Gush Etzion. And Rachel-Our-Mother's Tomb. Were it not so, how come we have now the most rightist Knesset in our history, and a PM whose arm had to be twisted hard before he consented - in his second term - to share the Land with another people? One more proof, by the way, that a rightist government is a government that adopts leftist views - 30 years too late. At least. Were it no so, there would have been, since long ago, an irresistible demand from a "large majority of israelis" for an immediate end to all settlement construction. And for strengthening Abbas's leadership, so that he could speak for all the Palestinians, and start negotiate. Facts speaking for themselves. " ... the Israeli military announced that the number of Jewish settlers on the West Bank has risen above 300,000 for the first time with about 200,000 more in East Jerusalem. About 2.5 million Palestinians live in the same territory." 27 July 2009, www.guardian.co.uk/ All the signs are that a "large majority of israelis" couldn't care less, hardly the right attitude for a "large majority of israelis" to show its desire for peace.

in the Sharon image he draws.Just click on the references in the Wikipedia article. Now look what Hillary Clinton is saying about Netanyahu being prepared to freeze all settlements. We live in intersting times.Will the Pals in fact settle for a state or demand to occupy both states with their refugee "winning card"?

"Seigman cannot claim Israel had no peaceful intentions." (peter sm) Yes he can. He does it every day. Some days, even six times before breakfast. My own opinion is that, as things stand today, if the current Israeli leadership has peaceful intentions, it still has to clearly show it. Keeping construction in an area outside Israel's sovereignty, and whose status is subject to negotiation, is not the best way, to say the least, to convince anyone. "Quoting Sharon as representative of Israeli views past, present and future, that is dishonest! " (peter sm) Sure, if anyone has ever been so dense as to quote Sharon as representative of Israeli views past, present and future, that would have been, indeed, dishonest. I am not aware of anyone having done that. Surely you are inventing. Once more.

The 2-state solution will cause Israel to lose land it doesn't own. It's a question of giving back land that doesn't belong to it.Israel might be doing well and be happy with the land, but Israel is occupying the land of over 5 million Palestinians. They arent so happy with the land and not doing well. The issue is not losing land to achieve peace, it is to withdraw from all land occupied in 1967. By not withdrawing, Israel is in violation of international law. It is in violation of at least 3 UN resolutions, and by building settlements in the West Bank and annexing Jerusalem, it is also in violation of the 4th Geneva Convention, and therefore in commission of a war crime. If Israel does not begin attempting to conform to international law, it will become increasingly isolated from the international community. Such signs are on the wall already. As that isolation builds, the settlements in the West Bank, and whether Israeli's like Obama or not will become irrelevant.

Samuel, you have a lot to say about US foreign aid. Much of it erroneous, and all of it scurrilous. The US determines its foreign aid based on return benefit to US national security interests. Intense questions have arisen recently in the US (last 5-6 years) about the benefits to the US from its investment in Israel. As you know the US has been Israel's only steadfast ally for over 60 years. The US protects Israel in the UN with vetoes, guarantees Israel's international loans and supports Israel with aid, last year $3 billion. As of 2008 US aid to Israel since 1949 totaled $103.6 Billion. That does not include interest lost on grants etc., and total cost to US is over $3 trillion. The return? Israel thumbed its nose at Obama when trying to get peace talks started he urged a freeze on settlements. According to the FBI, Israel is the 2nd most aggressive nation running espionage operations against the US. China is #1. We have no common terrorists targets. So no help there. Good investmen

Read my post full of typo errors,though it is tells the truth. I honestly do treasure your posts, and have said so on numerous occasion. They are an inspiration to many of us. Your wisdom and subtlety plus humour gives me, and no doubt others great pleasure to read them. Till next time: L?echaim P/S Read #163 K

Written a bit jumbled up with some typo errors BUT TRUTH IN REALITY. Au-Revoir K

And keep up the GOOD WORK FOR A CHANGE. This time I say:BRAVO AND KUDOS TO YOU.

because if you are,you hit the jack pot. he is a most knowlegeable fellow who writes beautifully and composes them all with aplomb. what is more he attaches his humorous version when doing it. hope i am not mistaken in your choice.

I'll go for that because we will rid ourselves from obarmi once and for all. in hopes the republicans take over once again. then obarmi can continue his empty rhetoric to the THE MAN IN THE MOON. After all your religion follows a "moon god" very appropriate wouldn't you say?

My original post was "cutting/pasting". Then I had to write aome more,particularely my surprise to read on the "tirun" part! Surely you arenot older than Netanyahu?? If this comes out fine.If not tough. Funny part is when I am here (rarely nowadays) "The Teacher Instruct" complains why I do not reply to his posts? Well,he should blame Haaretz for that. Once I tried to explain,alas again my response did not come out. Have a wonderful life Stephen.I enjoy all your posts "STYLE NITWITHSTANDING"All very informative with a humor attached. K

Our settlements are a "true existential threat" too. "The endless war that the settlers are trying to impose on us, which they need like fire needs oxygen, is endangering our future and fanning the flames of a new wave of hatred against Jews in the Diaspora." Prof. Zeev Sternhell, in "Post-Zionist settlement", Haaretz June 20, 2003. Sternhell, "an Israeli historian and one of the world's leading experts on Fascism. Headed the Department of Political Science, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Was awarded the Israel Prize for Political Science in 2008." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeev_Sternhell

Read again. Slowly slowly. "He [Henry Siegman] says that Arafat made a 'disastrous mistake' in rejecting the peace offer, BUT [also] CLAIMS that 'based on my 14 years of dealings with Arafat, I reject the notion that he was bent on Israel's destruction.' " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Siegman This is what Siegman said: Arafat's rejection of the peace offer was indeed a disastrous mistake. From this, however, one should NOT conclude that Arafat was bent on Israel's destruction. It was, so Siegman implies, rather a miscalculation, basing this claim on his 14 years old dealings with Arafat. No one is forcing you to believe him, but THIS is what he said. I suggest you find a way to improve your reading comprehention skills. And that you stop selecting from a quote only what fits your (deluded) stance. "Sharon was ONE PM. Trying to generalise using him is dishonest." (peter sm) "Siegman is sharply critical of Ariel Sharon". Read again: Of Ariel Sharon. Of nobody else. In the quote at least. Siegman does not "generalise". Arafat was ONE Chairman. Trying to generalise using him IS dishonest. See how dishonest it is: "Yesterday, in my speech to the United Nations, I said that you're a man of peace who believes in a two-state solution. And after our conversation today, you once again confirmed that." Pres. Bush to Chairman Abbas, Sep 20, 2006. www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/bush092006.html

"without any documentation or proof to back it up" 'Association for Civil Rights in Israel publishes annual report; reveals country overwhelmed by racism, restriction of personal freedoms, discrimination, especially towards Israeli-Arabs. Report not surprising, say Arab MKs' http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3480345,00.html "There is no doubt that for many years there has been discrimination against the Arab population that stemmed from various reasons," The then P.M. Olmert told a group of Israeli Arab leaders. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1028375.html "Eight years later,[after Or commission report] discrimination and racism against Israel's Arab citizens have only increased" http://www.acri.org.il/eng/Story.aspx?id=556

Is Bashar Al -hassad son of a Syrian dictator an intellectual ,how about Gamal Mubarak or Salifi Ghaddafi ,groomed by Papa to take over the reins of their respective countries ,not exactly democracy in action ?

If Israel controls American policy ,according to Palestinian Prince ,then let,s go one step further and say yes ,but that,s to counter Arab controlled UN so what,s the problem Prince ?

And too many cooks spoil the broth. We don't either of them to meddle in the problems we are able to confront and sort them out,FULL STOP.(to pt)

Painting all Israelis with the racist brush again? That's a serious accusation without any documentation or proof to back it up. In my mind, that is racism in and of itself.

You have so many two Israels now and not just literate or iliterate. And a new internet generation see and feel in other categories. Thank you for your effort to explain the matter. PS As a supporter of ethiopian jews - I know why I did it.

Chamberlain. At a time when it hangs in the balance whether fanatic murderous holocaust deniers who vowed to wipe us out, will or will not acquire world's most powerful weapon, this president is counting incremental flats in the settlements. Of course I do oppose settlements but that is not the priority right now, but a petty distraction relative to a true existential threat that Obama does not help diffuse but rather intensifies by his appeasing fecklessness towards Iran

Obama is academically bright,but when it comes to action,he's not bright.In another word,he's not a street smart.Poor Obama,they liked him before,but not anymore.Americans thought that Magna cum laude canditate can run a country.I guess the better presidents of the USA were farm boys.

not defencive at all. just stating facts. i am not claiming that israel is perfect. i am simply saying that racism has nothing to do with israeli's mistrust of obama. it has everything to do with his policies. iran is definitely emboldened by these policies. israel's first concern is her security.

it is always painful when one of ours wants us ill under the guise of loving us. goldstone and his ilk should pay close attention to the missile build-up on all sides of israel. i doubt they care. i received your post to me on zion the other day. it was much appreciated. shalom, cipora

"if put to the test, Israelis will prove to be liars, and opt for occupation." then call Arafats refusal a "disasterous mistake" unless the Israeli peace offer was unacceptable which it could not have been by Seigmans own assesment,he condemns Arafats refusal. Quoting Sharon as representative of Israeli views past,present and future that iis dishonest! Seigmans language has crossed the border from peace advocate to partisan hater.

I am Israeli, I love Israel and I like President Obama very much. I admire his intelligence, his sense of fairness, his trying to bring people together, rather than dividing them, (as so many people seem to like to do). I think he really cares about the well being of ALL Americans, and he really cares about peace in the world, yes, peace, even in the Middle East! In my opinion, much of the criticism against him is based on hidden racism...(not always hidden) As for his insistence on stopping the building of more settlements : That is a necessity if we EVER want to have peace..... How can one not see that? Shalom, salaam, peace! L. H.

that was clearly acceptable in the eyes of Seigman and yet Seigman claims Israel does not want and did not want peace ? PS Sharon was ONE PM trying to generalise using him is dishonest.

that was clearly acceptable in the eyes of Seigman and yet Seigman claims Israel does not want and did not want peace ? PS Sharon was ONE PM trying to generalise using him is dishonest.

Burston makes a wise distinction between Goldstone and Siegman. People like Goldstone, honest and objective, will be part of the solution to this problem. People like Siegman, arrogant, sanctimonious amateur psychologists, and bad ones at that, only make things worse.

Thank you for pointing out the typo in the headline. "Siegman's opinions Siegman is a frequent critic of the Israeli policies in the West Bank.[5] Former Israel ambassador to the United States Itamar Rabinovich identified his views as similar to that of Meretz's left wing.[6] Siegman supports the two-state solution and the moral equivalence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.[7] He advocates engagement with Hamas[8][9] and recently visited Khaled Mashal, Hamas leader exiled in Syria.[10] He says that Yasser Arafat made a "disastrous mistake" in rejecting the peace offer, but claims that "based on my 14 years of dealings with Arafat, I reject the notion that he was bent on Israel's destruction."[11] "

When the right wing political propoganda machine in the U.S destroys Obama in 2012 and removes him from office, only then Obama will speak frankly about Israel and how their settlement enterprise is illegal, etc. It took Carter 20 + years after his presidency to do so, however Obama is a young lad. Then and only then hopefully people will realize that the Israeli political lobby in the U.S controls AMERICAN POLITICS.

peter sm, you have just revealed yourself to be a despicable dishonest debater. "He [Henry Siegman] says that Arafat made a 'disastrous mistake' in rejecting the peace offer, BUT [also] claims that 'based on my 14 years of dealings with Arafat, I reject the notion that he was bent on Israel's destruction.' Siegman is sharply critical of Ariel Sharon, about whom he wrote: 'The war Sharon is waging is not aimed at the defeat of Palestinian terrorism but at the defeat of the Palestinian people and their aspirations for national self-determination.' " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Siegman

Dear Kathy, OK, we agree. The situation in Israel has changed. The right wing settler group has increased. The question is, are they anti Israel as we know it. The answer is simple. They will override all that is sanctimonious to us that built the State of Israel. We and our parents fought the Fedayeen. Of course we were young. Yet we believed in Eretz Israel. Now, we have this new heritage. That have decided to increase and populate areas that are now biblical. That is, to their belief. How sad. Gone are the days of true Zionism. How we miss the years pre 1967. The years of Artic,the years of our true beliefs the years of our adolescents. The years when we knew that Mea Shearim was a no go. The years when Mapam existed. The years when we were naive. The years when we danced to bonfires on the beaches. Those were the years, when, Barak,Netanyahu and others had not yet joined ZAHAL. Funny enough, I was a tiron. Shalom.

No sweet-talk of Goldstone impresses me either. There is no such pathology in Israelis. But there is one in Siegman and others.

If they didn't, then 78% of them wouldn't have voted for him.

No problem. The staff that Israelis are waiting for six thousand years is coming soon. It will come from a small but well-trained shepherd boy with the Moshiachs Meal of Five Loaves that catches TWO BIG FISH: The Primordial Snake and The Messiah Jesus Christ. *** A young carpenter showed up in Israel 2000 years ago with a message of peace, but his fellow Jews had him crucified. The same thing will happen to the next man of peace who shows up because nothing has changed. The hatred is still there.

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Obama is a small fry compared to Israelis' God. Don't you remember that Ben Gurion has outright rejected God and even rebuked Him "for not doing enough for the Jews" to derve the credit of affirmation f His name at the founding ceremony. The Hebrew God had destroyed Jerusalem and scattered Jews in exile for their consistent sinning. An eminent Jewish Author, Chaim Bermant has summed up Jewish historyn thus: "Jews were rarely in control of their destiny and where they impinged on history it was because they were troublesome or in trouble." He further portrays Jews as: "Not all Jews believe in God, but most like to think that He believes in the." Please read Bermant's Book: "The Jews", and beg from the Arabs a "Safe Haven" outside the holy Land which is banned to them and learn to live in peace with them before a sledge hammer strike hits Israel and reduces it into a "Ghetto."

Sometimes they act like a social club where you can get together with your friends. The article in the JPost that interested me was the one that criticized the American Jewish Congress, American Jewish Committee and Bnai Brith for not doing enough to save the Jews of Europe from Hitler (they were not assertive enough). The Bnai Brith was not organized as a group to fight for human rights, etc.. I think many Jews are aggravated with Abe Foxman for taking Turkish money to promote Armenian genocide denial. They did not feel it was appropriate for him to speak for all the Jews or for a Jewish group to promote holocaust or genocide denial. The saga goes on; I read about Foxman in Hurriyet just yesterday. I don't know where this is going to end. A lot of people don't feel he should be the spokesman for this issue. Why was he chosen? Why did he accept? Also, there are articles in the JPost criticizing all these groups and leaders.

Right Michelle? They shouldn't judge Obama by his name, or his color, but by his actions. AJC has always worked for civil rights. Although AJC was criticized in the JPost in an interesting article for not doing enough to save the Jews in WWII. Also, the book written by Prinz saying Ataturk was a hidden Jew is absolutely false, this was a piece of Armenian genocide denial and b.s. of antisemitism that Prinz seems to have believed. This book does damage to the Jews who are trying to refudiate the b.s. that there was a zionist conspiracy behind Ataturk. Turks today are still looking for the zionist conspiracy and hidden Jews; and that same b.s. is being used to destroy the Turkish army and strong ties to Israel, by saying the generals are hidden Jews. More B.S.

It is irrelevant if Obama is well liked,or if Obama likes Israel or not. the ties between the two are stronger than any US president,or Israeli PM. They are not based on liking or totaly agreeing. They need each other more than some posters like to admit,but they know it to be so.

Even though Obama is no Abba Eban, he still comes across as an intellectual, which for so many populists means an uncaring elitist. Israelis loved more down to earth farmer soldier types like Rabin and Sharon. But what Bradley says is right: the administration took the Israelis and the Jews for granted and thus handed the leadership inititiative to Netanyahu, who although an intellectual and the son of a Professor once worked as a furniture salesman.

One doesn't have to dislike the man,and disagree with him. I'm sure that he is a nice guy with good intentions,but his ways for achieving his goals has no chance,and there is a lot of talk and no deeds.

Israel's position on the settlements is like Iran's on urnaium enrichment. The hope is always dangled out there - let us just do this little bit more then we will declare a moratorium. But, when the little bit is completed, there is another little bit and another, ad infinitum, ad nauseum.

..."The sweeping popularity of Avigdor Lieberman's anti-Arab ideology and rhetoric in the campaign leading up to the national elections in February won his Yisrael Beiteinu Party 15 seats in the Knesset. It is now the second-largest party in the governing coalition, and Lieberman has assumed the coveted post of foreign minister. Lieberman?s ultra-right-wing party campaigned on a racist platform that fanned the flames of fear and hostility toward Israel's Arab minority. Propelled by the slogan "No loyalty, no citizenship," Lieberman's key policy proposal was to make Israeli citizenship contingent on pledging a loyalty oath to Israel as a Jewish state and was directed primarily against Israel's Arab citizens. The other campaign slogan, "Only Lieberman understands Arabic," was steeped in demagoguery and unbridled racism." http://jta.org/news/article/2009/06/22/1006045 /op-ed-jews-should-condemn-far-right-in-israel And don't forget banning the Nakba. Israel has turned quite racist.

"More love and nice videos from Obama will never convince the Israelis to give up land." (Javier Lobo) You should learn how to look beyond the tip of your nose. No one is demanding Israel to give up any part of its sovereign land, but only to end at long last its 42 years old occupation of a foreign and stateless population - on a territory outside its recognized sovereignty. For it's own good. OR, alternatively, to annex it formally - the territory AND ALL its population, which, I put it to you, would be much less in line with its interests. "The only thing that will make the israelis accept the stick, is force." (Javier Lobo) Yes. Exactly what made the Israelis accept - after so many decades of denying the existence of a Palestinian people - the 'Two state solution'. "The two state solution causes israel to lose land." (Javier Loco) The "One state for two peoples" solution - inevitable if Israel fails to separate in time, before it is too late, from the Palestinians - will make Israel to lose ALL the Land. "Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no space is left and you live alone in the Land." Yeshayahu/Isaiah 5. Alone - the Nations telling us, "Sorry guys, but you had your chance." Then, God help us.

Thank you for your posting.I have no idea who this Mr Seligman is, but he has the same right to his opinion as Mr Siegman has to his.

The following may be true. What Obama does for me over here is probably the opposite for you. While Obama removes the threat of American being pitted against American because he appears to represent everyone at the same time, in Israel the reverse might appear so. Because Israelis don't agree on the Settlements and/or Supervising (Let's call it), Obama's opposition to them creates tensions between Jews. But what I said before I think is essentially true. Three Jews equals four opinions. With the absence of an existential threat Jews may tend to tear at each other anyway. So it's easy to blame Obama but he's really not to blame for anything because a big portion of the Israeli population thinks just like he does. Maybe you know something I don't but as far as I know, Obama hasn't changed the USA position or policies vis a vis Israel. It's this generation of new Americans coming up that I worry about because they're new. And as for Israelis, they have to get along with themselves anyway.

Good post Stephen,but!As you say:Washington, in essence has not changed, neither have the American people. Except for one major point. They are afraid. Afraid of the unknown, the possibility that at any moment someone will set off a catastrophic explosion somewhere in the US. The US government has changed, repression has replaced liberty (Patriot Act etc). Whether its the economy or disbelief in the Gov policies, for many still see big brother watching every move, now with wiretaps or SWAT teams converging in middle class neighborhoods. Mr.Obama, was voted in, to counter all the above. But so far he has been unable to counteract all of the above.(K) Israel is in the same boat? We have been in the same boat for eons have you forgotten? No reflection on your assumption,but,obama effectively has done nothing to improve anything so far.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1125327.html

WIKIPEDIA "He says that Yasser Arafat made a "disastrous mistake" in rejecting the peace offer". So how does that square with Israel not wanting peace?If the offer was unacceptable why was the refusal a disaster?? What did they gain by return to suicide bombings etc and putting Israelis right off any notion that the Arabs wanted peace rather than a "Qeiresh hudna" as Arafat said in talking to Moslems in South Africa?

-"the reason for this unprecedented Israeli hostility toward an American president is a fear that President Obama is serious about ending Israel?s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza."- In all honesty Mr Burston, how many Israelis do you think sign on to "an end to the occupation that started in 1967". I asked "in all honesty", think about it.

If Obama appears to be an agent for change,then how does one define change .BBS again with outland ish statements that mean nothing in the context of world politics.Change will happen when Islam recognises Israel is here to stay ,not before ,so BBS go throw stones at the devil (Ahmadinejad) in Mecca.

Tell them Barry that we Israeli/Jews don,t need permission from our Rabbis/religious leaders on where to build ,renovate anywhere in Greater Israel ,that,s democracy in action ,Muslims need their Imam,s permission for just about everything in their restricted 6th century religion ,not for me thanks.

Mister clever know it all Jim Edwards in London ,racism is in the mind of the beholder ,or in this case the bigot(yourself)so spare us your non sense and lok what,s happening in your own back yard ,it,s becoming Islamisised with Sharia law on it,s way soon ,you,ll be first to cry wolf when this happens ,please go away.

To John in New Zealand ,you said it right about the Western way of life ,but you don,t finish off so i,ll do it for you .Who in their right mind would want to live under Sharia law ,not me ,how about yourself?

Yes it,s time to abandon the two state solution as the original 1947 mandate of two states living side by side ,in peace and prosperity,has long since expired for Palestine/Jordan,so forget about so caled democracy solution in one state as the Jewish state (Israel)doesn,t want Sharia law(6th century backwards ideology )anywhere near it .

To Rebecca ,you need to cut the c-ap and substitute Russia for Israel as your anti-Israeli bias is nauseating .How is it possible for such a small country to sell weapons to every state on earth bar two?Go watch Russia today or Al-Mana ra as you don,t know zilch .

How about stopping the flow of American and European taxpayers dolars to inept ,corrupt ,Hamid Karzai ,to the Pakistani govt. which encourages it,s intelligence services officers to supply info.on Nato/Coalition to their tribal warlords,to Mubarak in Egypt who,s busy grooming his son to take over when Papa decides to retire,to corrupt Egyptian border guards whio take this taxpayer money as bribes ,allowing smuggling to continue in Gaza,to useless Nouri-Al -maliki the Shiite tyrant in Baghdad ,to the cowardly Siniora govt.in Beirut.What does Natallie Durston ,BBS ,Yaakov Sullivan ,Lbhras and other say now?

Baruch in Hebron is one of those realists,pragma tists ,clear thinkers who hit the nail on it,s head ,go Baruch.

"israel has had people of all origins achieving higher office and winning nobels" cipora yes but iran has a Jewish member of parliament, so what? Are you seriously thinking that Israel is not riven with divisions on religious and ethnic grounds.between the secular and religious for certain, but it is common knowledge to all but a few who know Israel that Sephardim and Ashkenazim have a long and bitter history of animosity and with good reason. Decades of discrimination by one against the other. The Sparta analogy is hardly wide of the mark either. Militarism my dear.

a complaint is made to the police that they thoroughly investigate. if there is sufficient prima facie evidence it is passed to prosecutor who examines the legal charges that could be made . goldstone has amassed what amounts to tittle tattle !! he then avers that the accused should investigate themselves !!!

Like the Brazilian Shmuel says,all this leftwing liberal rabble is to much already ,time for change ,a centrist govt.in America run by realist s,pragmatists ,clear thinking people who aren,t misled by the far right or leftwing ideologies ,it,s time.

on the subject! us legislation on the jewish state 1924/5

The Obama administration ,with Hillary as it,s mouthpiece is wating billions of American taxpayers dollars on corrupt ,inept Muslim states who,s leaders (Karzai)aren,t accountable to their electorate,that,s why people around the globe dislike Mr.Obama ,the real reason nothing else.

Unlike his predecessor GWB, who only acted in his presidency 9 months after taking office, that is after 9/11. From that moment onwards a menu was set. Said menu was inherited by the gracious president. Not only the ongoing war on terror. Also the failing economy. Israel, is no Middle Eastern Arab country. Israel, is a western democracy. Today, most Israelis do not understand Washington. Washington, in essence has not changed, neither have the American people. Except for one major point. They are afraid. Afraid of the unknown, the possibility that at any moment someone will set off a catastrophic explosion somewhere in the US. The US government has changed, repression has replaced liberty (Patriot Act etc). Whether its the economy or disbelief in the Gov policies, for many still see big brother watching every move, now with wiretaps or SWAT teams converging in middle class neighborhoods. Mr.Obama, was voted in, to counter all the above. Israel is in the same boat.

A democratic solution should be found, in one state.

I really don't know what you are aiming at. Don't you know already that Israel has sold weapons to literally every single country on earth (except Libya and Sudan) and that they were selling weapons to Iran until 1987, when Rabin stopped it. They brokered the arms deals between the US and the Mujahedin in afhganistan... So who wants to sell weapons to whom and getting rich doing so?

The dislike of Obama, which is fast becoming universal, is due to a simple factor: His silver mouth promising the entire world a wonderful change. And this was coming not from some fantasist but from the most powerful man in the world. From such heaven, unfortunately, one can only go down. There is nothing further up... The history is full with it - the super great orators, who arrived at the pinnacle, falling into a götterdämmerung. Poor dana...I know how you hoped...

bradley did not forget anything. israel is one of the most mixed societies on planet earth. israel's population consists of jew from every conceivable country, including china, india, ehtiopia, all the arab states, all european countries, the uk, the us. israel has had people of all origins achieving higher office and winning nobels. that you consider it a must to smear opponents with racism, only shows that you have no legitimate counter-arguments. you might hold all the cards, as you once told me, but you might still lose the game. to win, one needs to know how to play. p.s. israel is nothing like sparta, either. you need to read up on sparta.

Obama gives every state equal weight. That means that all the Moslem and Arab states outweigh the value and importance of Israel to him. We are just a tiny blip with a few people: they are huge populations with a lot of land sand and OIL. The logic is on his side. We are nothing. And the logic is on our side. We correctly resent his attitudes.

L: "Even Goldstone says his report proves nothing." No, he did not say that at all. He said that his was a fact-finding mission, and it established certain facts (war crimes were committed). But he stresses that his report is exactly that i.e. it is not a judgement on a criminal court. He also (correctly) points out that his report is not admissible as evidence in any trial. JUSTICE therefore requires further steps i.e. an independent judicial inquiry to see who (if anyone) can be indicted for those offenses, and a prosecutor be appointed to collect the evidence to present to that trial. Think of it this way: his report is the equivalent of a police brief to a prosecutor: the prosecutor can decide on the basis of that brief that a crime has been committed, but he certainly can not introduce that brief into trial and claim that it is "evidence". It isn't. It's a brief. So is the Goldstone Report.

The answer is because of different values. In the Western world these days there is a commitment to universal values and the rule that every person is equal before the law regardless of race, religion etc.

Please be respectful. Hamas are grown ups, PlO /Abbas is a grown up. Oh even Ebby (Nette) is a grown up. Its none of our business,Please send Hillary home.and no more money ,,the US is out of it. In fact we OWE China. Your issues are a luxury and we don't give a shit about it really.Take care of yourselves please. We need rebuild Detroit. Bye all.

Jim Edwards: "Zionism is racism. Israeli`s do not like being reminded that they are racists." Oh, the irony. So, an ethnic group having nationalistic ambitions is racist? Is every ethnic group (i.e. the Palestinians) who seeks a nation or has a nation -- racist? How obtuse can you be? Why would it be racist for the Jewish ethnic group to desire a nation, but it's not racist for other ethnic groups to do so?

This is the same issues, with the same Prime Minister, just a different time. Do a quick Google search on articles regarding settlement freezes, from 1996-2000. This process will not work. History shows us that little has changed in 12 years.

Can Obama really be faulted for finding himself wagged ... by the tail? With a little work me may get his bearings as solve that problem ... least if he want to avoid being laughed at by the world at large. As for Israelis ... forget it, they never learn anything, never will.

There's a whole bunch of us who loathe and despise Obama for who and what he is. There are many of us who also loathe and despise Bradley Burston for his skewed views.

The two state solution causes israel to lose land. I can't emphasize this enough, israel will lose territory, territory many israelis believe the bible entitles them to. Israel will never accept a peace deal unless it improves their situation. Which losing land never will accomplish. Carrots are never going to work on Israel because there is no carrot. The two state solution is a stick. The only thing that will make the israelis accept the stick is force. The present circumstances must be so awful, that losing land will be justified to move to the hope of peace. Right now Israel is doing well, and happy with the land it has. Sieglman is correct in his diagnosis. No more love and nice videos from Obama will ever convince the Israelis to give up land.

The distinct possibility that israelis - on the whole - are profoudly racist as well as xenophobic. They don`t like someone like Obama who has the kind of mixed heritage americans are so proud of. The US is built on a universalist settler philosophy, like australia and canada. israel was built on 19th century ethnic nationalist european models. Obama represents the former - the mixing pot - all too well. So Israelis who are fast descending into ultra-parochial, self-absorbed middle eastern mind frame see little commonality with the broader humanist principles that someone like Obama - and his voters - represent. Israel is based more on a sparta-like model with athens-like narrow democracy of which much of the population is excluded. What commonality would they see with Obama or the broader american electorate that chose him? It`s not the policy that bothers israelis. Been there, done that. It`s the proof that the world marches on even as israel implodes that gives them nightmares

The distinct possibility that israelis - on the whole - are profoudly racist as well as xenophobic. They don't like someone like Obama who has the kind of mixed heritage americans are so proud of. The US is built on a universalist settler philosophy, like australia and canada. israel was built on 19th century ethnic nationalist european models. Obama represents the former - the mixing pot - all too well. So Israelis who are fast descending into ultra-parochial, self-absorbed middle eastern mind frame see little commonality with the broader humanist principles that someone like Obama - and his voters - represent. Israel is based more on a sparta-like model with athens-like narrow democracy of which much of the population is excluded. What commonality would they see with Obama or the broader american electorate that chose him? It's not the policy that bothers israelis. Been there, done that. It's the proof that the world marches on even as israel implodes that gives them nightmares.

As an American and a New Yorker, I am constantly exposed to the liberal J street crowd. This group of self-hating Jews loves an equally Israel-hating non-Jew who runs our country right now. Obama has changed the discussion from rockets, terrorism and the inability to act civilized (which the Palestinians have regularly demonstrated) into a discussion of whether Israelis can build a porch, a baby's room or an extra bathroom onto an existing house. Of course Israelis don't favor Obama. Why should they?

"So willing is Siegman to disavow any legitimate feelings on the part of Israelis, that he suggests that that their worst fears - of Iran, of rocket attacks, of world isolation and abandonment - not only are baseless, but are also a source of consolation:" I think Siegman has a point, if this is indeed what he actually thinks. Iran isn;t going to attack Israel, but it will be more likely to if Israel/the US attacks it first. The best way to end rocket attacks from Gaza is to do what you can to allow some semblance of normal life there. World isolation is coming as a direct result of the unattractive appearance of Israeli policy. And abandonment is what some Jews appear to think is their lot in life anyway as Jews, a proud burden they must bear. These fears do look like a source of consolation, a ghetto of wounded pride in the mind. The question of "legitimacy" is a red herring. All feelings are legitimate in that they are truly and honestly felt.

""He talks about peace."" So you dont wont peace!

The Jews and Arabs will always be at each others throats like scorpions in a bottle. The president should concentrate on real AMERICAN AFFAIRS. There is nothing he can do to efect any positive in that part of the world. Hate will always rule in this part of the world. Both sides are equally culpable.

Blaming the impasse with Netanyahu on Obama's diplomacy is a little like blaming World War II on Britain and France for their failure to halt German agression. In both cases the major blame must be put squarely on the shoulders of the agressor. In the present case the agressor is Israel. For forty years it has thumbed its nose at the world and continued to build illegal settlements while whining that there is no partner for peace. Obama's tough talk on settlements may have been better thought out. Maybe he should have twisted some Arab arms to get some concessions for a real settlement freeze. But Benn is wrong and Siegman is right. The majority of Israelis, whatever they may tell pollsters, are simply not ready to take the steps necessary for a real peace. It is too easy ( and it has been made too easy for them) to say the Palestinians aren't ready for peace yet. The Israelis remind me of St. Augustine before his conversion whose prayer was "Someday, Lord, but not now."

There is something uncomfortably pathological about Burston (pathological?) attack on the editorial of Seigman. To write that the demand to stop the settlement and remove all the illegal one as a PRECONDITION is a "bomb" is to miss or ignore ALL to previous agreements that Isarel made, but subsequently (or a subsequent government) elected to ignore. As for the editorial of Henry Seigman hemisses the point: Israel do not dislike Obama as a person, nor do they object to peace. Au contraire. The problem is that Israel and the Israelis dont TRUST the peace. Isarel left the Ghaza Strip, it was take over bu Hamas, and for eight years the southern part of Israel was bombarded, without any international protest, without any editorial by Henri Seigman. Tomorrow we return the West Bank, as all Israeli governments since Rabin agreed to do, and a week later we'll have bombs at the center of Israel. Only if Isaelis will be convinced that peace means (surprisingly!) peace, will they support it.

Israeli's do not like being reminded that they are racists. That Obama supports equal rights for all exposes Israeli chauvanism - how dare he equate non-Jews to Jews. This is the lesson Israeli's are teaching the Western world. Please excuse the Western world if we have difficulty in accepting your brand of racism.

This arrogant incompetent. BHO is busy blaming the news media, all who oppose his domestic/foreign policy incompetence. Israelis disliking Obama is only reflective of all polled Americans who now detest our new "naked" emporer. Pssd off American. Right on my fellow American.You've said it all. No doubt about it.Great pity the REPUBLICANS lost.Missed them awfully.Next time careful when voting...

Indeed Kipperraes And the dhimicrats will only be in power once and from then on down hill all the way.

Amen McQueen. And all of his ilk.

...Israelis dislike President Obama because he appeared to be an agent for change, to hold Israel to the same standards as the US holds other countries in the region. That scared your average Israeli because talking about peace and actually living up to the responsibility as well as the end of the occupations is simply something they are not prepared to face. Israel will have to be forced by US pressure. Israel is simply not capable of making a fair and just peace agreement on its own, after all it cannot even manage to live up to the Road Map and is stalling any movement forward again. As usual.

Really? Care to give us the figures :-)

I mean at the bottom of your post you say: He`ll be voted out in 2012. Watch. God I hope not as long as that? What of the "middle term"? or am I wrong? Today I was thinking of you elsewhere,(cannot divulge it though).It was about the deliberate spelling of "Bilery" ahem... Well I learned two better ones yesterday. i.e Bo,and hitlery! And that reminded me of yours.

Ian indeed I would say the same. Israel finds itself bufetted from all sides, not that it wasn't before,but not to such an extent.I would venture to say:Bring back GWya ALL IS FORGIVEN.But what's done cannot be undone.Funny part Ian is that the majority of American Jews votted Obama in. Agree on the wo of a kind re:Blair and Obarmi. Hey Ian to think the crafty devil Blair is now wanting to take the job of presidency in the EU eh what??? THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL

Obama has done a very nice job of bowing to Israel and Israelis. It's the Palestinians that are not of any major or minor concern to him. Obama has proven to be a colossal disappointment.

Hey Bradley are you back form the US,or is it your ALTER EGO? Or the ghost representing you?

This time, I disagree w/ Burston. Why such vituperation against Siegman? Obama aligns w/ the Israeli Left because the Right is a hopeless case. Obama should give a televised speech to the Israeli public but one crucial point is that Israel is indeed spoiled and that the U.S., to be most effective, needs truly to be an honest broker, not Israel's 110% ally. If you want a 2-state solution then stop settlement bulding and ensure space for the new state. If you want a 1-state solution, tell us what Israel will do when Palestinians outnumber Jews in such a state!

Yes translate that.

Yes I still don't know why the Israelis don't like him, they are pulling his strings even as we speak, he's hardly causing them much trouble, America yeiled to the Israelis on settlements and now the Palestinians have no mediator for peace, well at least a non-bias mediator for peace

Henry Siegman has a more commercial reason for loathing Israel in the manner that he does. Mr. Siegman has served on the Board of Directors of the Arab Bankers Association of North America (ABANA). Although the New York Times would not tell its readers of Mr. Siegman's service to ABANA, it is available on the internet. Mr. Siegman has no experience in international banking of any kind. There is only one reason that Siegman would be given a lucrative seat on the board of directors of ABANA and it appears that Siegman has done what it is expected of him.

are post-election's reasons (extended address to the Muslim world in Cairo, blanket settlement freeze demand, etc...). Fact is (and I do remember the polls at that time) Israelis hated Obama way before he became president. Obama's whole campaign was about peace (with anyone and everyone, including with Iran) which frightened the Israelis. If it was up to the Israelis, they would have elected hawkish John McCain. Bradley, don't fool yourself and bury your head in the sand. Siegman's opinion must had hit a raw nerve, because deep down you know Siegman's arguments have a nuance of truth.

Glad to see that we are on the same side after all.

Obama and his following of star-studded expert advisers have made a serious blunder in their assessment of the central factors driving Middle East instability, as has been the case for many former US administrations: The belief that solving the Palestinian/Israeli conflict will somehow magically solve the larger problems of the the Arab World/Western World axis is totally fallacious. The Arab World does not revolve around the Palestinian/ Israeli conflict, and if anything, our local problems here have for many years been a focus of attention that have kept the larger region pre-occupied, probably delaying the onset of tensions between the larger Arab world and the West. Those days are over now as so clearly exemplified by 9/11. The US forcing Israel to carve up land to pre-67 borders is not going to solve anything great in this larger region. Fundamentalist Islamic militancy is not (only) focused upon the destruction of Israel. Its sights are upon the world at large.

i really appreciate this article, burston, it's well thought out and you make some good points. but the real reasons many israelis dislike obama are stupid - like his muslim name. mark identified these reasons quite well - if you ask the average israeli WHY they dislike obama, they will not be able to give you an intelligent answer and argue for it - even if they are intelligent, educated israelis. mark lincoln, you often make good sense here, though you usually seem dramatically disconnected to our culture, motivations, etc. - this time you are almost completely right. except for the democrat thing - israel would support the right democrat all the way, even if many american jews in israel are right wing. i'm certain about this.

Barack Obama: Likes & dislikes. After all what is said by the Gurus,& Pundits of the world. It will still take a hundred/hundred & fifty years before there's peace between the two sides.

The two-state solution has become a non-starter. It will have to be a single state with equality and justice for all. Thank you for recognizing the obvious.

yet they refuse. Growing the settlements does just one thing: It stops making a future settlement more difficult. That's all. A freeze not too much to ask. Just keep the status quo. Yet Israel refuses, and digs the hole deeper, makes the situation worse. Siegman is right.

Occupied Gaza?

Why do we dislike Obama? Not because he is black. There are several reason. 1. His Cairo talk where he presented Israel as a result of the Holocaust and hence rejected our historical rights on this land. 2. His naivety. This man assumes seriously that the main problem here is "land for pease" but very deeply rooted religious conflict. 3. His impotency in the international affairs. He is rather "speaker" but the man solving the problem. 4. There are a hard concerns in Israel that this man has some sentiments in respect to the Arabs and Muslims, because of his education and surroundings.

... Palestinians and Israelis share a profound sense of being victimised - by their own people, by each other, and by the world at large. It may be all these two peoples share, and if so, it is a very thin reed upon which anyone - even a Nobel Prize winner - may build a consensus for peace. Try he must, however, as Mr Obama seems to understand the terrible price of failure better than the parties with which he is attempting to reason. MV

Where have you been? We just can't figure out a good way to end it.

Sure Obama needs to put the screws to Israel, but he should do the same with the Pals. Concessions from both sides have to be made. Do you deny that? Why no mention of Palestinian intrasigence?

The good news is Obama will only beable to serve 1 term. American Jews,Independents, and conservatives have woke up to just how bad Obama is for America. The biggest surprise is Democrats are waking up to 3 things. they are worst off now, This isn't the change they voted for.Their taxes are going to go thru the celing. The election will show just how furious voters are with the democrats. Democrats are going to start losing in every election they enter. In 2010 Pelosi,Reid,will be gone.America has woken up. Israel is our ally and the voters won't forget that.

You've already convicted Israel without even a hearing. Even Goldstone says his report proves nothing.

very well said indeed...there is a pattern, and it's plain to see...you can add in the f-22 contract that was scrapped. obama is one bad cat, and nefariously uses his little kapos like rahmbo and axelrod...lump in miller,ross,freeman and jones and you have all the cover he needs...honestly, if obama was such a wonderful friend of israel he would have visitied by now..sending videos is sooooo weak. the real end game from him was revealed by none other than jesse jackson in an open mike goof from paris...it was run here and in many papers across the world..obamas team ran from the story as fast as they could.. The anti semitic label ascribed to the many who think israel is the big bad wolf is not overused nor is it wrong...so many on here hide...behind "human rights" and "anti zionism", "anti apartheid"...rather than having some balls to just say, yes, I hate jews...why cant you just say it? COWARDS....that's what you are...lowlife scum. LONG LIVE ISRAEL!

....I'd be detesting Obama. Oh how supportive of Israel he was when he was seeking election!!! Yet as soon as he became president,there he was,appeasing the PA and the Arab League,telling Israel that there is a place that should be Judenrein,encouraging the Arabs to believe that they just had to be implacable and all their demands would be delivered on a plate,and destroying the last vestiges of he peace process. Obama is in the same league of deception and Israel-hating as Tony Blair.The only difference between them is that Obama is 10 years behind Blair and has more muscle so that he's more dangerous. Trusting Blair was a mistake,and mistakes shouldn't be repeated. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

arrogant incompetent. BHO is busy blaming the news media, all who oppose his domestic/foreign policy incompetence. Israelis disliking Obama is only reflective of all polled Americans who now detest our new "naked" emporer.

Like someone else in this site indicates, we're not use to reading "jingoistic propaganda" about Israeli society coming from you. So, again, what gives? You certainly owe us some explanation about your article.

Obama has been praising the muslims & going out of his way to harm Israel in every way possible. First thing he did was try and push Peres into choosing Livni as PM He tried to interfear with the democratic process to get his preferred candidate. He refuses an Israeli request to buy Apaches but agrees to an Egyptian request. he tours the muslim world taking their side and condemning Israel over everything, he even comes back to America after becoming the first president to bow down to royalty and announces the US will adopt the saudi plan & of course US policy becomes Israel policy. Despite the fact Israel ruled out the plan without discussing it with Israel he makes a speech announcing this. He gives a speech in Egypt agreeing with arab propoganda that the only reason Israel exists is because of the Holocaust. His racist attempt to make E Jerusalem off limits to jews. As for the idea Goldstone cares about Israelis is a bad joke OBAMA IS OUR ENEMY & ISRAELIS ARE WISING UP TO HIM

The only way to make mideast peace progress is for the American president to get tough with Israel. Israel is the one profitting by avoiding peace. As long as this is possible, Israel will continue to avoid peace. The only way to change this routine is for the American president to force Israel to freeze construction and make good faith, fair minded, peace efforts. This will take extreme action on the part of the president. He will have to put Israels favored relationship with America, including all American support of Israel, on the line. Anything less will fail. Obama doesn't appear to be the guy. Maybe the next one will be better.

show up---so they can get off with there crimes. As to the rest of your post---clearly you are another apologist who has "NOT" read the report as everyone who has would know that the Palestinians had nowhere to go when Israel made it,s so called "unprecedented in the laws of war efforts". Give us a break Lee---you are talking claptrap. As to new laws for war---be my guest---but meantime ---your beloved Israel committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity based on existing laws. Do you apologists ever get tired posting hasbara supplied garbage.

show up---so they can get off with there crimes. As to the rest of your post---clearly you are another apologist who has "NOT" read the report as everyone who has would know that the Palestinians had nowhere to go when Israel made it,s so called "unprecedented in the laws of war efforts". Give us a break Lee---you are talking claptrap. As to new laws for war---be my guest---but meantime ---your beloved Israel committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity based on existing laws. Do you apologists ever get tired posting hasbara supplied garbage.

How come that I can't take the terms "self-hating" and "anti-semitism" serious anymore when used in articles and comments about people who honestly strive for peace ?

I saw that man on the TV a long while ago mouthing the usual anti-Israeli nonsense. It through me off then seeing this obviously Jewish man, with his Jewish look and obviously Jewish name piling up on Israel like someone from Arafat's disinformation office (yes, that was that long ago) and then I saw that he was a spokesmen for the CFR, not exactly an Israel-loving, but very well connected body. Sort of explained the position of that modern day Judas. Now, he is said to be a former director of American Jewish Congress -- which begs a question what organization is it, what does it do, and how does it elect its Chairmen?

Unfortunately, he lacks the emotional intelligence to understand the crux of the matter - I do feel sorry for him, but he should be flipping burgers not being an editor of a major newspaper

Israelis will not tolerate being treated equally like terrorist in Hamas are treated. As long as the PLO, Hamas are considered legitimate organizations and not as terrorist like they are then there WILL be NO peace. Obama must make peace by being a good friend with Israel and ending the insanity of two state plan to destroy Israel.

Israelis are like Americans. Americans want more social programs but don't want to pay for them. Israelis want peace, but don't actually want to do anything that will lead to it. Same logic or illogic. Poor Palestinians, they have no partner in peace.

Israeli Jews were just ahead of the curve. Too bad that American Jews are still blind as bats were it comes to our 'Messiah.' Just look who Obama surrounded himself with: Marxists, Mao and Castro and Chaves lovers; thus only Haaretz, Guardian and the Nation editorial staffs can love him. Well, perhaps Al Jazera, too.

The moment that Obama demonstrates that he is for peace and for Israel I know Israelis will embrace him. Obama cannot make peace by appeasing the Saudis and PLO but must do the moral thing and force the enemies of Israel to opt for peace.

What a stupid. stupid article ! Henry Siegman (BTW, the best of the best among Jewry ) "hates" Israel, period. Yes, THAT, as usual,is the facile, worn-out reason for his opinions. In Burston's one-track mind, Siegman couldn't POSSIBLY have any other motive.As for Obama, he broke the 11th commandment by not genuflecting sufficiently before the Israeli altar of righteousness. Seems he got the message, though, and is starting to do t'shuvah.(Starting with cave-in on settlements and throwing Goldstone under the bus). David

1. Can't trust him, talks out of both sides of his mouth 2. More interested in prancing in the limelight on the World stage than supporting his own country and its position in the world 3. Self-serving, narcissistic, autocrat with extreme political leanings far left of his countrymen in general, and far left of what he professes publically. Add to this Obama's lack of any real experience, lack of public vetting respecting his character and integrity, and his disturbing dalliance with anti-Jewish elements in America, Reverand Wright,and the Jackson-Farrakhan axis, an open attempt (which flopped) to repair relations with the muslim world at Israel's expense, and his idiotic demand for a total settlement freeze to placate an Abbas who was rejecting ANY recognition of Jewish Israel(which also flopped), and its not hard to see why he has miserable 4% popularity in Israel. He's not trusted over here, either, as his health and bailout fiascos prove. He'll be voted out in 2012. Watch.

Israel's likes or dislikes are irrelevant.The "influence" of Israel in the American Poltical process is minimal.Israel doesn't has a fraction of the moneys that the saudis and the other oil rich "countries" use to propagate their influence in the USA and in Brazil... The difference is that every paranoid schyzophrenic antisemite hollers the same old mantras about "the jewish lobbies and the jewish influence"...Meanwhile,for the last 60 years,the moslems and their communist allies from the old S.U.,from cuba,iran and the rest of Latrine America are corroding the hearts and minds of the American and the Brazilian People in the Universities,in the arts,and all over the Society at large...

Burston is right about Seigman who is a truly despicable Israel- hating self-important fool. But he is wrong about the Americans 'brokering' a 'peace' now. Negotiations and peace can come only when both sides want it. Burston refuses to understand that the underlying problem, the real problem , the problem all along is that the Palestinians do not care for 'peace' they care to get the Jews out. They cannot 'compromise' or even think to compromise because they are heirs to an extrem

I won't let you people feel alone if I can help it. Israel must never feel it is alone. You know. I believe in America and I believe in Israel. It's was and is a spiritual thing and now it's more than a spiritual thing because I found my Grandmother's descendants there. So we gotta keep it together and not let things get out of control. I'll keep figuring out ways to get along with Muslims too. My Mother never raised me to hate Muslims. She always reminded me of Moorish Spain and the Golden Age. We just have to use our noggins! That's what God gave us brains for. Brains for figuring out problems and writing jokes. About midgets sometimes. See ya!!!

put to the test. Obama should refrain from anything which puts jews to any tests. juice dont like failing at tests.

Many many people in America agree with the Israeli assessment of our President.

Henry Seigman Has been an enemy of a secure Israel for over thirty years and an ardent leftist for even longer.

You write that "Siegman's thesis makes no room for the possibility that the administration may have made more major mistakes.....". This could be the case,but in turn, why don't you, Bradeley Burston, make room for the possibility that the described pathology is real and deeply rooted in the Israeli pathos. I, for one, made specifically alia, and a happy one, in order to escape the role of eternal victim of European antisemitism which, in my mind, is also eternal. As the saying goes, you need to be two for the tango. Sorry,but I also profoundly dispise the kind of tired rethoric displayed by Netanyahou at the UN.

Spoiled brats hate their parents when they don't have things their way, that's why. Israel is America's spoiled child and a burden on our tax dollars.

His report purports to demonstrate that Israel committed war crimes, and it uses unequivacal language to that effect. (If you don't believe me, you haven't read it.) However, in subsequest interviews, Goldstone has said the report proves nothing and is only intended to spur further investigations. The guy is talking out of both sides of his mouth. He also says that he couldn't get Israeli cooperation, and that's why the report is so one-sided. But if the report only takes one side into account, how can you present it in language that is so conclusive? And why did he never consult the many reports that Israel has published about Gaza? And why such a weak acknowledgement of Israel's efforts to have civilians leave the battle zones -- efforts that are unprecedented in the history of warfare, according to experts? And why no consideration of the need for new laws of engagement, as even the EU acknowledge are necessary? Israel makes mistakes, but so do UN investigators, apparently.

Esther, you are so so right.

Why and How? Can Israelis so openly criticize Obama and by extension dislike United States in general. Israelis have no treouble taaking our military aid. This 60 yo Christian wants the country of Israel collectively and Israelis personally be more appreciative of the money and efforts that the USA and US citizens make on behalf of Israel. Latest is Obama's team is blocking the Goldstone Report..Doesn't that help?

large majority of israelis want peace. however, they want peace with security. barack obama, having spent his adult life among radical leftists, has very little understanding of the strategic nightmares facing israel. he tends to be trapped in theoratical solutions, which have no relationship to what is happening in the real world. obama and his closest advisors need to understand that governing requires a disengagement from personal feelings and sympathise. diplomacy cannot be carried out by public humiliations or grandious speeches.

But they shouldn't be so worried. This administration has talked a different talk that was enough to get the Israelis fired up and begin their campaign of slander. But obama has since come around and is now towing the line though the zionist pressure is still very much on him and his administration. Again, they seem to have got their way. It seems Israel has nothing to worry about. The US is back to a "yes sir, yes sir" mode with the fiction perpetrated ad nauseum that Israel is our best friend and ally.

Siegman's article is simply excellent! He speaks the truth! "Israel?s public never tires of proclaiming to pollsters its aspiration for peace and its support of a two-state solution. What the polls do not report is that this support depends on Israel defining the terms of that peace, its territorial dimensions, and the constraints to be placed on the sovereignty of a Palestinian state."

The sickness is that Israelis as a whole do not accept the obvious, that had the arabs wanted peace by now there would be peace-it was on the table and Arafat walked away from it. The reason is, that the arabs, in their twisted reasoning want all of Israel, and, they want a lot of Jewish blood. Even if they got all of Israel, they'd still send out killers to wherever Jews live. That's the problem. And leftists refuse to recognize this just as they refused to recognize the evil in Stalin, their darling poster boy. And Obama, he's just a leftist ideologue (and a not to bright one at that) who tipped his hand when he burst onto the world stage like a stoned bull in a china shop, apologizing for the US and kissing up to the arab monarchs. It'll take a long time to undo the damage that this pinko nut has done in the name of "change."

burston you outdid yourself in a lot off non sense but the fact remains: israheli want occupation plus squatter settlements peacefully...can you see a problem with that? well not for jews (who want everything all their own way all the time) but with the indigenous people who used to live where you do now?

"... but where is the bold inspiring Pres we saw at his inauguration a few months ago...?!" - Esther He's still in the White House. His testicles, however, are in Netanyahu's back pocket.

posters who sound an awful lot like him. It's just sad. I suppose there are just a large group of people from whom Israel will simply never catch a break.

'. If both peoples have one trait in common, it is that they cannot be bludgeoned, bribed, or sweet-talked into supporting a policy which favors only side.' History favoured one side. In 1947 with 35% of the population and 6% of land under Jewish title, the UN gave you 56% of Palestine. The civil war gave you a further 22%, In 1967, with almost no threat from Jordan, you took the remaining 22%, the West Bank. What the world can't understand is this haggling over that remaining, mainly desert and mountainous 22%, which represents the only feasible grounds for the defeated aspirations of Palestinian nationalism. You can talk for a lifetime about Israeli angst, Jewish history, existential fears. The fact is you have 78% in your pocket, and they have nothing. You whinge, and, for parity, say they have grievances. Until Israel musters the power to make a great historical gesture, asking for nothing except security, in exchange for peace, all comment is just that, gossip.

1) Ha'aretz must wonder why they attract the kinds of readers that they do (as reflected in the comments). 2) This article was so full of grammar and spelling issues, that it was hard read. 3) Barack Obama is disliked by over 90% of Israelis because he has decided to side with Israel haters and Jew haters, as he has almost all of his life. Think the Reverend Wright, Rashid Khalidi, Louis Farrakhan, Father Phleger, William Ayres...etc... Israelis are not as stupid and gullible as US Jews.

I just would like to see him acting more than talking, and giving a slap in the awful faces of these arrogants here who really believes in the slogan "America, don't worry. Israel is behind you". Please, Barack, save us from ourselves, motek.

Israel is an openly racist state. Obama is black.. it's enough of a reason for many Israelis to consider him a lower class of human. You only have to look at how Israel treats its Ethiophian citizens, and even its non-Ashkenazi population who in fact are the only semites in Israel except of course for the Palestinians.

Is it not a bit naive to expect President Barak, or his representatives to exercise, "consideration of the possibility that the administration failed in doing requisite preparation with Benjamin Netanyahu and Ehud Barak". The American intelligence community knows very well just how hard Israeli Leaders have work, or not worked, for peace. It is not entirely reasonable, as well, for Mr. Burston to accuse Mr. Siegman of hating Israelis. I am an Israeli, and I do not find it difficult or incongruous to love my country and my people while hating the policies of the the current government which panders to the right-wing settlers. The peace process has been underway, sometimes in first gear, sometimes in reverse, for 42 years. Only during the administration of Yitzhak Rabin was I convinced the the Israeli government was seriously considering meaningful compromises which might lead to a equitable peace. Judicious application of outside pressure is evidently called for.

... in the USA at this time... ... there are declarations by others... ... inferences by some... ... but where is the bold inspiring Pres we saw at his inauguration a few months ago...?! ... or in Egypt speaking to Muslims and Jews...?!

Must be a reason why the list of long admired Jewish supporters of Israel opposing Israel policies and behaviours is large and growing! Obama's top two advisors are distinguished Jews, Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod. Why has J Street grown so quickly?

...and all like him. Seigman has long preferred the Saudis to his fellow Jews.

arabs. Unlimited sales of weapons ,lucrative contracts favoring this or another arab state they'd fifght each other. Now they're somehow united in hatred of Israel

It's about the Jewish right to live in our land- anywhere. When there was no "occupation" there was no peace, when there would have been no "occupation" in 2000 there was no peace, and when we gave up the "occupation in Gaza, there was outright war.

1.First and foremost: good evening hungry university students. 2.And now to the question: why do Israelis dislike Barack Obama? 3.The correct pathological answer: because Obama has no staff that can turn into a snake or a staff that divides a sea or a staff that strikes a mountain side that releases water. 4.No problem. The staff that Israelis are waiting for six thousand years is coming soon. It will come from a small but well-trained shepherd boy with the Moshiachs Meal of Five Loaves that catches TWO BIG FISH: The Primordial Snake and The Messiah Jesus Christ. 5.Amen?

You seem confoused on the Israel/US relationship and what needs to be done. Gideon will set you right.

Ok, it is now time to let Israel simply behave as she believes is her just destiny, but without the enabling USA. We Americans have our own beliefs, crises and fears, hence self-interests beyond Israel. The inevitable resulting 1-state solution without deep-pocketed, military/economic/technology/diplomatic enabler USA will doom Israel ... not smart, but I agree your choice! Keep the Palestinians in a crushing headlock while punching them in the face and picking their pockets if you truly believe your just destiny.

Why? because the thruth hurts! and the chances that the thruth about some Israelis comes out with Obama are greater than with Bush. Be glad with Obama, with Cheney Israel wouldn't make it to 2012!

Why do Israelis hate Obama? He has an Arab sounding name. He is a democrat. He talks about peace. They have been propagandized by the right to hate Obama. His total capitulation to Netanyahu has not changed the hatred of Israelis for Obama. It is clear that Obama is too craven to stand up for himself, much less anyone else. There shall be no penalty for hating him, no retaliation for trying to destroy him, and only advantage with the republican that will be elected in 2112 now that Obama has been destroyed.