Obama's new vision of Jewish state guarantees rights of Israeli Arabs
New National Security Strategy defines two-state solution in a way that differs from the terminology used by previous American administrations.
By Aluf BennU.S. President Barack Obama has updated America's official vision of Israel's future to stress that the Jewish state must ensure equal rights for Israeli Arabs. His new National Security Strategy, released by the White House last month, defines the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a way that differs from the terminology used by previous American administrations. According to the document, the U.S. seeks two states that will live side by side in peace and security: "a Jewish state of Israel, with true security, acceptance, and rights for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestine with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967 and realizes the potential of the Palestinian people."
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U.S. President Barack Obama |
| Photo by: Archive |
Earlier statements by Obama had described Israel as an "independent Jewish state," but made no mention of the rights of its citizens. The new version apparently seeks to address the Palestinian claim that recognizing Israel as a Jewish state would harm the rights of Israeli Arabs.
It may also be a response to Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's campaign to condition citizenship on loyalty.
Israel first asked the U.S. to recognize its identity as a Jewish state following the failure of the Camp David summit in 2000, and has repeated this request many times since. Recognition as a Jewish state is widely seen as a barrier to the Palestinian demand for a "right of return" for millions of Palestinian refugees and their offspring.
Former secretary of state Colin Powell urged the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state for the first time in November 2001, and this demand was later reiterated by then-president President George W. Bush. During the November 2007 Annapolis Conference, for instance, Bush said that Palestine should be the Palestinians' homeland, "like Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began his tenure by making Palestinian recognition of Israel's Jewish identity a prerequisite for a permanent settlement. Senior Palestinian Authority officials adamantly rejected this demand, expressing concern that such recognition would undermine the rights of Israel's Arab citizens.
In a speech to the Knesset two weeks ago, Netanyahu reiterated this demand, saying that in his view, there is no such thing as an "Israeli people." "The first thing [in negotiations] is Palestinian recognition of the State of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people," he said. "When we are talking about a solution of two states for two peoples, one of these peoples is the Jewish people. It is not some Israeli people, it is the Jewish people."
Netanyahu added: "Recognizing the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people implies an understanding that the Palestinians are willing to put an end to their refusal to recognize the Jewish state within some border or another, [and that] they know the problem of the refugees must be resolved outside the borders of the State of Israel."
"The Jewish state's legitimacy does not stem from the Palestinians' recognition of us," he stressed. "But peace begins with the fact that this recognition must take root. First, it must be clearly declared as a necessary condition - not for the start of talks, but for their completion. From there, it must be inculcated among the Palestinian public and begin to influence school books, sermons and statements."
However, the identity Netanyahu proposes differs from the one Obama has just postulated: The prime minister spoke of a "state of the Jewish people," meaning one that is also a national home for Diaspora Jews, while the U.S. president spoke of a "Jewish state" with "rights for all Israelis."
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Obama cannot bring peace so he is trying to redefine Israel instead.
why's it up to some one else,get an economy not based on war & pollution,aka oil/petro_chema,,,products
Obama land beware Israel for a wolf in sheeps clothing is in your midst. 7 years will he make a pact with Israel then after 3 and one half years all hell will break loose not to worry Israel in the end he and all his followers go in to the eternal lake of fire for ever and ever where their worm will never ever be quenched. could this be him if the shoe fits wear it and if it's not it is most certainly a forrunner to the days of Jacobs troubles.Watch out israel Satan is coming like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour Praise god evil times will be short in comparison.Those who call on the name of Jesus will be saved.Adonai Messiah is coming again.Amen
"It is not some Israeli people, it is the Jewish people." Got that? In "Netanyahu's Israel (tm)" there are (a) The Jews, and then there are (b) The Others. And in "Netanyahu's Israel (tm)" the state of Israel exists only for the former i.e. the latter merely live there, on sufference and not as of right......
Repeat the lie over and over until you believe the lie to be true.
Why nobody is talking about equal rights for Jews in a future Palestine State. Nobody is very concerned of Jews do not having any rights at all. Do you imagine Jews being members of the Palestinian Parliament , criticizing the Arab majority and getting a salary to do so. It is almost SCI-FI So Jews have to be tolerant and democratic and nice people and I am OK with that , what I am not Ok is with the part that says Fuck the Jews has a very normal and acceptable behaviour
He has not even visited Israel, and one wonders if he even recognizes the State of Israel - theJewish homeland. Obama is the the person who unleashed, and gave the green light to open demonstration of contemporary anti-semitism. Obama set the "hate Israel" atmosphere. If he has any common sense he will get over here, and be a proud guest of Israel. Perhaps he is afraid if he visits and he will have to face the realities in the ME and he won't be able to continue and the theoretical course for peace he is own. Is reasons for not visits Israel can only be taken as a major insult and a desire not to learn the realities of the ME.
Aluf Benn, in his various articles, expresses a certain touchingly childish, almost quaint, belief in the supposed inherent goodness and correctness of the dreck uttered by Obama. Mr Benn seems naively unaware that, in the upcoming November, 2010 elections, the democrat party is expected to get resoundingly trounced, and thus lose its stranglehold over the US Congress, after which Obama's power will be significantly curtailed. Moreover, in the 2012 elections it appears likely - based on growing unhappiness with Obama amongst the US electorate, who realize that they have been fooled into voting for an incompetent, inexperienced, sophomoric socialist - that Obama's one term reign will end, and he will almost certainly be replaced by a conservative, adult President.
Why does Obama not start to do at home what he wants others to do? Who care what he wants: in a few Years Obama will not even be remembered and Israel will still be around, contrary to his wishes. He already proved that he likes dead Jew over living Israeli. Trying to bull Israel is now his last battle to have a "success" after only failures on the whole front.
Either separate Muslims and Jews into separate states or demand full rights for both in both territories. It makes no sense to demand rights for Muslims in Israel yet allow the PA to ban Jews in its state.
If Israel wants to live up to its claim of being a Jewish democratic state than it should have no trouble with President Obama's call for "rights for all Israelis". It is a given as a democracy and as the 1948 Declaration of Independence states, "it (the State of Israel) will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex".
Israel is an Arab state with a Jewish majority.
will never happen because Israel does not count its Arab citizens. They are not Jewish, thus, ipso facto, they are non-citizens of Israel, or at best second-class citizens to be pushed into ghettos as they are not Jewish.
Kinda like Obama's vision of a country that guarantees the rights of all its citizens. A rule the people of all civilized democratic countries gladly accept. Not much more has to be said on the subject.
So what this article is saying is that Obama's position is exactly equal to the following paragraph which is from the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel, read by David Ben Gurion May 14, 1948: I do not get the point of this article. Is it somehow bad for Israel that Obama agrees completely with David Ben Gurion and Israel's Declaration of Independence ? "THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. "
I have not been a fan of Obama, and I don't have much right to offer an opinon related to the structure of Israel. However, I think Obama has a good point. The USA is not a democracy, it is a republic. We are governed by laws that our elected representatives create. Laws protect the minority from being oppressed by a democratic majority. I think this model brings hope
cuz it cramps their dreams of a greater, more fascist, Israel
Our kids are dying to ensure Netanyahu's right to discriminate against anyone who's not Jewish. Enough of this BS. Separation of church and state please. Equal rights for all, no matter who they worship.
Obama should also emphasize the rights of gays in Israel, who are discriminated.
and very much unaware that Israel has always given Israeli Arabs full rights, equal recognition and citizenship. Unsurprising that he couldn't even be bothered to look up the Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, where it is emphasized in at least three different paragraphs that the State seeks nothing but peaceful relations with the Arabs - regardless of their religious affiliation. Obama also neatly ignores that two-state solutions have been offered since before the existence of Israel itself, and it has always been the Arab Coalition to reject the two-state solution. All the better for him to pretend he came up with something new and brilliant and shiny.
Obama , Start in the United states for the rights of the People of the gulf coast to make a living. Not have another politican become wealthy from big oil and look the other way as big oil cannot stop the spill and the enviorment is destroyed and the people who survive off of the shrimping industry are ruined.What about there rights to feed there family and make a living. You greedy filthy crook taking oil company money and looking the other way because they cannot control the oil spill.Keep your corrupt nose out of other nations affairs and clean up your own back yard you graft taking thief.
Because of protests by the Ultra religious political parties, Israeli politicians have been unable or unwilling to legislate a Bill of Rights, or to complete a Constitution which would reinforce the incomplete the Basic Rights. If President Obama's pressure finally enables our politicians to wiggle out from under the weight ofthe religious right, he will have done more for the population of Israel than any other American president.
I have a vision. Israel is an independent state and Obama should mind his own business. Obama has an extreme radical view of the world, kind of like in vietnam inside every gook is an American trying to get out. Inside of every muslim that surrounds Israel is a person who would like to slit a jews throat. In a few years Obama will be voted out and he can accompany Jimmy Carter to have lunch with the leading terrorists of Hamas as he and Carter spew there warped views of the world.
While it sounds reasonable on the surface, the PLA has every right to be concerned at this demand. The problem is that Israel does not consider their territory Israeli until it has been cleansed of non-Jewish inhabitants, including evacuating Palestinians, Arabs, etc. If Israel were to decide that the currently occupied territories of West Bank and East Jerusalem should be part of the Israeli state, then they would likely be ethinically cleansed also. The percentage of the population of Israel that is Arab is around 20% according to Wikipedia. The population of the West Bank apart from the "settlements" is 100% Recognising Israel as Jewish would also deny any retribution to the Palestinians that have already been forced to leave.
Tell Obama to mind his own business, we Israelis do not need his sagely advise. A pro muslim, with muslim background telling us what we should be doing? I suggest we cut off all connection with US until we have an unbiased US president. Afterall he will leave anyway in 3.5 more years
Phew I thought for one moment he was going to give the native 'red' Indian's of America a better deal - hey not on his shores.
Maybe now you will understand why so many people here in the United States are fed up with the so called 'Progressives'. They seek to undermine incrementally like a stream eroding a bank; it seems harmless until the bank falls and the stream changes course forever. I will say it again...stand tall Israel, no apologies, and strike when you must without care of what other may say. We will stand behind you. God Bless the United States and may it never turn its back on Israel.
Maybe now you will understand why so many people here in the United States are fed up with the so called 'Progressives'. They seek to undermine incrementally like a stream eroding a bank; it seems harmless until the bank falls and the stream changes course forever. I will say it again...stand tall Israel, no apologies, and strike when you must without care of what other may say. We will stand behind you. God Bless the United States and may it never turn its back on Israel.
Absolutely! Of course, O**** (his name is unmentionable in polite society) really wants the citizenry of Israel to include ALL the arabs, syrians, egyptians, libyans, iranians, jordanians, lebanese turks and russians advisors trespassing in the lands illegally occupied by the so-called palestinians and gazans to be counted as Israeli citizens--that would render the Jews a minority--then the "others" could vote Israel out of existence. You can tell when O**** is lying--his lips are moving.