U.S. officials slam pro-Israel Jerusalem ad

Would the U.S. officials be prepared to share Washington as the capital with Venezuela and Cuba ?

Jerusalem should not be part of the Palestine's Land because G-D gave it to Israel to the Jewish people.Not to the Arabs.G-D Gave the land rich in "oil" to the Palestinian's but they just don't want it. They want the whole thing.Bibi go for it

Every since Abraham was given this "Land"( by G-D)

I think the ads are great and there should be more of them. Our present government is the only one in our history that I know of that is turning their backs on Israel. It is not right! I don't understand their shock when Foreign Minister Lieberman spoke? How many sat and listened to the Iranian president when he was calling for the complete destruction of Israel and the Jewish people? Nations are turning their backs on the wrong people and it needs to stop now.Jerusalem belongs to the Jewish state of Israel and no one else. The blind eyes and deaf ears need to open up to the truth! It is only the government that has a problem with Israel not the majority of the people. I want the Jewish people to know this. I love them and most of Americans do to.I know I can as a USA citizen,and a christian can visit Israel and be safe, but I know I cannot go to Iran and be safe because the government hates the west just as much as they hate Israel!

Jews that support Israel and Christians who support Jews who support Israel.

Don't you think harzion knows all you have tried to explain? He is astute/knowledgeable to the reasons as to why Christians and Muslims that are in great numbers versus tiny Israel/Jews world wide. Yes,Chritians first have been to culprits trying to annihilate us. Then came the so-called prophet of DOOM,muhamed who plagiarized our HOLY BIBLE changing it to his CULTIC FAITH by that means to convert people or DIE by the SWORD. As we are witnessing today in the 21st century. Muslims still live in the 7th century,have not come forward to the present. What is so appalling now is the US's trying to control Israel by ?FIAT?as though we are an adjunct of the US,or their 51 State. We blame BHO true.But some of the previous Presidents were not exactly enamoured toward Jews/Israelis. However, this president shows where his loyalties lie.i.e To the Arab/Muslims NOT to Israel they deem it to be our friends? Oh they know we are an asset to the US being the only democratic country in the ME. Frankly I think time has come to cut the umbilical cord and free ourselves from such friends who are treating our country with disdain but also disrespectful toward our Prime Minster when on his visit to Washington. The photo I saw of BHO pointing a finger (aimed at Bibi?s chest) was the highest insult! To the point:That even after the Balfour Declaration the US was not a real friend of Israel for a long time. Therefore no surprise when you point out their religion. You hear from American Christians who say:They have ?Separation of religion from state? I?ll believe it thousands wouldn?t.Only the delusional so to that I say:BS. Of course the US is a Christian country no doubt about it. With the exception of some Evangelicals who although are Christians they love Israel and want it to survive.But then they say: They have an agenda to bring about the SECOND coming? I do not altogether believe that.

A very cogent,true,and giving the responders something to think about.Will they accept it? Knowing how the Israeli bashers feel,no matter how many times it has been said they still revert to some unfounded topic to satisfy their view point,even when it is NOT TRUE. If it isn't the Khazars bit,they run out of ideas and regurgitate the incident of the King David Hotel?Forgetting the Brits' were warned but in their high and mighty way ignored it ? But here people conveniantly forget that the said hotel was the "HEADQUARTERS" Of the British who were in cahoots with the Arabs. It gets discouraging to read it adnauseum. Good post Moises

Both you and Weisel are wrong. Jerusalem is mentioned several times, in fact the early Muslims turned toward Jerusalem to pray (5 times a day) until their prophet changed prayer "facing" to Mecca.

Wiesel: "Jerusalem is above politics,"... "it is mentioned more than 600 times in Scripture - and not a single time in the Koran." Q1: How many times is Mecca mentioned by name in the Koran? Q2: If Mecca is mentioned by name exactly once (ooops, I've just given Q1 away...) then can we assume it has no special significance to Muslims? Q3: If the number of references in the Koran gives us a measure for "importance" then what are we to make of the fact that Moses is mentioned 136 times while Muhammad gets his name in print on exactly 5 occasions? Yeah, I know, all very foolish questions. But no more foolish than Wiesel's claim that Jerusalem is 660-to-zero times more important to the Jews than it is to Muslims because he knows how to do a word-count on his computer.

You accuse me of lying Pete about the Safed attacks in 1834. Did it not occur to you, I might be unaware of them, considering even you got the date wrong and considering even right-wing Jewish sites describe it as the 'forgotten pogrom'? Here's a quote for you from zionism-israel.com 'Now it is been rediscovered; mostly by people from the Israeli right, because for them anything that puts the Arabs and Moslems in a bad light is welcomed.' However, one riot doesn't change 1100 years of history until then. ""Holocaust guilt" did not extend to Brits killing Jews for a quid." What's that? Are you blood libelling the Brits?

Gee: "Israel is the only country that has any claim to any of the land west of the Jordan." Yet the basis of its claim is that the land belongs to "the Jews". And... IF "the state of the Jewish nation" can draw its claim from the rights of a "people" THEN the PLO can do the same BECAUSE the PLO is as much the recognized representative of the "Palestinian people", just as the Govt of Israel claims to represent the "Jewish people". Gee: "We have the San Remo Treaty, Mandate for Palestine and the UN Charter." Israel (or even "the Jewish state") is not mentioned in any of those documents. Gee: "Now where is there a single legal claim for the Arabs? I bet nobody can produce one." The sovereign (the Mandatory) agreed that there would be TWO successor states upon its dissolution. The laws of state succession apply i.e. neither successor state can swallow up territory that was apportioned to the other successor state, EVEN IF that other state is stillborn.

What was wrong with your "Der Zweifler"?

1. Aside from criticizing left and right whatever speaker you dislike as a pro-Muslim apologetics, your "attempt to stifle free speech" argument, is invalid for the reason which you failed to note in the article: it is the concerted lobbying campaign of the influential AIPAC personalities and the PM of Israel. Insofar Israel is accountable to the only int'l mediator of peace talks it ever agreed to, its PM is not just a voice of Haaretz talkback but a maker of and spokesman for the official govn't policy. Now this policy on Jerusalem question is one thing when written for Wiesel of other marionette-like "public intellectual", and it is completely different when the PM takes off to the US to mend the relationship with the US President gone wrong because of yet another East Jerusalem "housing". 2. Wiesel has no "religious opinions". He is a self-declared atheist.

Free speech allows both sides to have their say. No one stopped the ad, which would have violated free speech. The administration is entitled to respond. Jerusalem is the capital of Israel only to the Israeli's. The international community, and international law says it is not. There are no foreign embassies in Jerusalem because it is not recognized as the capital by any other countries. The UN should find a way to enforce the law and make Jerusalem a protectorate for all three major religions. I agree with Michael about the history and evolution of the area. Going back to the 67 borders, dismantling the settlements and settling the issue of Jerusalem is the only sure way to peace. That is, I believe, the stated goal of all. Reverting to religious claims will not work in the long run. Israel must decide if it wants to be a democracy or a theocracy.

?Reading the Qur?an quickly makes it apparent that Muhammed?s relationship with Judaism was more conflicted than his relationship with Christianity, perhaps because it was more intimate. It is possible to interpret his image of himself and his destiny as the last in the succession of Hebrew prophets, and his initial mission as a resolve to restore a monotheism concentrated on the Jerusalem Temple, which the Christians had compromised. To begin with, Muhammed instructed his followers to pray facing Jerusalem, and he only altered the direction of prayer to Mecca after a murderous disagreement with the Jews of Medina.? Diarmaid MacCulloch, Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years (2010), page 258.

Who are these administration officials? Do they have names?

Nobody kills more civilians, than Israel.? Are you that biased.? Do sheer numbers of Iraqi civilians killed by the US Army not count.? Your US Army killed HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS. Or the daily killings of Pakistanis,Afghans.? Then go back a bit in history, HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of civilians killed during the Viet Nam carpet bombings, using B52 high altitude bombers. Mostly Napalm.H.E..."Agent Orange", that poison gas,,,,???" Natallie, kindly stop throwing stones whilst you live in a glass cage. Have a nice day.

are slamming the US officials for their attack on 'free speech'. Since the ads have already appeared in US papers I presume that these respondants would like to limit the free speech of those of the opposite view to Elie Weisel and Ralph Lauder. If speech is to be free anyone can express their opinion.

The United States could have taken a far easier course than being one of the first nations to recognize Israel. The President of the USA had a long time friend, and business partner, who was a jew, and, Harry Truman, a democrat, was most considerate of Jews and Israel. Republicans - Including Truman's Secretary of State - were opposed to Israel. Now, Israel, is taking an intense position in American politics opposed to not only the Obama administration, but the vast majority of American Jews. Netanyahu has chosen to sever the life-line to Israel which American Jews have provided long before Israel became a nation. Netanyahu has not only declared war upon the current government of the United States, he has chosen to declare war upon the majority of American Jews.

"1 no american soldiers died fighting for israel." - harzion Might I say the name 'Mickey Marcus"? "2 thousands of americans died fighting for iraq.saudi.and kuwait.and afghanistan and pakistan." - harizon So George W. Bush was criminally insane. So what? "so america is mad at us why exactly?" - harizon Because Israel expects the United States to do anything Israel desires without Israel having to do what the United States NEEDS. Israel believes the USA to be it's slave and fool. While Israel thinks it never need consider the needs of the United States.

D: "Since When does the US State Dep comment on ads?" When it is convinced that those ads were being directed by a foreign government, that's when. D: "The US State Department has approves ads now?" No, but the State Dept takes a dim view of US citizens being used as shills to hawk the shoddy goods of a foreign government. D: "What do they care about some private guy`s opinion of what should be done with Jerusalem?" They don't. They couldn't give a shit about the private opinion of anyone on any topic. That they give a shit about THESE ads tells you that they are not the "private opinion" of these two dudes. They are part of an ORCHESTRATED PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGN by a foreign government, and the State Dept is (rightly) outraged.

JN: "Israeli Basic Law (7/30/80)(in part): "1. Jerusalem united in its entirety is the capital of Israel." The U.S. has had ample time to mull that one over only to make an objection to it now--30 years later. " Two points to make.... Point (1): That the Knesset passes a domestic law that claims that "up is down, left is right, and night is day" does not grant to any of those statements the force of international law. It merely shows that the Knesset has taken leave of its senses. Point (2): The USA has *never* accepted the Israeli annexation of *any* part of Jerusalem. Not in 1948. Not in 1949. Not in 1967. Not in 1980. Not now. Not ever.

Funny just how Zionists refer to various international charters etc, when it suits their "claims" but ALL international laws, treaties, charters and resolutions are IGNORED when Israel is required to do anything it would rather NOT! Take a wee look at just what the UN charter and the Balfour Declaration say, the DETAILS, the CONDITIONS, all of which must be adhered to in order that they remain valid. I think you will find that Israel has VOIDED them all! (Watch out for that last step...)

The Palestinians,in the WB, after 1948 had no choice but to be part of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.They had lost 78% of their Palestine to the Jews who established the state of Israel. As for your claim of cleansing jews in 1948, it is both a big lie and a myth that a lot of people around the globe know of it.The only place where jews were cleansed is Europe and you know it. Arabs and Muslims always faired very well with jews through out history and that bis documented and you cannot do anything about it Peter SM. I can proudly tell you and the world that the Palestinians want to live in peace and harmony with jews either in one state for all equally or a one state living side by side with Israel. This is what the great majority of palestinians want Peter SM, now for God sake, could you tell me and the world what it is that Israel want ??? It is the same question that was the title of an article in very this paper few days ago. I hope I,ll get an honest answer from you soon.

If Jews control the Old City, anyone is going to be welcome, as worshipers or tourists. The Jews will even allow the Muslims to keep the infidels away from their Al Aqsa and Dome. If Muslims control the Old City, well, I don't really have to explain it, do I? The whole world has seen that show.

Eli Wiesel was wrong when he said that Jerusalem it's not mentioned in the Quran. Maybe it is not mentioned specifically with it's name, it is mentioned as a site, place. Glory to He (God) Who did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose precincts We did bless (Yusuf Ali's translation).17-1 Sacred Mosque, Mecca Farthest Mosque, Jerusalem And again, The fools among the people will say, "What has turned them (Muslims) from their Qiblah [prayer direction (towards jerusalem)] to which they were used to face in prayer." Say, (O Muhammad ) "To Allâh belong both, east and the west. He guides whom He wills to a Straight Way." (Al-Baqarah 2:142)

after they had ethnic cleansed the Jews out in 1948? Why not tell us what Pals really want.

long before the catchall excuse of "zionists" Thye Hebron pogrom was a result of Islamist lies they did not cry "Zionists" just kill Jews because of some lie about Jews descerating Islam Zionists lobbied the Arabs lobbied whats your problem? "Holocaust guilt" did not extend to Brits killing Jews for a quid.

Free speech? no, more like 1984 controlled by big brother BHO who is watching us.

Israel is the only country that has any claim to any of the land west of the Jordan. We have the San Remo Treaty, Mandate for Palestine and the UN Charter. Now where is there a single legal claim for the Arabs? I bet nobody can produce one. This is our land and the rest of the world can take a long walk off a short pier.

The State Department is NOT taking aim at Lauder or Wiesel's 1st amendment right to express their opinion. The State Department is taking aim at the puppet-master who is pulling their strings in the background. You know, Netanyahu. Come on, guys. If those two fellows had NOT received "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's encouragement" then those ads would NOT have appeared. The phrase "Netanyahu's encouragement" is a dog-whistle, and the State Dept is blowing it to send a message to Bibi that they understand full well that the Israeli PM's office is orchestrating this PR campaign.

The problem is that it is assumed rightly or wrongly that the current Israeli government are actively involved in this campaign against the Obama administration's stance on Jerusalem. Thus these statement reinforce every interested party that the current Israeli government do not want to assist the peace process and would rather it did not restart before the prospect of a viable Palestinian state dissapears under the weight of Illegal settlements.

Jachai, Jerusalem is not a joke and its importance to Muslims and Christians is very real. you always assume that what you beleive is the truth and what the others beleive is no worthy of looking at. Get real.

It's funny how, all of a sudden, Palestinians are "really the ancient Hebrews", while Jews are "Khazars" (never mind this includes the large proportion of Jews from Arab countries, such as me). Suddenly, everybody is a Jew (i.e. Judean) except an actual Jew. Never mind that there is no scientific evidence for that statement (there is a lot against it, such as the population transfers by the Assyrians, Romans, etc.), but a lot of incentive to make it... Another thing: it wouldn't matter that Jerusalem is not in the Quran, except that that is the justification for Palestinian claims (and no, they were not "there first")... As for the "Israelis are Europeans" claim, well, many of their ancestors were being killed in Europe for NOT being European. What a backwards world...

The aid that Israel receives from the USA is 1% of its GDP and can only be used to by US-made weapons; but the current US government is practically anti-Israel. It's time for Israel to sacrifice 1% of GDP for independence in foreign policy, because Israel as a state constantly faces life-and-death decisions that cannot be delegated to another state, no matter what the benefit.

Bad vibes when leftist and assimilted Jews choose the 'be quite' and let the government do what is good for America. This policy encouraged and murdered countless more Jews in WWII. Ceating an Israel from the hammerhead lock of brtain took a lot of ;protests, public demonstrations, articles, etc. to finally get attention and carve out a small state. These are dangerous times and a dangerous inexperienced president is to become the very worst of a Jew's nightmares.

I am Catholic and the Vatican is not my capital. Mecca is not a Muslim's capital. Jerusalem may be the main Jewish religous city (shared with Christianity and Islam). Tel Aviv or West Jerusalem should be Israel's political capital. The problem is that you, like the state of Israel since it's inception, want everything.

At least not until the republicans come to power again, even then there will be a lot of people screaming that the king is naked. The unconditional nature of US's support to Israel has put both US and Israel under more risk because of the increased hatred towards Israel's practices due to the unconditional military and political and material support of Israel despite all inhumane practices by the IDF and the settlements. Now the tide is turning, thanks to internet the knowledge is propagating faster than ever. Israel is a powerful country with a lot of educated people and if it elects one of many decent Israeli politicians instead of fanatics like Bibi and Liebermann, Israel's message of peace will be more believable and Hamas and Hezbollah's fanatic religion-based illogical politics will be exposed rotten for everbody to see.

"1 no american soldiers died fighting for israel. 2 thousands of americans died fighting for iraq.saudi.and kuwait.and afghanistan and pakistan. so america is mad at us why exactly?" America is mainly Christian, that is why. After Christians, the next biggest religious group is Muslims, that is also why. Through history to the present, both Christians and Muslims, comprising most of the world, must say that Jews are wrong in order to say that their faiths are right. Think on this but a wee bit and it becomes clear that simple math odds and influence for mass Jew-hate are enormous, and grow exponentially with time.

Obama promised: "why would he promise the palestinians & arab countries that he will deliver East Jerusalem to the palestinians, return to 1967 borders & freeze building in their own country. " Is that true? If so, great. You seem uneasy, though. Can you kindly offer any alternatives that don't include Palestinians living as non-citizens of any country? Please? Please, also note, that if Israel made a just peace with the Palestinians and Syria (Lebanon obviously follows), I hope you would agree that Iranian influence in the region would be reduced to almost nothing....nadda... Warm regards, cousin.

The U.S. administration would love to see Israel surrender and fold to its dictates. How dare Israel defy U.S. wishes! I hope Israel stands strong and continues to build in all parts of Jerusalem. It is not Israel that has been obstinate-refusing to negotiate. It has frozen settlement construction in Judea/Samaria and taken down roadblocks as peace gestures. Now it's the PA's turn to show it is serious about peace. Wake up, America! Israel is not the problem, you are.

Jerusalem is an internal matter that concern israel only. Making of Jerusalem a public debate with foreign countries will only complicate the problem and will help no one. The final decisions regarding jerusalem must only rest with israel & the others hands up about jerusalem ! Not all what the palestinians wants must have it ! It will all ends in mockery & not in peace or a palestinian state ! Pressure is the enemy of real peace !

Sure I am confused. Should all the cities with mixed population (Belfast, Vilnius, Kishinev, etc) be shared between different countries or just Jerusalem? And if only Jerusalem then why?

So anyone not Jewish can't consider Jerusalem home to them. So what you're saying is that 17 million in the world overrule 3.7 billion? You know you want to bring up the Vatican or Mecca, I'm assuming you're a person who follows the Jewish faith and lived in an Arab country prior to Israel's creation? If so, who in the world gives you the right to claim Jerusalem as your own when a Palestinian Christian or Muslim has been living there for centuries prior to your immigration to Israel? Your view of a divine diety is that of one who is racist against the majority of mankind. That my friend gives you a distorted view of reality.

we all take a very dim view of being blackmailed and being told to shut up and like it. many of us take a very dim view of tyranical tendencies. interference in the internal affairs of foreign states has a very long history in america but it is as resented today as it was in the past, near and far. those who happen to be americans, e.g. elie wiesel, have an absolute right to voice their political and religious opinions. any attempt to present them as having dual loyalties, etc..., smacks of the worst kind of despotism.

"JIM the add was by AMERICANS !!what does your constitution say about that." With the encouragement and blessing of the leader of a FOREIGN POWER! That makes the people who put out the ad agents of a foreign power, and as such, we have every right to call them out on it. What part of that is unclear?

As predicted,here it comes.First discouragement of free speech,then suspension of habeas corpus and imprisonment without trial,then identity cards,then restrictions on the internet.All British New Labour acts and proposals that the USA's first New labour administration has in store for its citizens. Pity that they didn't listen when we tried to warn them that Obama is another Tony Blair. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

"And we REALLY need a vigilant press now with this petty tyrant Chicago thug in office." That "petty Chicago thug" is the most powerful man on Earth. And I, a Chicagoan who will soon be returning to the Windy City, am glad that some New York interloper such as yourself hasn't attained that position.

When I lived in Jerusalem, under the mayoralty of Teddy Kolleck, Jerusalem was a place of coexistence, a cultural mecca. No more. It has been highjacked by gangs of zionist zealots who are trying to push out anyone not like them and deny any other peoples history in this singular city.An interesting observation. Do you notice how desperate and panicky these zionist zealots are in their frantic attempts to judaise the entire city and its radius? How they are constantly making claims here and there? Palestinians have no such need to prove. They have lived there for centuries and that is precisely why the zionist dieharda are doing all in their venal power to blow them out of the city. It wont work.

The Obama administration is exposing Israel's MO. European nations will be ready for Israel's propaganda. Bravo, Obama!

"Whichever the case, all are genetically Hebrews". Right, and whichever the case, Israel is the one Hebrew nation. Jerusalem is its one capital. Not Mecca, as for Muslims, not the Vatican, as for Catholics, but Jerusalem - the Hebrew, Jewish capitol. Known famously as such through 1,100 years of Jewish kingdoms known and throughout history thereafter - and known as such biblically, and not least of all to genetic Hebrews dispersed near and far. There are 57 Muslim-dominated states and even more Christian-dominated states. There is one Jewish state, Israel, which in all its considered borders takes up under a tenth of 1% of the Mideast. Jerusalem is its capitol. So anyone not considering themselves Jewish can simply forget about Jerusalem as their capitol. Does that clarify it for you, "ProPeace"?

USA has no right to dictate a democratic independent country. USA needs israel and vise versa ? buddy - buddy Israel will not worry about criticism or be intimidated from any country. It is time Israel speaks up and rightly defends itself.

You are absolutly right. The problem is that the American government does not have the guts to do that, G-d forbid, they will be regarded as anti-Semitic and the majority of the American public is to ignorant to realize that they are paying for Israel's crimes, yet America still has homless people, hungry people and people who can not afford medical care. The only way America will ever stop supporting Israel is if there will be massive public demonstrations in all USA cities against this support.

All that I get from this and previous comments is blackmail by cutting off US grants to Israel.I dont know how intelligent or educated you are for making such statements all the time. Look into the terror history & unprovoked wars and still threats from Iran & Syria this nation suffered since its birth in 1948 and you have the guts & audacity to speak of blackmail. If Obama is that educated & intelligent, why would he promise the palestinians & arab countries that he will deliver East Jerusalem to the palestinians, return to 1967 borders & freeze building in their own country. Who is he to make such promises?? Let him improve his condition in Iraq, Afganistan, Pakistan & the issue with Iran who is openly laughing at Obama so why go after Israel? Go after the palestinians who is doing nothing on consessions. Enough is enough. Obama hated Bibi since the beginning and is doing his best to get him out of his way so as to fulfill his promise to the arab world & maintain his credibility.

Obama has to pay? What do you mean? How and who is making him pay? The American people who support him? Many Israelis are living in a bygone era just as time has made Jews a minority between the Jordan and the sea, demographics are transforming America, and no one cares or responds anymore to the old tired paradymn of the past. With all of the lies and swindling from the international bankers in wall street, the people are opening their eyes to the true enemy within.

Posted: "... regarding the importance of Jerusalem to Islamic history and the number of times it is mentioned in the Koran..The White House looks a bit silly trying to criticize this statement." Regardless of how many time Jerusalem is mentioned in the Koran, does in no way indicate its importance to the Islamic history or to Islam itself. Eli Wiesel has no right to tell anyone or decide for anyone how important Jerusalem is to any religion. Eli Wiesel being a Jew, needs to come and live in Israel and particularly in Jerusalem, which he seems to regard as very important to the Jewish religion and for the many times Jerusalem is mentioned in the Torah, but he chooses to live in the USA. Eli Wiesel presents himself with his views that he cares so much for Jerusalem, yet he does not even live in the land that his G-d promised his people. What kind of a Jew is he? He is the kind of a Jew that uses the Holocaust as an excuse to justify Israel's crimes and to suit his own views.

You say that Israel is Americas "most major ally" in the Middle East. What do you base this on? What does Israel do for America? America gives Israel military, financial, and political support. What, exactly, does Israel do for America?

and judging by these Comments, Americans need education about facts and Israel above and beyond the prejudices of the liberal left with misplaced symapthies for the undeserving Palestinians and the anti-semetic pulpits of the Methodists, Episcopals, Catholics and Lutherans espousing replacement theology and are threatened by the re-establishment of Israel.

?Jerusalem is our eternal capital and will not be divided? that's what most of civilized approve of. Arabs are to get use to it and live in peace in harmony with the Jews. US has no right to dictate a democrat independent country. Many Israeli Arabs are happy and well off and would not want to see another state. The Israelis are good people and Arabs should coexist with them in Salom/Salam!

Obama is getting nervous. He has to pay for his lies.

first off, informed one, Israel is NOT an Ally. (look up the definition). Secondly, Israel is a "dependent" (look up the definition). Don't worry, you are not laughing alone at the money the US taxpayers have spent, and will continue to spend on those that feel "they deserve to be dependents". That is typical of recipients of US hard working taxpers' money. It only amounts to $1000 per Isreali!! Amd I am sure your benevelolent government distributed equally to you and every women and child in your country (except the arab citizens). Advice; keep laughing at the money the US taxpayers will spend to keep your sorry,greedy butt afloat!!!

what would happen if the enemy swallows up all our concessions and gifts and looks blankly at us for more gifts? we are told "leave the west bank and the golan and all would be well" our experience tells us otherwise.suppose we are right and there is no peace on offer.just a step by step denuding of israel's power.what then?

are reoeating Begin's strategy that followed the Camp David agreement. Begin renged on the promise to disucss Palestinian statehood. This resulted in the criticism from President Carter. Begin indirectly and his supporters directly accused Carter of being antisemitic for criticizing Israel. Carter tried to defend himself - which resulted in the visious circle of accusations and self-defense. The problem of the current Israeli government and its supporters is that Obama is not faliing into this trap.

Michael: get out the history books. What percentage of the population did the Bolsheviks constitute when they took over Russia? Was it as much as 3%? Or less? As for Britain fighting the Taliban (half-heartedly), Britain is transiting from one master to another, from the U.S. to the looming caliphate. Wake up! "This is in spite of the fact that they`re only about 3 per cent of the population and we`re fighting the Taleban."

that things have changed in america.indyk himself was put through the ringer by accusations of spying for israel. indeed things have changed.a quick look through the quality newspapers in america would show that. the letter pages are the worst. there is no subtelety involved.it is sledgehammer tactics.

america slamming jews.they want to keep the jews quiet just as they did when they picked on two innocent aipac staff and accused them of spying. then it was the fbi and now the white house.

the consequences... Israel is no puppet and won't take shit from anyone including the US. Lets see the US position when it loses its most major ally in the Middle East. Now you really say Goodbye to the peace process. I can only laugh on the money the US will really loose in the end.

I think #10 pretty much hit the nail squarely on the head. If Obama had the chutzpah, and as such, sporting a solid pair of containment vessels of his progeny, he would threaten to withhold $1 million dollars of the $4 Billion in aid to "peace loving Israel". Are you kidding me (or the world)???? Ever see hungry rats scambling over food?? Eating themselves???

1 no american soldiers died fighting for israel. 2 thousands of americans died fighting for iraq.saudi.and kuwait.and afghanistan and pakistan. so america is mad at us why exactly?

Jerusalem is not to be divided. Scriptures state that whom ever is involved in piecing away Jerusalem they shall be cut into pieces! God is true to HIS WORD! Jerusalem belongs to the Jews. When Jesus Christ returns he will set up his thrown in the City of David, Jerusalem. The US will have the wrath of God upon them if they keep going down this road of trying to divide Jerusalem!

There is so much rotten in the settlers USA then one wonders where do these officials have the time to talk about Jerusalem. By the way the is only Jerusalem (not Jerusalem East) but there is Washington East (where Hamas will rule) and Washington North (with Fatah Arabs), Washington South (with Indian rules) and Washington West (with the Afro-American ruling): the white settlers are sent "home".

What is this story without names, just haaretz incitement or Israeli hating members of Obama's staff speaking their truth. This is another example of why haaretz is not trusted as a honest source of information.

"Denying that Jerusalem is the rightful capital of the Jewish state and promoting the Arabs` bogus claim to the city as their capital is a very good way to begin currying favor with America`s future overlords." If you're a Brit and you're critical of Israel, you often get Zionists shouting that the UK is being taken over Muslims. This is in spite of the fact that they're only about 3 per cent of the population and we're fighting the Taleban. Now, that the US is growing more sceptical about Israel, it was only a matter of time before the usual suspects started shouting that the US is only criticising Israel because Muslims are taking over there. Others may have done it before, but here's the first example I've seen. More to come, no doubt. Keep up the good work Utagawa. You'll just irritate Americans and drive them further away, thus bringing the day when the US pushes Israel out the West Bank ever closer.

Sir, We are in general agreement in regard of ancient texts. Nevertheless, `lying scribes`and Jeremiah were Jews in Jerusalem. Indeed Torah - irrespective of "publication" date - deals with Promised Land in its entirety in the most general sense while other text deal with other subjects including Jerusalem. The glaring omission of Jerusalem in Koran - the only document - however unoriginal - holy to the Mohammad followers is revealing. I suggest you

I recently read that Hamas in Gaza threw its Fatah enemies off the roofs of buildings. I also recently read that the P.A. had named an important street after the "Engineer", responsible for the mass murder of innocent mothers and children in buses and restaurants. What do you have against the people of Jerusalem that you would like to see them ruled by these jackals? "I recently read 30,000 Argentine people were killed or disappeared under a recent regime. What do you have against the people of the Falklands that you want to turn them over to such a country? Please reply (unless you are too embarrassed)."

"Nobody kills more civilians than Israel." I believe this dubious distinction goes to your own country by a huge margin over Israel. Think Hiroshima. Think Vietnam. Think Iraq. Think Afghanistan. Think Nicaragua. And think before you spout off your hypocritical nonsense.

Who in the administration is seeking to deprive US Jews of their right to free speech?

use that same book they themselves wrote as a point of reference to claim land. Akin to me writing a holy book then referencing that same book as PROOF that NYC belongs to ME! :) ha ha too funny if it weren't really happening!

Can I assume your comments to the moderator apply to all the anti Muslim anti Arab venom spewed about routinely by the Israel Supporting crowd? You appear quiet on this topic, which would render your comments inconsistent, and possibly even hypocritical.

... matter of Fact, not Faith. It was what the original Koran said, not what the subsequent "interpreters" think it should have said.

That is the conclusion of the article. A government is supposed to have a plan and some internal coordination, but this is not the case. The government is in disintegration. Maybe Labour and Kadima can do a difference?

The presumption by objective people is, of course, would result in an independent Palestinian State having friendly, warm relations with the modern state of Israel and the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan. Certainly, some type of confederation is possible, though not likely, notwithstanding all the Jordan=Palestine lingo fashionable once again in pro-Israel circles. You might have missed the point, though. Without Jerusalem, the West Bank is cut in two. It takes about 2 hours now to get from Ramallah to Bethlehem if you aren't permitted to go thru Jerusalem or its eastern Jewish Only settlements. Simply not practical.

for the U.S. to take its rightful place as the leader of the 3rd world underdeveloped nations. It's time to realign alliances, throw out tried and true allies, and make muslim aspirations America's aspirations too. At least that way, when islam takes over the U.S., Americans can hope to be spared the worst atrocities by pleading that they gave up on their basic principles and beliefs in the hopes of getting better treatment from their new masters. Denying that Jerusalem is the rightful capital of the Jewish state and promoting the Arabs' bogus claim to the city as their capital is a very good way to begin currying favor with America's future overlords.

Americans take a VERY dim view of foreign nations playing politics here.

"Torah was dealing with the places and events related to the times before entering the Promised Land." Yet it was almost certainly compiled hundreds of years after those events [documentary hypothesis]-yet still no mention of Jerusalem. The Torah is of course meant to be the direct word of god, the rest of the Tanach you refer to is written even later than Torah and is the work of scribes-some of them 'lying scribes' [according to Jeremiah].

Accusations of disloyalty toward American supporters of Israel should have no place on Haaretz Talkback or anywhere else; even Walt and Mearsheimer, the leading critics of the Israel Lobby in the U.S., call it an "anti-Semitic canard." Disagreement about Israel and other issues is what I hope Haaretz Talkback is about; that is different from accusations of disloyalty from people who inhabit the gutter of bigotry. That it is routinely tolerated by you on Haaretz Talkback is astonishing (please show me an American newspaper that regularly publishes this type of thing). WOULD IT BE TOO MUCH TO ASK, then, that you at least publish all of my responses to such accusations on Haaretz Talkback when, for whatever reasons, you find it necessary to publish their bigoted rot, such as my response to #119 by "Observant American," which has not been posted? Thank you so much.

How about most bible scholars doubt Moses ever existed or Abraham or Jacob so what value the so called covenants made with these gentlemen in the Jewish Torah upon which much of Christianity and Islam is based. All a lot of nonsense perhaps? Regardless what you the scholar of Islam says Islamic theologians maintain that the farthest mosque is indeed 'Jerusalem' and that is what Sura 17 refers to. Much the same as orthodox Jewry maintains that Moses did indeed receive the Torah at Mt Sinai and Christians that Jesus really was risen three days post nailing on cross. All fintly ridiculous but you don't rewrite other peoples faiths without questioning the other Abrahamic faiths[or your own] Mr Cherry Picker.

Israeli Basic Law (7/30/80)(in part): "1. Jerusalem united in its entirety is the capital of Israel." The U.S. has had ample time to mull that one over only to make an objection to it now--30 years later. If the current U.S. government is not going to back one of our closet allies against the onslaughts of the Islamo-fascist terrorists and defy the opinion of the vast majority of Americans, then maybe Israel should look towards India and China for better allies.

You got that right. The west bank can not survive as is, so do what is smart and join Jordan like it should have before 1967. Gaza is another story that has no answer as long as it is ruled by Hamas and its jihadist partners..

When the first advert came out I recall posting that Pres Obama advertising an anti Israeli position through a proxy in the Jerusalem Post would rightly not be received well by the Israeli Government. Not hard to work out really. That the adverts are so clearly rubbish in some ways makes them less damaging, but still no surprise that the US has lost patience yet again.

Stephen, You have the setting all wrong. The US isn't in this fight at all we are acting as the boxing commission. If you want the fight sanctioned then it has to be conducted according to our rules. You are always free to take your fight outside of the commission. President Karzai of Afghanistan is considering taking his fight outside of the sanctioning body but then he complains if we don't lend our assistance. I am sure that you would be happy to lose both the US interference and its assistance. They are not separable entities. There are always "strings attached." Peace. Stephen

Every stupid ad, every stupid post on sites such as Haaretz, deepens the divide between the US and Israel and brings the day closer when Israel has to leave the West Bank and let the Pals be free.

"now it is up to israel to decide the status of jerusalem" no it's not up to Israel

If you ask me what I would have done the naswer is fight anybody that gets close to me. But the issue is not personal. The issue is that whatever the palestinians could have thought, they had no sovereignty in that territory.That means no rights to accept or expel anybody. From the legal point of view they had no HOUSE, therefore their house was not splitted. Every country in the Middle East was created by empires and a palestinian state would have been created in more and less similar way. I undertsand why they are mad. However, blame should be put on Hadj Amin el Husseini and the group of thughs who were convinced that the land was theirs,but it was not.

amay we bang on Israel or do you have another trick in your bag . Anti semitism I guess. Look psm---Israel has no interest in peace. It never has had and it never will until it is stuffed down your zionist throats. I hope you choke on it. That would be a fitting end to a life spent supporting land theft and oppression.

It's not about free speech. It's about the lies. Weasel claims "Arabs" are free to build anywhere in Jerusalem.

when jerusalem was under arab occuPation ,no jew haD access in the old city. now at least all people are free to pray there as long as they respect the spiritual believes of others and that Jerusaelem was ,is and will always be jewish ,as Mecca was is and always be MUSLIM.

I am sorry that "U.S officials" have a problem with an undivided Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish state. They will have to get over it! Bravo to Minister Lieberman and to Bibi Netanyahu for making the unapologetic comments that they made. Let us pray that Israel will continue to stand firm.

What would have been an interesting story fell flat because you were unable to identify a single so-called "senior American official" to substantiate your report. Not one. Why should we believe you? JR

After reading some of these stupid remarks like those of Fritz the Nazi and Yaakov the Irishman, I find that the future of Jerusalem will be determined by only one fact. History tells us that possession of territory is determined by who governs that land and since Israel is the sole government in Jerusalem and will not relinguish this right, then that is the way it will be.

So here they are crawling out of the woodwork to justify the absurd. Consider Josefa's points: 1) "Arab population in Israel has been increasing". How dare they? Stop them, they might change the religious balance of Jerusalem (which is a privilege of ours). And between mass killings or sterilisation, refusing building permits so they live ten to a room is positively humane. 2) Our holy book is holier than yours - and it shows that we lived here 2000 years ago. So get out. 3) Sorry? In the name of the defence of free speech, you're telling me I can't say somebody's remarks were unwise? So what does "free speech" mean please?

Jerusalem should be shared with the future state of Palestine simply because thousands of Palestinians live there, millions of Palestinians live nearyby, and the city is symbol of the Christian and Muslim faiths as well as an economic jewel to both peoples. It's not that complicated. Furthermore, study the map. If Jerusalem is not shared, the West Bank would essentially be cut in two. No viability for a future state of Palestine without access to Jerusalem. It is that simple.

I don't really understand you Pete. You seem to veer between rational argument and insults. Arab attacks on Jewish settlers and immigrants only started after the Zionist dream of taking the area became obvious. And the UN partition resolution was only passed after huge pressure from Zionist organisations, as President Truman made clear. Think that would have succeeded without the Holocaust? As to trading over colonialism, you insisted, and frankly if you scorn the British Empire and its colonies so much, what you doing in Australia? Seriously, man. You can't have your cake and spit on it. Well you can, but it's not very nice! Are you bitter because you can see even the US is now turning against Israel's extremist government and you can't find convincing arguments any longer? Is that it?

... does not mention Jerusalem or Al Aqsa. Just "the farthest place of prostration". There are modern notes attached to translations in an attempt to elevate the link. Al Aqsa was not even built until 100 years after the death of Muhammad. Muslim scholars have tried valiantly to patch this over, but always run up against lowly logic.

"...perceived as having some "foreign" loyalties. This is the SAME rhetoric used against Japanese Americans in WWII..." A person can only be judged on their actions. The Japanese Americans didn't display disloyalty to the US, and yet were punished for assumed disloyalty. That is manifestly unjust. Messrs Wiesel and Landau, on the other hand, actively connive with the leader of a foreign nation to undermine the declared policy of our democratically elected president. Furthermore, this foreign leader has made no secret of his desire to turn the president into a lame duck, thereby trampling all over the wishes of the US electorate. So you tell me: to which country do these guys demonstrate allegiance, the US or Israel?

Israel is our country period. obama should quit kissing the ass..s of the muslims and trying to sell out the Jews. His and Clintons remarks about the bond with Israel is unbreakable is complete BS and as usual ,they are both the biggest liars in the history of the US government. Impeach the fraud now !! He is incompetent and a radical fascist socialist. Get him out of office NOW!!!!

Who we are? Your protector. Not to mention a super-power that has invested in you for 60+ years! Grow up, already.

1)arab population in israel has been increasing not decreasing, and they have been building a lot without permits, i.e. for themselves individually without contributing to the public weal. 2)in a discussion about national repatriation versus nationalization of vagabon tribes, historical texts are relevent. 3)free speech is never called "unwise" unless it is being curtailed.

When you comment about last names such as Wiesel and Lieberman not belonging to the original Jews, you show ignorance. These names were imposed on Jews by Chrisitan rulers. What we use in our temples and synagogues are our true Hebrew names, for example: Yakob Ben Aaron ben Yehudah ben Ytsak. And some of us can trace our ancestry back over 900 years to the expulsion from Spain (I can, with documents as well). So what is your point?

There are trotted out in full force, their rhetorical guns blazing. They set it up as an all or nothing game. Jerusalem is to them, they claim, as it is no no one else. They define the terms and exclude other voices from being heard. The trot out the Bible as a defense, but a defense of what? That Jersalem is central to Jewish history and religion? Partly. But what they really are doing is killing any discussion on what living in contmporary Jerusalem means for its non-Jews residents, whose links and love of the city are also stronger than this gang wants to be know. Notice Weisel's comments on how Jerusalem should be put off as a topic of negotiation. What he doesnt say is how the gang believes Israel should continue on its campaign of dispossession and expansionism. He could care less about the question of "the other". They will be proven wrong by history. The voices they are trying to deny are also strong and will not be silent as the dominant groups seeks to deny their history in J

Your sovereign country gained to be settled thank to international decision. Now it is behaving as an international outlaw. That's it. You can also check at what extend weither the 1947 resolution was wrong or right.

Jews who support Israel

Jews who support Israel

Arab revolts all killing many defenceless Jews in Palestine. Parition followed on from the Balfour declaration and British leaving.The Holocaust had nothing to do with it.Those that Arabs could strong arm voted against.The Communists voted for because they thought they would have another fraternal state in the M.E. If you were an Arab you would have got well over 80% of the British mandate. If you only wanted your own state on the WB Gaza and part of Jerusalem,it was ready to be created after it was ethnically cleansed of Jews by the Arab armies and their British mercenaries. PS dont horse trade with me about YOUR colonialist occupation,its just too silly.

Jerusalem is not even a Hebrew name.

Sir, Torah was dealing with the places and events related to the times before entering the Promised Land. Later parts of Tanah relate numerous times to Jerusalem. Koran - the remix of the original Jewish texts - should have mentioned the contemporaneous Jewish city of Jerusalem - and it did not.

Barak Hussein Obama was elected by your votes! We told you that this guy is dangerous, haven't we? And this is only the beginning!

You're so insistent that we leave the Falklands, thought, I'd better look into it. Turns out that Argentina did control the islands for 5 years from 1828-1832, even though loads of other nations including France, Britain and Spain had controlled them prior to that. Then in 1833, the Brits took over, while allowing the Argentinian settlers to stay and one of them become governor, and it's been British ever since. So if you're insisting on 1832 borders for the Falklands, would you like Israel to have its 1832 borders back as well? I imagine you'd want to be consistent - treat Israel just like any other country, as you always demand. Hamas would be delighted, but I can see a few problems from Israel's point of view.

Israeli politicians creating this amount of fuss would have caused the administration in Washington of whatever political hue to back off, as the Jewish block vote in the United States wielded great influence over any election. However General Patreaus and the former American Ambassador have both been unleashed directly linking the deaths of American servicemen with Israeli policies in Palestine. If this gains traction, you will have American poiticians queuing up to criticise Israel, each trying to out do the other in their condemnation. The American public will not tolerate dead American soldiers on the alter of Israel's illegal occupation. Netanyahu is gambling big on a hand that he does not even possess because he knows that the name on the door of the PMO is dependent on it, and he has just had a nameplate made out of Gold and rubies.

You claim nobody can war with God (and, by implication, Israel) and win. Please clarify for me how this fits in with your understanding of the history of years 70 and 135.

Of course, because you belong to a long tradition of reactionary pseudo patriotism, which attacks other Americans as disloyal and less American than thou because they are perceived as having some "foreign" loyalties. This is the SAME rhetoric used against Japanese Americans in WWII, which got them interned in camps (see American Inquisition: The Hunt for Japanese American Disloyalty in World War II, by Eric C. Miller: "Sadly, conditions appear to be ripening for new presumptions of disloyalty." p. 47).

I recently read 30,000 Argentine people were killed or disappeared under a recent regime. What do you have against the people of the Falklands that you want to turn them over to such a country? Please reply (unless you are too embarrassed).

Candidates for the "absurdity of the year": 1) A Nobel Peace Prize winner praising a policy of gross religious discrimination, squeezing out non-Jewish Palestinians from their homes? 2) The idea that mention in religious books has any bearing on where modern State boundaries should be? 3) The idea of the talkbackers here that free speech applies to everyone except American officials saying that Israeli-government-sponsored ads are not wise?

wiesel doesn't even believe in the scriptors. god is not in the real estate business . its only a matter of time before the arabs rid themselves of the zionists. welcome back hebrews.

and you nor any one else can war w/ G-d and win. That's why Israel wins over all of her enemies all of the time.

Obviously if you're supporting an obscure Argentinian claim to the Falklands based on a prison they built there back in 1820, then you'll probably want to go back to the 1947 borders which were arguably israel's original borders. I don't think Israel will be very happy with your plan, though, Pete, and persinally I think Israel should have its pre-1967 borders, but if you want to go trawling back through time and if it keeps you happy, 1947 it is.

Suppose Al Quds is Jerusalem. So what? Why it should belong to Palestinians and not Pakistanis (they are also Muslims)? And why mention in Koran should determine whom the city suppose to belong? Should Betlehem belong to Vatican or city of Ur (in Iraq) to Israel? (that is where Abraham was born according to Bible).

When, in the first world war, the Arab army set out to liberate Arab lands from the Turks, their stated aim was to liberate Damascus and not Jerusalem. When, in 1948, the Arabs occupied East Jerusalem they ruled it from Amman and not from Jerusalem. Ever since the Jews were expelled from Jerusalem by the Romans until they returned in 1967, only the Christian Crusaders and the British (briefly, from 1917 to 1947) maintained Jerusalem as their capital.

Put yourself in the place of a Palestinian Arab in 1947, maybe in Jaffa. Your family have lived there for hundreds and hundreds of years. It's been a Muslim land with a Muslim people and Muslim rulers for hundreds and hundreds of years. There has been a small Jewish minority and everyone's got along fine, exceot when the Crusaders slaughtered both Muslims and Jews. Then in the 19th century, European Jews start immigrating and buying up land. At first, no problem. Then slowly the Arabs realise that these people aren't coming to join in the existing society in Palestine. They want to replace it with a European and Jewish political enitity. Slowly, more and more European Jews arrive, conflict grows and then suddenly in 1947, the UN, feeling guilty about the Holocaust, decides it's going to give half of Palestine to the new immigrants, including your home in Jaffa. Are you going to sign up to that, say 'oh well, at least we still have half our homeland left' or are you going to refuse?

The point, DZ, is that when it comes to a conflict between US and Israeli interests, Wiesel et al display their true loyalty. The issue here is not about freedom of speech, because I don't dispute Wiesel's right to say what he wants to say. However, I am within my rights to draw conclusions about him, based on words that he says or writes.

Inciting, Stealing, Hubris, Shameful, Hypocrite, Freedom of Speech means you can voice your opinion, but you can't yell out fire in a movie theater. Who are you kidding? God? Stand Up and draw that line. I dare you.

Dont forget to pay compensation. Then you can" bang on" to others.

You are not agaisnt occupation. Palestinians are not (only) against occupation. If the problem would be just occupation, it would have been resolved. The raison d'etre of Palestinian terrorism is to repair a tremendous unjustice commited to pals, according to the Palestinian mind. It has nothing to be with pragmatism. Zionist fighteres wanted just a free country, even minimal ( that's why they accepted partition). Palestinians even moderates cannot accept the legitimacy of a jewish state. Zionist prgamtaic fighters ( but Irgun and Shterns which were a minority) accepted the right of palestinians to self determination that palestinians themselves rejected while launching a criminal war against Israel.

sure to generate civillian casualties.Your brother's choice. Ten thousand missiles at Israel did not cause the massive casualties that they were aiming for. Is that to your credit or that of Israeli civil defense.? "The Yahuds did this the Yahuds did that"??Hey but you are the religion of Peace,the beloved of Allah remember? Complete with an Islamist charter calling for genocide.

I was not on Saddams side. I am not on Assads side or Nasrallahs side or Meshals side. I am against the occupation and I am against the killing of civilians. Nobody kills more civilians than Israel. I recognize the motives of the militants arrayed against Israel. Jews had similar motives in the late 1940's and they used the same methods to achieve their goals. Israel used terrorism as a tool and it was very successful. Considering this, you cannot blame various Arab militants for following Israels example. Israeli right wingers really need to come to grips with Israels history. This will allow them to understand current events much better.

about that. You are on an Israeli website mouthing off at Israel. Try it with Arabs

We've all got to grow up one day and realise that there's more to the world than our own emotions. Only children think their emotions are the most important in the world and nobody else's count. Weisel should be old enough to realise that by now. If I thought you cared even a tiny bit about the Falklands/Malvinas I would discuss it. But it's like all the Zionists banging on about Darfur on here. I bet they don't care much about that either. It's just another weapon to beat Israel's enemies.

Free speech, under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and First Amendment cases decided by the U.S. Supreme Court and lower federal courts (it's called First Amendment law) has, in fact, everything to do with the right of Americans to express their views on controversial political issues and even, gasp, to express views that may be unpopular or offend the sensibilities of other Americans who claim to be more patriotic and loyal than those expressing the views with which they disagree or even, gasp, to express views that differ from those of the President of the United States.

I know that Israel has no constitution (why is another story). But what gives Israel freedom of speech?

Fair enough, Zoe. We all have different levels of identity. There's nothing wrong with that. The trouble is all nations have complex patterns of claims and emotions and affections. There's nothing wrong with that. What is wrong is claiming, as Weisel does that somehow our claims and emotions and affections are uniquely strong and must be given priority over those of others. You love Jerusalem. The Pals love Jerusalem. Even I love Jerusalem a bit! But I certainly wouldn't claim that my affections and claims are anything like as strong as those of Jews and Pals. We all need to think of others a bit more.

No excuses just get out forget the stalling and pay compensation for the hundreds of young Argentinians killed and stop stealing their resources?

hundreds of thousands of troops parked in the region and america sees no way out.in rage and frustration america lashes out at us but we are not the enemy.we are only the easiest target. america go home and sort your own troubles out.we are not the cause of your problems.we only live among your enemy.they are our neighbours.

A peace prize winner advocating violence?

when the US was fighting his invasion of the Gulf. Maybe more aid instead for your brothers to steal.?

endless hatesites in the US do not attract this administrations attention.

Set aside the relative merits of the arguments. When invited into a man's house one behaves with respect. At an affair given by Peres Lieberman had a social obligation to make nice. His differences could be aired in numerous other forums. This schmuck is Israel's face to the world. Think about it.

Yes RB, "All these advertaisements are not a wise move." IS A THREAT. Don't forget that Obama sat in the pews of a church listening to his spiritual mentor rage against "Jews" for 20+ years. And 3 out of 4 self loathing Jews voted HIMSELF into office. Today on Drudge Report, and Big Journalism, you can see a Capitol Policeman coraling a herd of Journalist sheep away from a demonstration the Obama administration didn't want the people to see. The American Press are sheep. No courage to stand up for rights of a free press, or free speech. And we REALLY need a vigilant press now with this petty tyrant Chicago thug in office.

because Al-Quds (Jerusalem) is the Arabic word for Yeruahalayim (Jerusalem), which is Hebrew . You're not gonna find "Jerusalem" (apparently they're looking for Yerushalayim) in the Qur'an because the Qur'an is in Arabic. How stupid are these people?!?!?! You're not gonna find "Adonai" either, because you'll find "Allah". You won't find Yesh'ua (Jesus) because you will find Issa (Jesus). The depths of deception of these people will sink to! Besides, even if it wasn't mentioned in Qur'an, it is not Muslims claiming a right to Palestine (Yisra'el, Israel) including Al-Quds (Yerushalayim, Jerusalem), it is Palestinians, who may be Muslim, Christian, etc... Stop inserting religion into it. It's complex enough.

Or is this merely a sort of Zionist equivalent of Taqiyya? Firstly, he deceives by manipulation. Jerusalem may be mentioned 600 times in scripture, yet is never one mentioned specifically in Torah, the very heart and basis of Jewish scripture. Secondly, whilst some maintain there are one or two references to Jerusalem in Torah though it is not referred to as 'Jerusalem', Islamic orthodoxy has long maintained that the Quran does indeed refer to Jerusalem in it's verses which include either unambiguous references to Jerusalem or more debatable ones as well as many direct references in the hadiths, written much later than the Quran, as indeed much of Jewish scripture is of a later date than the Torah. I prefer to think of Wiesel as manipulating the case for Israel on Jerusalem rather than outright lying. Economy of truth in order to satisfy what he believes is a just end. [Taqiyya]!

The day the US cuts aid to Israel will be its downfall! Israel has the right to have Jeruselem as its Capital. It belongs to no other nation. Israel needs to stand upright and stop worrying what anyone else thinks. The Jews have been pushed around for long enough by the over intellectual sanctamonious controlling forces of the world. Stop it now. Jeruselem belongs to Israel full stop. Not hell or high water is going to change it now. So foget it US and get on with peace making - start in Afghanistan by not blowing up weddings. Send just 6 special forces and take out Osama and then get out. I see you left the poppy fields so they can kill your children while funding their war and probably half the terroists you claim to be fighting. US is always running scared and when it does a lot of people get killed. We love you but you need to mature and do what is right. You can afford to your strong, remember?

in fact i grew up with to cities in my heart. salonica the city i was born and my spititual city jerusalem where my gradmother was born. i love my country greece but in the same time i love and support israel, because all jews are my family! It is a feeling that nobody can understand unless you are a jew. by the way greeks have constandinopolis in their hearts.

I was born in Jerusalem, I can prove for sure that my ancestors lived in the city for at least the past 400 years. Yet, Israel treats me as a resident not a citizen. As a matter of fact, I was threatened many times of losing my residency and my right to see my family any time I wish to visit because I work abroad. Yet, Lieberman who was born in the Soviet Union and cannot show us any single physical evidence that has ancestors lived in the city has the right to live in the city. Yet, any new immigrant from the Soviet Union or Ethiopia who looks like any Russian or Ethiopian and who culturally does not belong to the Middle East has the right to live in the city. The fact I will keep repeating and I will take with me to the grave """ NO JUSTICE NO PEACE"" It is my right and the right of every Palestinian to live in Palestine and no one on earth can change this period, not even god himself!!!!!!!!! Peace, Salam to all of you!!

the first shows obama standing with netenyahu finger pointing and grim faced. the second shows obama bowing deeply to king abdullah of saud arabia. that sums up the obama israel situation.

Wiesel and Lauder's ads have nothing to do with free speech, and everything to do with undermining the US president in his efforts to safeguard US interests. These guys are American by name, Israeli by loyalty.

from kissinger's memoirs: "a subservient client would soon face an accumulation of ever growing pressures.it would tempt israel's neighbours to escalate their demands."

Here is it as clear as day. Leftist, Peres 'peace fantasy' politics has confused the world so much, that when they hear reality, they are shocked. We have much work to present the world the true issues about the Middle East, who and what the Arabs are like, and why the Independence war has lasted 62 years.

the demands would escalate exponentially.let us ask america the following question: "we are a sovereign nation.by what right do you interfere in the democratic will of the israeli people"

"we grew up with jerusalem in our hearts.for centuries the international community tried to deprive us from access to our capital.now it is up to israel to decide the status of jerusalem. Zoe, Athens, Greece." Look Zoe, you live in a perfectly nice EU country that gives you full rights as a citizen. You've got a lovely capital city Athens, which is, in many ways nicer than Jerusalem, and frankly in its history has done more good for the world. An Arab whose family has lived in the area for millennia has more right to E. Jerusalem than you do.

Huh? The US State Department has approves ads now? What do they care about some private guy's opinion of what should be done with Jerusalem? Foggy Bottom is clutching at straws. Just decide and implement US foreign policy thank you very much.

If you want to talk about who deserves what and what holy book has X amount of the word Jerusalem in it, maybe you should ask yourself who your actually taking Jerusalem away from and giving to. We are not living in 2000 BC, Jews of that time's Descendants are not Jewish anymore, they are Muslim and Christian, get over it and stop bullshitting yourself that Brown people deserve anything less than you because their not wearing a yamaka.

just the rebellious minion against the benefactor... and in any case a horseshoe-in-the-glove could just as well be Wiesel or Lauderman... a poetical rendering does not beautify this lowly tale...

I guess you haven't yet read the US 1st Amendment. Obama has the same right to free speech as anybody else. Are you certain you want to have the debate with the President of the United States and the bully pulpit he commands? Can Netanyahu command an audience of 150 million if he requests US airtime? Obama has been extraordinary nice and polite both to Netanyahu and his US Likud supporters. He has not yet even given a single speech to the US on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile Netanyahu and his supporters continue to demonize Obama and his policies. Obama does not have to just sit and take it. Even Obama has limits beyond which he won't be pushed. The opposition party thought he'd just roll over and play dead on health care. He didn't; they lost. They think he'll roll over and play dead on financial reform; he isn't, they are finding out. Do not misconstrue Obama's patience for lack of resolve.

Just who are these unnamed "administration officials" who have the temerity to criticize opposing voices? Are these the same officials who accuse Dennis Ross of "dual loyalty" for raising the issue of what is politically possible for Israel to accept? Assuming Haaretz writers aren't simply making this up, these are Obama's minions who are leaking these sentiments. He needs to disavow them or he will be held responsible for them. Yes, we know he's in the past found the Constitution problematic, an obstacle before his grand designs. But the American people will fight to protect it.

Unhelpful is an equally valid opinion and US administrative officials have just as much right to express it as anyone else. It is also true; this expensive advertising campaign is unhelpful; it is obviously unhelpful to any serious peace process and it equally unhelpful to its perpetrators since it appears mildly silly and will not impress anyone not already on board; indeed may even do the opposite.

that intelligence and a Nobel Prize don't necessarily go along.

pk: "doesn`t the first amendment allow for advertising or printing such thing? " Indeed it does, so if the State Department complains about these ads then one really should suspect that there is something deeper to this. The clue is here: "with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's encouragement" Get it? The State Department is convinced that these ads are not the work of "concerned US citizens", but the work of US citizens who are acting as agents of a foreign government. The State Dept knows all about the uses and abuses of "shills", and it knows that it is looking at two of them right now, and both are plying their trade on Bibi's Behalf. That State Dept message to "lay off" isn't directed at Lauder or Wiesel; it's directed at Netanyahu.

Extremists will be the end of Israel. It's time all peace-seeking, moderate Israelis rise up against far right wingers and settlers who destroy both the image and the future of the country. It's not worth endangering Israel for the sake of a handful of settlers who want to live in the Arab neighborhoods of Sheikh Jarrah or Silwan.

"Lieberman, who took the podium immediately after Peres, made diametrically opposed statements in his speech" So on which side is no partner for peace when there is no Israeli policy, but policies?

"a horseshoe has been found in the US glove" yes, indeed.

If Jewish fanatics like Ed Koch, Ronald Lauder, Abe Foxman or Malcolm Hoenlein would have their way (Elie Wiesel has at least a good excuse for his rather strange views), not only would the days of a mainly Jewish Israel be numbered, but also the Diaspora worldwide would find itself in a very dangerous situation in a very short time. When will liberal Jews (and the more reasonable ones among the mainstream) especially in the U.S. finally stand up, and confront the so called "Jewish establishment" there, which continues to give Israel, the Jewish people and the Jewish religion in general a bad name in the world...???

And clearly an attempt to undermine U.S. foreign policy.

Who cares about how many times it is in any ancient book? There are thousands of Arab people in Jerusalem and you are planning to throw them away? Now-a-days Nobel Prize became a joke.

Jerusalem is NOT mentiones in the Koran, the Sora al isra mentions a travel to the "the farthest Mosque", nohng more nothing else. You can see in it what ever you want but JERUSALEM as such is NOt mentiones.

And there was Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem at that time ? No Muslim have ever lived there until it was conquered! Jerusalem is holy to Muslims, because it is holy for Jews and Christians whose prophets are also considered Muslims according to Islam.

doesn't the first amendment allow for advertising or printing such thing?

we grew up with jerusalem in our hearts. for centuries the international community tried to deprive us from access to our capital. now it is up to israel to decide the status of jerusalem.

EW: "it is mentioned more than 600 times in Scripture - and not a single time in the Koran." Elie, matey, int'l law does not make much of a distinction based on dusty old religous tomes. Nor, of course, does it give much credence to the idea that acts that are prohibited under int'l law (in this case, "conquest" and "annexation") become perfectly legal if/when you can point to Scripture. After all, int'l law absolutely prohibits "genocide", and I certainly would never suggest that this law must make a special exception for the killing of Jews by Muslims merely because the Koran exhorts its followers to kill Jews. The argument that "It's in the Koran, and the Koran is a holy book, so it must be A-OK" is not likely to carry much weight.... Nor is your argument that the number of mentions in Scripture "proves" that Israel has the "right" to annex East Jerusalem.

"... regarding the importance of Jerusalem to Islamic history and the number of times it is mentioned in the Koran. The White House looks a bit silly trying to criticize this statement." You look a lot silly even trying to pass off the majority of what he said as fact. He lies and you swear to it willingly. Thats just pitiful. Im sure that what the Administration said was more diplomatic than just laughing in his face outright, which is what he deserved for the lies and deception a supposed man of Peace was trying to pass off as truth. Our state department is well informed of the goings on in Israel and the OPT. You forget that , yes there are people who are tax-paying Palestinian-Americans and regardless of the way you have been taught to think of them, they are human just like Jews here and entitled to voice their complaints to the state dept. which are checked into. Catholic priests and nuns spat on, garbage thrown into churches, Christian HR workers abused. Your gig is up.

Obvious some jews, politicians, included do not know history or books of revelation. Chapter 17 sura al-isra, al-aqsa is mentioned mentioned.....wonder where al-aqsa is hmmmmmm. In Washington D.C. Some Jews (not all) can't even get this right. Know history before you make comment as this just proves your ignorance.

... they are not like innocently standing on a box in the market-place and shouting-to-high-heaven what you want... or participating in a talkback of a newspaper...they are clearly dependant on the status of the one who is making these declarations...

..."that appeared in the U.S. press with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's encouragement." That, surely, changes the role of both Ronald Lauder and Elie Wieseal from "private citizens expressing their opinion" into "agents of a foreign power". I'm not sure that is a very wise thing for either of these gentlement to do, but I am pretty certain that providing them with his "encouragement" is an astonishingly stupid thing for Netanyahu to do. What *is* he thinking? Does he think at all?

if any other foreign govt took out a big ad in major US papers in order to subvert the administration's foreign policy on an issue deemed to impact national security, the administration would throw a hissy fit--no matter the president. stop whining and start playing by the normal rules of diplomacy.

Never mind worrying about our President, you Israel-firsters and Israelis should be worrying about what your PM and FM are doing. These are all Right wingers at the helm. If you think that we in America are going to let right wing nutball neocons back in you need your heads examined. Your PM and Your FM and all the right wing loonies are de-legitimizing Israel, not paranoid claims of arab plots. You have exposed yourselves for what you really are and have been doing to the Palestinians while occupying them. An insult to the intelligence of the POTUS to claim religious freedoms , and freedom to build for the Muslims when our government knows exactly what time it is. Outright lies! You right wingers would do better to go help your settler buddies pack up and very soon....take that wall with you back to where it belongs.

First of all guys, you all need to relax. This article has NOTHING to do with Obama. Jerusalem is the cradle of 3 world religions : Christianity, Judaism and Islam. And yes, it is mentioned in the Quran ( Verse 17:01) , and that is why it is considered the 3rd holiest city in Islam . It is a very important place for the Muslims, as it is for the Jews and the Christians. Now, legal status of Jerusalem is disputed. Its de facto annexation by Israel , does not make Jerusalem - Israel`s capital , in the context of the int` law. That is why most countries refuse to recognize it as such. Finally , house demolitions in Jerusalem and ongoing land annexation - adds fuel to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Therefore it is only natural for the American people to oppose promotion of Jerusalem in the Mass Media as a city exclusively reserved to Israel. Given legal, political and moral implications of such claims...

... that they want, but can't have... ... but the problem is that Israel is no longer a small child, and the USA can stop being such an indulgent 'parent'... ... who is the lackey who is enlisting these Jewish American 'luminaries' to speak out against legitimate USA policies?...

America doe not need Israel, Israel does. What resources do Israel have to support themselves -Just a reminder who provides the 2bn military aid to Israel annually...... So don't get deluded in your importance to the world Israelites. What about other financial aid from U.S. based companies....... get the point. Israel does what the the U.S. wants to them to do.....not the other way around. As long as Israel serves the interest of America - no probs. The moment the momentum shifts watch out. For all the Jews who are one-eyed and good citizens (I thin the a large majority), time to take control of the ways of Israel otherwise it will naturally self destruct.

Good for the pro Israeli ads. Lets have a illion more

eating up parts of Palestinian children are acceptable? Let us at least be fair.....

They sit in their respective corners. Waiting for the bell. However the referee has not shown up. For he is consulting with the contenders manager. The judges have already made their decisions. The crowds are jeering. A slow clapping reaches a crescendo. Meanwhile betting continues. Jerusalem seems to be the prize. Fight of the year, so proclaim the posters. A horseshoe has been found in the US Glove. Uh uh, back to the dressing rooms. Fight canceled. No refunds. The bible tells a tale of David and Goliath. Maybe the US should remember that Jewish history was written many thousands of years ago, before Christianity and well before Islam. Jerusalem, has always been,the city of King David. Was that not the fellow who smote Goliath.? The US is so knowledgeable about Foreign Policy, yet they invade countries without insight then whine. Elie Wiesel is correct. The gracious president, cannot understand what the fuss is all about. Or can he.? Good day.

Israel fought wars without the US. Read history it wont bite you. Arrogant. What would happen if Israel told the US to get the Hell out of Israel? etc. etc.?No-one depends exclusively on your country any more - ARROGANT. And Israel is not a Pseudo State of the US either. Your country thought Cuba depended on it and.....?. read history you Arrogant. Liberman is right !. How come no one was dumbfounded when Iran has said many times its intentions towards Israel? And the move to a Nuclear Free M East? by Egypt etc. In order to attack Israel at any time? etc. etc. MAY G-D BRING LIBERMAN MORE SAY IN ISRAELI POLITICS. That is what we need in Israel. The Pals do not want peace, that has been shown time and time again. TIME TO SAY ENOUGH!!!!

So just because Indonesians are now Muslims, having adopted and converted to the religion centruries ago in previous generations, they lost all claim to their ancestral homeland? What, cos it's not mentioned in the Koran? What relevance is it that they're Muslims? By they way, not all Indonesians are Muslims, some are still animists, those in Bali are still Hindus (they adopted that faith centuries ago too), some have since become Christians. This is exactly the case with Palestinians! Bosniaks have no claim to Bosnia nor their capital either I guess, cos it's not mentioned in Koran! Bosniaks are Muslims after all. Disregard the fact that they're also South Slavs, different only in religion, not genes, and not even in language, from Serbs and Croats. If ever I saw a red herring, and the logical fallacy of irrelvant information being used in an argument, this has to be it. Shame on you Elie Weisel! Shame, shame, shame!!!

Anti-Israel good, pro-Israel bad. This has gotten old a long time ago!

Just coz Jewish asperation over Jerusalem & Israel in general is religiously based, doesnt mean Palestinian aspiration is too. Elie Weisel erred by attempting to inject Islam into the debate. It deliberately or by accident misleads as to the nature of conflict.  Pals base aspirations on fact that they have a historic right there as a people who have lived there thousands of years. They do not assert it as members of a religion, be it Islam, Christianity, etc.  Painting Palestinians simply as Muslims, then Muslims as "the people" claiming national rights over Palestine, is ignorant or deliberately deceptive. Pals are multi-religious, there's Muslim, Christian, Samaritan, & yes, before Zionism, Jewish (Musta'arabi Jews of Palesine who initially opposed imigrant Jews) Palestinians (ie. an Arabized people indigneous to their local region, like all other "Arabs"). Muslim Pals were once also Christian, Jewish, Samaritan. Christian Pals too! Whichever the case, all are genetically Hebrews

Many rattle on about freedom of speech without a clue about what the first Amendment says about it. It is available online. Eli Wiesel has his right. So does the Obama Administration. Anybody want the President to go National with the Obama view of the issue, maybe on national TV, all networks, from the Oval Office? Obama has a right to his view, too. Is this an argument you relish? The ads must be in selected spots. I haven't seen one yet. Are they on on FOX News? During Glenn Beck? Who is paying for the propaganda campaign?

But there is no mention whatsoever of the Khazars! I know, I have looked, can't find a Wiesel nor a Lieberman either. So how come these guys can lay claim to someone else's land just because they converted to a particular religion? We won't mention International Law and it's decree regarding Jerusalem.

It would be nice if Israel would make up its mind how it wants to handle disagreements, quietly between friends or loudly splashed on the pages of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. It seems obvious that the earlier request by Israel to handle disagreements privately is now null and void. Therefore, the Administration will probably make public more of what it thinks. I don't have a problem with that. I prefer transparency anyway so the American people can know what it is we're paying for when it comes to Israel.

"there is an atmosphere of security allowing Israeli and Palestinian communities to find ways to live in peace" The importance of Jerusalem for Islam is another hallucination and a distortion of the truth, plain propaganda to badger Israel. I stand behind Avigdor Lieberman and behind Elie Wiesel.Jerusalem will not be the price of American interests in the Arab world.Jerusalem is and stays the heart and soul of Israel.

"If Israel needs to out wait obama`s administration they should do so until more friendly president takes office.." We've had more than enough of that for decades. Someone needs to finally tell Israel NO. If they get out of line, then it will be time to reevaluate our relationship with them.

There was a time when the left stood for freedoms. That time is gone. Today, the left wants to stiffle free expression and political opposition while supporting the rights of terrorists. Elie Wiesel has the right to express his opinions freely. He also has the right to express his religious opinions freely. These rights are guaranteed by the US Constitution. It has been noticable for quite some time that the Obama administration will not look kindly on freedom of speech or press. It has been reported that the press was locked out from meetings of the nuclear summit. It has been also reported that Obama has not given a press conference for eight months. Attempts by the Obama administration to impose its will on a sovereign state without free debate will only lead to alienation and resentment.

Obama is consistent in one thing. In one breath he praises Israel for its friendship and strong bonds with the US, and in his next breath he slams the Middle East's only democracy for its policies. This man has insulted everyone's intelligence and has got to go.

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seems like obama's administration wants to put Israel in a little sand box with empty promises of standing by in case of a threat...It is clear that only Israel can protect Israel. Presidents are come and go but Israel is there to stay and should do what is good for Israel and protecting Jewish people there.. If Israel needs to out wait obama's administration they should do so until more friendly president takes office..

The Israelis should be allowed to have their say in the American press. That's called Freedom of Speech. The US is a champion of Freedom of Speech. Included in the definition of "Freedom of Speech" is that one is not sanctioned for exercising that right. If US government officials don't like what is being said they can exercise their Freedom of Speech and present their point of view and/or debunk Israel's point of view.

Will take time for USA to appreciate that Israel isn?t Republic Banana. Israel is not a health care program for America, were you declaring were Israel should be at any point neither a country to play with as they wish. America will not pay with Israeli currencies to please the Muslems/Aarabs, it should be made clear to the Americans if it not made yet. In addition, it should be made clear to the American media that Israel has very strong connections and friendship to the US probably more then any other country, Jews and friend of Israel in the USA should tell President Obama; we wish you the best but do not use Israel as a toy in your plan. Lastly as a person that voted for Obama because of Health care, I will not vote for him again or support him.

Now this administration wants to limit free speech and the free press. Jewish Americans and any other persons have the right to pay for ads in support of Israel's rights in Jerusalem. Maybe they should read our Constitution.

Some unnamed US official allegedly slams free speech in a US paper in US, despite the 1st Amendment of US Constitution right of freedom of speech and freedom of the press ? Pres Peres expression of diplomatic moves does not contradict FM Lieberman saying Jerusalem indivisible.

He should stick to lecturing about the Holocaust. He and his ilk are complicating the issue. There are all types of Palestinians who were born in Jerusalem who do not care whether it was or not mentioned in the Koran. The claim to Jerusalem is not just a religious one.

J Street ads are OK, but those supporting Israel, its heritage, defense, and sovereignty are not. Strange.

and a LAND STEALER. What a hypocrite,

I wonder if American Jews are starting to get nervous about the threatening tone used by the Obama Administration against Jews. "All these advertisements are not a wise move." To me, that sounds like a threat.

Odd that US officials would term the voicing of opinion by a Nobel Peace Laureate as "unwise". Did these same "officials" find Hamas's executions of three Palestinians "unwise" as well? There is something terribly wrong in the US administration today, and it is up to men of character and strength to speak out and speak out loudly. When exercising our freedom of speech is deemed to be "unwise" by our elected officials, it is incumbent for all our citizens to speak out, with our voices as well as our votes.

Obama calls the steps ad labor wants to dance. Obama wants jews to go quietly when they carry the soap. His jewish Kapos encourage the same. Labor and Kadima want to sell out Israel's patrimony. Do Blacks come from Africa, do the Irish come from Ireland, do the jews come from Israel. the Europeans exiled the jews from Israel and their descendants now want to do it again. Yerushalayim is hebrew, not english, arabic or latin. Labor and Kadima should stop colluding with the vain incompetent.

The nerve of the Obama administration! They are so power hungry that they forget that here in the U.S., we have what is known as the 1st Amendment and freedom of speech. Just like Haaretz can speak out against the Israeli government, Americans can express their disagreement with theirs. This shows why the Democrats will have to show their support of Israel or they will be sent packing in November, and Obama 2 years later.

America and Israel need to establish a baseline relationship. That is a relationship free of all entanglements and "obligations". Furthermore, Israel needs to learn the value of standing own its own without forever being propped up by America. How many insults and slaps in the face will the American administration take from a bunch of self righteous, egotistical Israeli politicos before they finally wake up? Israel is daring America to stop aid.. Netanyahu thinks that the American congress is in the palm of his hand. It is time to take him to school.

Shades of sedition? Some countries may consider it such. And we all know which would be number one on that list. Anyway a showdown may be on the horizon.

show of force in the US media about the Non-Jewish parts of the occupied City and its 250,000 Christians and Moslem Arab Residents not willing to depart from their Palestinian Brethren Homeland, nor be part of a State calling itself Jewish.

What could he possibly say? Israel is ready for "painful" concessions? The same ones Shamir, Begin, Rabin, Peres Sharon, netanyahu (2X) weree going to make? Meanwhile the occupation goes on...i hope he flies coach

Whom, if not to Israel, East Jerusalem should belong to and why? What particular claims of someone else (Palestinians?) (Jordanians?) (Vatican?) (UN?) (else?) on that part of the city are more convincing to you than the ones of Israel and why?

It looks as if it is being Jewish that is unwise, unhelpful and counter-productive. Thinking Jerusalem is a Jewish city now is coming periously close to treason in the USA. Rather like in Roman times. The Palestinians and their masters can call every day for the slaughter of Jews (not just Israelis), and that's helpful, wise, and productive -- clearly that is movement towards peace and tranquillity. But to defy the commandments of the Great Black Leader, to be, in other words, a Jew who supports Israel... watch out!

are threatening?? US officials should be reading the writing on the wall and mending fences not demonstrating that they have learnt nothing from recent events. If they are listening to Mr Barak and believe he commands support they are much mistaken. The vast majority of World and Israeli Jewry does not support Mr Barak's recent utterances. Having seen what happened following the pull out from Gaza no sane Israeli is keen to repeat the process and risk most of Israel being under permanent threat of missile attack.

American Jews say they feel unwelcome in Israel. Perhaps we should set up a national homeland for the Lower East Side of Manhattan: Poland. Their cry of Power To The People Comrade is part of the national landscape there and many have relatives in the cemeteries of Eastern Europe. The Marxist Jews of Lower Manhattan own every media outlet across the United States and all the major movie studios. They never say one good thing about Israel, just like in Obama's Church where spweing hatred for Israel is as common as in any Mosque.

... regarding the importance of Jerusalem to Islamic history and the number of times it is mentioned in the Koran. The White House looks a bit silly trying to criticize this statement.

How curious: The Office of the President of the United States of America finds free speech unhelpful. It is unhelpful for a Nobel Prize winning writer and Holocaust survivor to say what he thinks. In short, it is unhelpful for Jews, be they Israeli, American or what-not, to express themselves in public in a way that suggests that Big BroBama can be in any sense, by any means, contradicted in his anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian policies. So much for our beloved «free speech». Coming from Jews who do not conform to oBamas polcies, free speech is unhelpful and should be, oh, let's just say *less free*.