Israel doesn't need to grovel for U.S. forgiveness

Shalom! Stand tall Israel. The White House was inundated with 19,000 emails from Evangelical Christians in the past 24 hours demanding that this Administration back off of this petty dispute with Israel. Check out the Tea Party Patriots website and see just how Americans feel about this current Administration in the U.S. We may be a small majority, the Evangelical Christians but we are banding together and screaming loudly. We won't be silent. I Stand With Israel.

Shalom! Stand tall Israel. The White House was inundated with 19,000 emails from Evangelical Christians in the past 24 hours demanding that this Administration back off of this petty dispute with Israel. Check out the Tea Party Patriots website and see just how Americans feel about this current Administration in the U.S. We may be a small majority, the Evangelical Christians but we are banding together and screaming loudly. We won't be silent. I Stand With Israel.

Obama doesn't need an apology. Just freeze construction in all the disputed territory -- until the peace talks end, either with an agreement or without one. Make some sort of gesture toward peace. Maybe release a few thousand palestinians who aren't security risks -- you can always arrest more when you feel like it, there's no end of defenseless palestinians available to arrest. Maybe promise to let half a dozen atrocities go by without retaliating. Dinky rockets from Gaza, etc. Did you know that the angry palestinians consider each of their attacks a retaliation for one of yours? Maybe if they get 3 or so and you don't hit back they might feel like they're even.... Maybe tear down half a dozen settlements that are illegal by Israeli law and give their occupants short prison terms? You can always parden them if the talks break down. No apology needed. Just do something to further peace.

If this country does not stand with Israel, it will be the final downfall of America....

Biden: I condemn both the timing AND THE SUBSTANCE of this announcement. Clinton: We are insulted by both the timing AND THE SUBSTANCE of this announcement. Axelrod: It is not just the timing BUT ALSO THE SUBSTANCE of this announcement that is So Very Wrong. Arens: It's just a matter of bad timing, so get over it. Surreal, isn't it? Israel is standing on the train tracks and isn't even attempting to ask itself "what is that light up ahead?", let alone wonder why that light is getting bigger and bigger and bigger....

Without our tax money, you wouldn't exist... Period! Remember that it is because of you that we have to watch our backs each time we travel overseas.

Thank you Mr. Arens for staying steadfast all these years. We are faced now with the most anti-Jewish, pro-Muslim administration in the US's history. Netanyahu needs to stand up to them unequivocably. 2010 will see the beginning of the downfall of this disastrous regime, and 2012 will see its total demise.

Obama is the least American president the US has ever had. He has no affinity with its values, nor with those of most of its productive citizens, nor with its founders and those who built the nation, nor with its constitution. He is currently waging an attempted slow motion coup to destroy all that made America great. If Israel is in his sights, regard it as a matter of honour and stand with the America to which Obama is opposed. There certainly won't be any Muslim terrorists in his sights, except by accident.

If Israel wants to build settlements then it is Israel's decision. However, the U.S. has the full right to not support Israel in actions it does not agree with. The U.S. has full right to pull any and all funding and support remotely related to actions it does not agree with. Israel needs to "man up" and live with the consequences of its decisions. That's all.

Moshe- You've been as much a part of the problem as Bibi. Stop prevaricating, stop taking more and more land on the pretext of security when you know it is yet another provocation, and instead urge your government to put all of the issues on the table, including the original ethnic cleansing and the right of return. It does not mean that you will have to compromise the existence and future of the State of Israel- we as your friends in the U.S. don't want that- but it does mean that an agreed upon solution will finally bring justice to your enemy and peace to your people, if you make a serious effort to work with your adversary. However, if you continue to use our aid to destroy in the name of "security', you will bring everyone to the brink of another world war, when instead you and your neighbors should and can be making the desert really bloom. The issue is peace, and the reality is that there can be no peace without justice.

unless somebody can explain the lack of peace, I will repeat that the palestinian leaders must learn to rule in a manner of non-violence, and let us meet in twenty years. whining and misinformation does not help.

For those complaining about the billions being given to Israel, keep in mind that Israel has never asked the US to commit any troops to its fights. That is more than can be said for most of of our other friends including most of Europe and Asia (without US troops and money where would France, Britain, Germany, Croatia, Bosnia or Korea be today?). We spend hundreds of billions protecting the rest of our friends in the world. In return for US assistance, all we get is the only stable democracy in the middle east, an invaluable intelligence asset, a partner in development of advance technologies including such breakthroughs as the Arrow missle defense system and other military technologies that are saving our troops in Afghanistan, and a country that produces more scientific discoveries per capita than any other country in the world. By comparison, the aid given to Israel which is nearly all spent in the US is a bargain and Israel does not ask for us to fight their battles.

Please tell US to go to hell. You don't need us. You don't need our money. You've only been accepting it as a favor to us. We have for too long enjoyed the thankless glory of being Israel's best friend. Now we're beginning to understand how much you despise us for our weakness and our own groveling presidents. We're glad to see this one standing up. Let's both stand tall--and walk in opposite directions.

Its Chinas money. The US owes trillions of dollars to China, and it is oversp[ending at the rate of at least a trillion a year. So get off your camels (A true American would be on a horse charging these conniving Arab usurpers and child murderers (murderers, not just killers).

Israel is not the "spoiled child." During the Cold War - won by the USA - the technical and political intelligence of the Soviets given, yes, given to the USA by Israeli intel was priceless.In addition,much of the medical research in medicines, computer technology and cell phone research and production was ISRAELI.The Egyptians have a well-defined border.The Israeli border is based on both the armistice lines of 1949 and territory seized from the Arab invaders of 1967.The requirement for permanent borders can only be accomplished by negotiations with their Arab enemies,whose objectives are the destruction of the Jewish State and the completion of Hitler's extermination policies.Google the charters of Hamas and Hezbollah.Also,read some books on the Arab/Israeli conflict.Your ignorance is showing.

Now why do you want the arabs to win? Do they ot have enough territory from the border with Iran to the western shores of Africa? what exactly is your concern here? Are Jews bothering you? Maybe you could benefit from a Jewish fist to your nose and a Jewish boot up your scrotum. at least then you'll have some good reasopn for your belly aching about Israel (which you use to hide your hatered for any Jew). I can understand how you must feel and sympathize with you. you see I hate people like you as much as you think you hate Jews. How should we settle it? Are you game for a "fair-fight"? Or perhaps not on such terms, you and your kind prefer to do it as part of an armed gang hundreds strong attacking a few unarmed Jewish men women and children. even better you prefer to herd them into ravines where you can shoot them dead like a big game hunter that you fancy yourself to be.

Colonialism and Apartheid were actively opposed by the Jewish State.The former was defeated by the pre-state Jewish organizations which replaced the British colony of Palestine with the Jewish State of Israel, and the latter,apartheid, was opposed by Israel,as well as Jewish citizens of South Africa.

No functionary, high or low level, should treat Israel's best friend in the fashion of a dog pissing on said friend's leg. Whether Bibi knew or didn't know is immaterial - what is material is what he did afterwards. Specifically, what did he do regarding the Minister who chose to piss on Biden's leg? Actions speak louder than words. No groveling here, it's a round chastisement of the guilty parties who stepped out of bounds by the timing of the announcement. Biden's visit was not a secret, and the choice to make the announcement then was a statement in itself, a thumbing of the nose not just to the person Joe Biden, the 2nd highest official in the US, but to the US itself. Ben Gurion is reputed to have told Harry Truman that he, Truman, was president of 200 million Americans while he, Ben Gurion, was Prime Minister of 3 million prime ministers. The affront was calculated and deserved a firm response. Now let's get on with the business at hand.

The US gave us the word tax-dollar and it motivates americans a lot. If you give then the finger they figure why am I wasting tax-dollars on you? Not exactly why I would shake it up but who says capitalism doesn't work? Just takes a while. The Jewish diaspora cannot conscientiously support Israel in it is current form because it believes in equality of race, something it needs to get by in the world. Fortunately that is the lingua franca in the West, but not in Israel... So why do we want you as friends?

Dear Harold, Its obvious that you are a Jew-hater period. what a fool like you don't seem to grasp is that you are being used by the Arabs. They will continue to use you and abuse you as only they know how. first with flattery, then with embargoes of oil, then withtears and crying, then with threats, followed by murder and terrorism. when at last you look around they will hve their member deep up your anus, finally they will take your women to the harem for their Jihadists and remove your children to become janisaries or talibans. I enjoy spitting bile while you still can, but don't look behind you. someone is catching up. someone with a curved scimitar.

Of course Israel cannot live in a vacuum. If you think you can survive without the US you are badly mistaken. What are you going to do threaten us with nuclear weapons if we sanction and dont sell you oil? And make no mistake sanctions on Israel would be the most effective ever, because none of your neighbours likes you - so wake up and smell the coffee, cos you ain't no superpower, just a bully with the small kids and a friend in the big school. Our right wingers in the UK are just the same with dreams of glory. Eisenhower forsaw it all many years ago, we live in a smaller joined up world.

No-one said you have to grovel, but if you seriously expect U.S taxpayers to fund your military to the tune of billions of each year and provide unblinking U.N support, you gotta start listening to us.. If one country is funding another, its not an equal relationship.

Maybe you should point that out to the Obama administration. They're the ones who are bringing the issue up. And the settlement is in Jerusalem, not Gaza or the West Bank. That's part of Israel. I don't think I would appreciate a foreign government telling my government they should not allow home building near the Mexican or Canadian border because it might offend some people.

"The 10 Billion in aid is not for welfare or food stamps in Israel. Al the money Israel receives from the USA must be spent in the USA to Defense contractors such as Boeing, Raytheon, General Electric and does not only help Israel militarily but is in effect a subsidy to USA manufactures." IF THAT's THE CASE, and our contractors need it that much, I would advocate giving them a direct subsidy, bypassing Israel. Don't forget, however that a lot of Israel's spending with U.S. tax dollars goes towards spare parts for major weapons systems without which Israel's military would have some major "problems". By giving Israel even a penny we appear to the outside world as complicit in the same Israeli actions we have denounced.

Why the angst? In America we get the government for which we vote. 87% of Jewish voters here voted for "The One." The majority of other Americans voted similarly, though not all in such great prcentage. Good luck with the "hopey changey" thing.

Watching Obama admin push Israel while practically ignoring all Palestinian incitement to violence shows he learned nothing from the first settlement fiasco, that only hardened Palestinian intransigence.....America's enemy's are laughing, as they know Obama will blindly continue to appease them.....Iran is trembling in their boots right now....

he is in favour of every colonial like himself returning the country to the indigenous peoples. israels right to its land has nothing to do with god !! read the international treaties that created it starting in 1920 !

I guess you people just can't face up to the fact that you wouldn't even have a country named Israel were it not for the USA. Not only did the USA put you over the top on May 15th 1948, but we've been carrying you every since. And, it's not just loan guarantees or the $3-4 billion in "aid" without accountability every year. Add to that all the military hardware that you "purchase" every year and then have, and all other financial obligations, forgiven annually by the morons in our congress. You're a country of leeches and we're done bleeding. You've been throwing crap in the "peace process" game for decades and US Presidents have been eating it. Well, now it's your turn. It would have been a real supprise if you had not taken the opportunity to shit on us one more time. Bad move. Go ahead and bomb Iran. When the oil supply to the West gets shut off WTF do you think we'll do. Iran won't need to bomb you. We will! Meanwhile, hope Obama cuts off every penny to you parasites.

the policy persued by obama has been openly pro-muslim. where obama errs is in thinking that his pro-muslim policy can be reconciled with israel's own strategic interests. there is no such thing as an "honest" broker when the broker openly and publicly sides with one party. while iran and syria openly rebuff the u.s. and make fun of its leaders, they get no rebuke. after all. it is obvious the u.s. sensitivities flare up only when israel is in the picture.

Words of advise to Israel; Do not worry about the Islamic president B H Obama; he's gone in 2012. We here in America wish it could be sooner but it would open racial wounds that would cripple the US. Remember don't pay Obama any attention, OH! Also do not pay any attention to Hillary Rodent Clinton or George Mitchell. Americans did not forget about Arab/Palestinians dancing in the streets on 911!

"Judea and Samaria" = Settle speak for "God Gave us this land" What tremendous example of 1000 BC tribalism just a few things- This is a post WWII world society- things like Colonialism, and Apartheid are condemned by everyone who is not a member of your God Chosen Tribe- whether in Israel or NYC. For a nuclear power israel seems to pretty whiney- Iran is an Existential Threat If you keep acting as egregiously immature, You will lose the UN Security Council Veto that keeps Israel off the sanctions list. Maybe you want to join the Pariah States?

God Bless the people and the leadership of Israel. Israel is our best ally and friend in the world. Obama and Biden are one term clowns. They are too busy trying to trash the US Constitution in order to create the Soviet Socialist Republic of the USA to pay proper attention the the challenges of our international friends. One thing about the people of Israel is that they are extremely persevering. I pray for our Israeli friends. Though I am a follower of Jesus I encourage our Israeli friends to turn to the God of Jacob for grace to carry on. He will not desert you.

What kind of nonsense are you vomiting? Your description of the Jewish State as a "vassal state,""racist state,""criminal state,""inhumane,""crimes against humanity" and the rest of your sick views are so distorted,misconstrued,misstated,perverted,and false that I could hardly waste my time tearing each phony charge apart.

Israel acquired the West Bank in defense from Jordan's war of aggression. The law you claim to know applies only to an aggressor state keeping land from its war of aggression. Again, Jordan attacked Israel and lost as Israel defended itself. UN SC 242 recognizes the fact Israel won the land by defending itself from an aggressor state; 242 does not require Israel to return any of that land. However Israel returned over 90% of such land when it returned Sinai to Egypt.

Sorry Stephen- I can't buy the nonsense that you were a consultant to the State Dept in the early 80s.American opinion of Israel is at nearly an all time high of 63% according to a recent Gallup poll with the Palestinians getting only a lukewarm 15%. Regarding the Bible, the issue of an independent, sovereign Jewish State was not decided in a courtroom.It began when Rome ended Jewish sovereignty before BCE and ended in the 20th century with the League of Nations and its successor UN acknowledging the connection of the Jewish people with the land of Israel, and the blood of many Jews(and some non-Jews).

He is clearly inexperienced, ignorant, arrogant and causing upheaval throughout the world with his ridiculous policies which emanate from a collegiate perspective rather than a experienced statesman. Who would hire an inexperienced person to run a large corporation, so why would Americans hire a completely inexperienced president?

The real insult is the unndiplomatic insult heaped on Israel over nothing by the little girls of the US admin. Why are they acting so petulant and spiteful, are they little children? as Arens states there is no freezre in Jerusalem and as bibi states building has been going on since '67. This sudden petulance covers obamas real agenda to turn the US against Israel to satisfy his handlers. The reaction is completely out of proportion and is a harbinger of things to come.

America is not asking for Israel to grovel. They are asking for guidelines to peace to be followed. Israel has no problem taking billions of dollars in US aid and for that all the US is asking is for them to listen to their advice on how to handle the peace process. Americans needs to ask, why do we continue to send billions of dollars in aid to a country that will not work with us? What has Israel ever done for the USA? It is the British who are our true allies, in peace and war. Israel is proving to be a false ally.

Many, many Americans recognize that Israel is one of the few true friends we have in the world and appreciate the difficult situation her neighbors put her in. We also recognize that your government doesn't need to control every detail of private enterprise. Don't worry about 0bama.

This is not about grovelling at all. That jacka-- who made this announcement while Mr Biden was in Israel should be fired forthwith. On the other side Mr Obama have so emboldened the Arabs that there will be no talks. Period ! David Salinger

You're funny..State Depart needs an enema.. I was a consultant to the State Department in the early '80s...Obama cannot be compared to Carter--events are different.. With all due respect to your religious beliefs, those beliefs (religious-any view point)do not fit into these discussions cause these are 21st Century Geo-Politic issues of law, diplomacy and P.R. or world opinion or world perception. Otis, the bible has never been allowed as evindence in a court room

Israel should be able to stand on its own without $5.8 billion in USA aid annually. Israel should be able to take responsibility for its actions without the protection of the USA in the United Nations Security Council. The enormous private funds raised in the USA to assist Israel in its excesses should be taxed since there is no benefit to the USA. Israel has been protected and nurtured far too long by the USA. Israel has no respect for the USA except for the dollars it receives from the USA. That is why Israel pays people to betray their country and spy on the USA. That is why Israel embarresses the USA leadership. That is why Israel makes no good faith effort towards peace. There is a real world. Youthful transgressions do not make a responsible adult if those transgressions continue without responsibility. It is time for Israel to take full responsibility for its actions.

Imagine Israel stops building in the disputed areas for 6 months and gets a treaty. Then, no more settlement problem. Wherever Israel builds is *in Israel*, on land the whole world says is in Israel. Is that worth a temporary delay? Israel says they build in Jerusalem to show they will never give up Jerusalem. But *everybody* else says Israel doesn't own Jerusalem. If Israel gives 30% of jerusalem to Palestine and keeps 70%, then the entire would will say that Israel owns 70% of Jerusalem. Better. If Israel keeps 100% of Jerusalem and gives Palestine something the Palestinians value more than 30%, then the whole world says Jerusalem is 100% Israel's. Stop construction for awhile to get the agreement and how much have you lost? How much can you gain? When you keep building you show you don't believe in peace, not enough to risk a building delay. It looks bad and it prevents a peace treaty. If the arabs act up after a treaty, you will take it all back. How much do you risk?

"the usa has no tax money !!!!!!!!!!" This is the most nonsensical post I've ever read. The US has no tax money???? We Americans just dream that we pay taxes and that our government uses them for public purposes? Perhaps he is denying that the US gives tax money to Israel. Wrong! According to the Jewish Virtual Library, Israel has received more than $106 billion in aid from the US since 1949. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/foreign_aid.html. In doc aid2010.html, JVL reports 2.775 billion for 2010. In 2005, an official report produced for Congress noted that "Israel is not economically self-sufficient...Since 1976, Israel has been the largest annual recipient of US foreign assistance...For FY2005, the United States provided $360 million in economic, $2.2 billion in military, and $50 million in migration resettlement assistance." http://www.usembassy.it/pdf/other/IB85066.pdf

Moshe - it wasn't this latest building stunt that broke the camel's back. It was the latest in a decades-long series of such "in-your-face" shtiklach, Israel's routine "davka politics", that made the pot boil over. Israel better stop fanning the settlement fire or it's going to be badly burned by it !!! David

Israel should stick with basics-(l)Pa is attempting to finalize part of a settlement before the show begins (2)PA cannot guarantee compliance with any agreement by its ownpeople (3) all of this noise is a tempist in a teapot-US and Israelare still in this together. Of ffor Dayan just for a few days.

It needs to prepare its public for the concessions that will have to be made in a peace deal that envisages a Palestinian state alongside Israel. And until those concessions have been made, to stop all eviction activities in the Old City and in the surrounding area called The Holy Basin. Stopping evictions, rehousing those thrown out of their homes by settlers there and putting development plans there on hold will show goodwill enough to get talks going again. There is no avoiding them.

Only those deliberatly closing their eyes to Obama's pre-election history can be honestly surprised at his anti-Israel , pro-Islam activity.He tried to undermine democracy in Honduras, fails to support it in Columbia, undercut Poland and the Check's defensive umbrella, and crippled the sanctions program possible against Iran. This man is a danger to Israel AND Western Civilization.

Stop apologizing to Biden and Obama, and start apologizing to the US PEOPLE!! Israel's anti-Americanism and open hate has become offensive to a level that average Americans will no longer tolerate. Once you are done apologizing to the American people, live up to the obligations you have promised both REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC US Presidents. You need to grovel, then you need to stop the settlements as EVERY SINGLE US PRESIDENT regardless of party has demanded. Right now support of Israel in the US is dangling by a string, and Israel is dangerously tugging and yanking on that string. Breaking that string means the people of America will still say you are our friend, but will shrug their shoulders when you have problems, throw up their hands and say sorry -- we tried to help and you gave us the finger. The next stage in US relations will be the US saying "Now it is time to take responsibility for solving your own problems, without relying upon the US veto in the UN"

one of these days this whole thing is going to blow up in your faces and it has. Tell you what, stop groveling, always asking for our dollars, now billions and billions of them, and stand up on your own. Stop being a vassal state, stop being ugly, inhumane, stop being a racist state, stop being a war criminal state, stop being a crimes against humanity state. Try to remember what has made the Jewish people great and unique in the past. You can still do it, but it will take a paradigm change. Do you have the courage to do it?

You actually think the knesset will pass a law that stops accepting US aid? are you serious? And you think the zionists will give back your money too? LMAO. come on. they're jews. money only flows one way into Israel

mutually exclusive words. Nobody wants to see Israel 'grovel'. We in the USA want an honest and open relationship in which neither acts unilaterally. I expect more from Mr Arens but maybe his age and his proximity to the unpolished group that has taken over the gov't have taken their toll.

It is a valid point that such an apology was only gratuitous. It is a valid point that the administration in Israel and the government in America are at a strategic cross roads. Taking such talks public are a result of the failure of confidential exchanges to resolve these conflicts between Israel and America. Moshe Arens implies that with a little effort, America has made it impossible for Israel by demanding concessions. While it may be a step backward for Israeli/American relations in the short term, it is an adjustment that bodes well for the long term health of our relationship. After all, honesty is the best policy.

So the US knew Israel would continue building in Jerusalem, the US still has the right to be highly insulted. As any mature male knows: just because the woman agrees to "come up for a coffee" at midnight with a wink and a nod, doesn't mean you have to grab her boobies as soon as the door closes.

We are tired of Israeli rudeness, cruelty and egomania. Good-bye. Shalom. Best wishes. We have millions of happy Jews in the USA. We don't need to waste time with Israel.

I am just curious, why are you blaming the USA for finally saying out loud what they have been saying quietly for 42 years? Israel has no business in the West Bank, Gaza, or East Jerusalem? The whole world agrees on that, barring Israel and their staunch supporters, but then, it is only Israel who stands to gain from not recognising that point, so why would they? Oh, sure, you won it fair and sqaure in war, except, check your records, the acquisition of territory through war is not legally accepted. And stop referring to the USA and Mexico, that was over a century ago, no crime without a law, the illegality of gaining territory through war was established long after the USA took some land from Mexico. Times change, that's how we become more civilised, by recognising the wrongs of those who came before us and agreeing to avoid it in the future. So, what's all the furore then over the USA insisting that Israel abide by International Law? What's wrong with asking people to abide by laws?

ISRAEL - DO YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO CLIMB DOWN FROM THE SHOULDERS OF THE GIANT (USA), IF YOU CAN - THEN YOU MAY STOP GROVELING TO US.

So, US should cut Aid!

The promised 10 month building freeze was indeed only for the West Bank. It was never meant to be for East Jerusalem. Obama/Clinton are in the wrong here. Their actions and comments are only encouraging the Palestinians to display more opposition.

whose side will you be on, my brother? Obama shows again his callowness, his naivete, and his lack of understanding of history, politics, and foreign relations. He is indeed the new Carter who single-handedly made for more wars in the middle east, destroyed the economy, and he, too, did it in the name of God. The State Department needs an enema.

Americans know deep down that Israel is not the obstacle to peace. Just look at all the other hotspots involving Islam. They are all Islam vs Christianity or Sunni vs Shite. PS- Islam (Uighars) vs secular as well as Bhuddist China

The US is way out of line with Isreal.

The USA could have easily thwarted the UN's vote on the re-establishment of the Jewish homeland in Israel. Maybe it was "Jewish" guilt that led Truman to vote yes. Since that day both countries have flourished. Things are a bit tough economically now for the USA but that is due to some pretty silly banking moves of their major players. Bottom line is the USA made the right move with Israel and the 2 countries will survive together.

The 10 Billion in aid is not for welfare or food stamps in Israel. Al the money Israel receives from the USA must be spent in the USA to Defense contractors such as Boeing, Raytheon, General Electric and does not only help Israel militarily but is in effect a subsidy to USA manufactures.

First, folks should stop throwing around fictitious numbers. Israel gets just under $3 Billion in *military* aid, about 75% of which must be used to purchase US goods and services. Israel does NOT get economic aid. Second, *all* of Israel's neighbors except Syria get even MORE US aid than does Israel. Egypt alone gets roughly $2.25 Billion. Lebanon and Jordan get a few hundred million annually. The Palestinians get even more, both directly to the PA (much of which is funneled to Hamas-run Gaza or to personal bank accounts) and indirectly through UN agencies like UNRWA. Third, the US gets strategic value for that aid, and not just in intelligence sharing. The IDF takes some of the load that would otherwise fall to the US military in defending its strategic interests. What the US gets from Israel's Arab neighbors for the billions THEY get is close to nothing. So here's the deal: If Israel is to be cut off from US military aid, Israel's neighbors should ALSO lose that aid.

"Throughout the U.S.-Israeli relationship there have been disagreements on certain issues... But generally, the disagreements have not been taken public, but have been discussed in confidential exchanges" That's right. We (the US) tried being nice and respectful, talking critically only behind closed doors for decades. That did not work. Israeli leaders have been lying to and deceiving the US for a long time. Don't forget that UN SC Res. 242 (requiring withdrawal of Israeli troops) and 465 (settlements hav no legal validity & are a flagrant violation of international law) passed unanimously, with US voting yes. We have never supported Israel's unlawful actions, but we tried for decades to help it find its own way. That failed. It's time to get tough. No more loan guarantees. No more millions in aid per Israeli. No more veoting all sanctions. Israel must be held to the same standard as all other nations.

#24 - Get it straight buddy. Israel is the spoiled child in this scenario. The US has spoiled Israel with toys and has coddled Israel to the point where now, Israel is like a reckless teenager girl - spoiled and thinks she knows everything. I think it's time that Daddy takes the car and credit cards away... YOU'RE GROUNDED, ISRAEL! #25 - Egypt has nothing to do with this situation, except that they share a border with Israel and Gaza. The Egyptians at least have the respect to DEFINE THEIR BORDER. The Israeli border looks a drawing by a CHILD who cannot color between the lines... Israel has NO RESPECT for its borders or its neighbors.. The sooner you and your people understand that YOU HAVE TO DRAW A LINE SOMEWHERE, the sooner you will be on the road to PEACE. So both of you can stop your crying now. You are not the victim in this case, you are the perpetrator. Get it straight... DADDY (US TAXPAYER)

American sentiment towards Israel is turning. You can only push so far and then you have crossed over. Think wisely, Israel. Americans have woken up to who is the real obstacle to peace.

Moshe - There is not one country in the world that agrees with Israel that East Jerusalem belongs to it. NOT ONE! You want Israel to do whatever it wants no matter what the rest of the world says. Well then maybe the rest of the world, including the USA, should forget about stopping Iran's nuclear push. Maybe we should stop sending any money to Israel and recind the tax deduction in the US for contributions to Israel. Maybe we should work with the Quartet and UN to impose sanctions on Israel for it's settlement policy. Go it alone in the world and see what happens.

Having Israel as an ally is great, except that increasingly the world sees it as an apartheid state (and I spend a lot of time in South Africa, and that language gets used a lot there). We are still castigated for our role in upholding the South African apartheid state of Verwoerd/Botha/de Klerk, and the world is now looking the same way at us regarding our allegiance to you. So frankly, I don't mind that our relationship is a little strained right now. Doesn't hurt to build relationships with other countries. By the way, what our aid to Egypt buys us is precisely what you want: that closed border with Gaza. I'm more than happy to cut that off too.

"Timing" is important when investing in the stock market, but it is of little relevance here. There is no substitute for the truth when dealing with friends and allies. And the truth in this case is that while the Israeli government has frozen construction in Judea and Samaria for 10 months, there has been no such freeze in any part of Jerusalem, and certainly no holdup of planning procedures. There was no need for all this groveling by Israeli spokesmen. On the subject of Jerusalem, the government of Israel and the administration in Washington simply disagree" And thats great, but if Obama wishes to make this an issue then have him come out and state his views. He did once, then retracted them, now we are seeing the opposing view of his original statement that he retracted. What is missing from the analysis, is the scary thought of what USA administration is thinking, as they knew this and therefore one would assume that they did this to extract more concessions...

..resentment is high, especially with taxpayers .....Israel wake up, America is your best friend and ally, and you must figure out a better way to resolve this.. P.S. AIPAC wil not save you this time...AIPAC was nearly indicted for Spying agaisnt the USA.

If someone is giving you $3 billion in aid annually, a little respect is the least one can give in return. It doesn't take a genius to figure that out but obviously certain individuals in the cabinet either lack intelligence or have an exaggerated sense of entitlement... //p

abdalla does this happen as you stop taking chinese and japanese charity. ??? the usa has no tax money !!!!!!!!!!

Stop taking money from the U.S. if you don't like what Americans have to say. See how long you'll last in that part of the world.

and aipac needs to be declared a forgien entity

All those who complain about the aid the US gives to Israel: what do you have to say about all the aid the US gives to Egypt (which, incidentally, is blocking its border with Gaza even tighter than the Israeli border with Gaza)? What does Egypt provide in return? At least Israel is forced to purchase American aircraft and weapons with the "aid" it receives. And the US gets a highly stable ally in a very unstable part of the world. But at the rate Obama, Biden and Clinton are going, they're going to lose even that.

Those Americans on here who call for Israel are shameful. You truly don't get it. Palestine is like a greedy, spoiled child. The more you give, the more they will take. Just like the White House, the more of our freedoms we give, the more they will take. Wake up people, before it is too late.

Actually there can be a demand: stop playing your silly little reindeer games or we stop supporting you.

Israel takes billions of dollars of aid every year, and uses it to finance illegal settlement, in defiance of explicit US requests not to do so. Did I hear someone say chutzpah? or is it that the US taxpayer is just a useful idiot to have as a "friend" and "ally"?

an Israeli clerk to issue the statement at the precise moment Biden was Israel. Then publish interrogation protocol of the Hamas goon arrested in Ramallah last week how he had been entertained by the US General Keith Dayton.

When Obama invited the Dalai Lama, did the Chinese grovel?! They told the United States that it was an insult to their national integrity. Ah! but the United States owes a gazillion dollars to the People's Republic, don't they? Israel buys aircraft and other military related materiel that employs much of what is left of the production work in the States. It pays the salaries of Americans so they can buy . . . good made in China. The United States should be grateful that we are taking their "foreign aid". It helps lower the the unemployment levels in that country.

Just tell American to go to hell. Please. Do us the favor. Tell us you don't need us. Don't grovel. Throw us out the door.

... and worth more than US support. Oh, there's no question the US is important to Israel, the military aid (more like welfare to US military industries, but that's another subject), and the backing in the UN. But to forgoe independence in domestic issues? No. Thank you, US for the aid and the support in the UN, but if this is the price, it's too high. We'll manage.

You people amaze me. You got 78%, far more than you was ever intended, but now you just gotta have the other 22%. Amazing arrogance and greed.

In the US...

As you might know, or, as you might not know, the recipients of foreign aid from the United States of America most often discover buying "American" that is produced in the the USA. McDonald Douglas in not an Israeli company, and when Barak cut a deal with the States, the uniforms that were the bread and butter for the people of Ofakim and other cottage industries in Israel, became the bread and butter for American workers in a textile industry that these days, usually makes clothes for the military--the rest is Made in China, or some other place where the labor costs are cheaper. So . . . you don't like Israel, that's your problem, but the so-called foreign aid is a form of subsidy to the military-industrial complex to keep what production jobs that remain in the US.

Wow, a blunt naked appeal to dual loyalties. Now the real issues come out.

completly true..& funny too!

Larry Patty, Excellent Comment! At least there is one person on here with sense, understanding and an appreciation of reality. This paper is obviously supported by ignorant, delusional leftists who despise Netanyahu and lack education in history.

Most of you people here seem to think that more groveling is needed. To whom should we grovel? To a falling empire? There was no US support in '48. In '73 the tide of the war had changed before Nixon sent supplies. I think that most of you have missed the point of what BO is doing here. By making a diplomatic crisis he deflects pressure from the obamacare fiasco that is about to happen. Appoligies are in order but not groveling.

$3 billion props your arms industry ! you could nt finance a scooter in todays world see national debt in multi trillions

It's called diplomacy. The US also contributes anywhere between $2b-6b in direct aid to Israel accounting for between a third to half of all US aid globally; on top of this the US almost unconditionally backs Israel on all diplomatic and military issues (i.e. at the UN, in military and civilian technology etc). All of this comes at a cost to the US and Israel deems it necessary to stick their finger up in the air when the US is 'saying' that they are working with both parties to work towards a peace agreement. The grovelling is because Israel realises that this 'special' relationship and unconditional support seems to be delivered by one party only and they have snubbed their 'friend' one time too many. Add this to the farcical use of their allies passports in Dubai and Israel should be careful how they tread the diplomatic tripwire...could get hairy and scary.

Not only is Haaretz ultra-Liberal, but it screens comments unfavorable to President Obama from American readers (my last post) Regardless, my sentiments are shared by many including a Bipartisan group within the United States Government. Read link, March 16th, 2010: http://bit.ly/c5zphF It would be wise for Haaretz to keep abreast with real time opinions, before it censors comments which are not in line with its Leftist, Obama Admiration Ideology.

Say what you want; Think what you want; Bottom line: Wait till November!!

u seem to not realise you are an infidel, actually king of the infidels, teh great satan. try doing some research on islamic fundamentalism and trouble spots in the world .... usa btw is ultimate target, israel is just the anti-pasti for the islamists.

r u advising any other countries to stop taking us aid ? btw biggest recipient over last 60 years = western europe not to mention all those cemetries full of young american heroes.

I take it you didn't like my posting entitled "Israel can do without US aid". Why not? I am only voicing opinions held by a great number of secular Jewish Israelis.

If Obama thinks that by giving this money to Israel, he can tell Israel to stop fighting for its survival by: 1.allowing the pals to continue their terror and incitement against Israel and 2. allowing Iran to get to the point where they can nuke Israel then Israel will gladly take distance from this money.The Obama admin. is furthering peace in the Middle East .By groveling to the muslims/arabs, Obama is showing weakness, which encourages the extremists and, unfortunately and stupidly, accelerates the coming of the next war in the Middle East.Jerusalem has never been the capital of any pal or arab state, only of the Jews.Obama will NEVER succeed in preventing Israel from building there.I fear the day when Iran will have nuclear weapons and Obama will say the following lame sentence: "Oops, sorry.My naivety and ineptitude prevented me from stopping Iran and palestinian terror."It's time the naive leftists start thinking with their brains, not with their hearts.

....Moshe Arens article comes across as surpri- singly mild/moderate...:)

Obama never learns. He still thinks he can decide where and when israelis should build in their own country. He must be taught the lesson again. Obama , you can probably decide if you want to build in California or Texas (even though in Texas you would have tough time), but don't you dare to put your nose in Jerusalem - you are not wanted here ! Go govern your own country , so far you did a lousy job of it.

All the US is asking is that Israel keep its word, given to George Bush and previously to the international community. See the Roadmap. See the Geneva Conventions. The Israeli government ratified the Geneva Conventions. If Moshe Arens is a moderate, Israel and the relationship is in trouble.

Israel has crossed a line with this incident. There's only so much arrogance anyone can tolerate. Israel is like a black sheep of the family. The USA is trying hard to accommodate the 'difficult child', but the child simply gets more and more demanding and its sense of entitlement grows daily. The relevant minister must be fired and the current decision on the 1600 houses rescinded. It's that simple. Israel is losing friends very rapidly these days - even good ones. Only Israel is to blame here.

Stop taking our aid. Congress won't fund healthcare, but funding Israel...bipartisan approval. America has other priorities, like saving our economy and creating non-combat jobs, so we need every single cent at the moment. The Knesset should pass a law to stop taking aid from us and maybe send us a few billion shekels while you're at it.

...called the narcisism? Who has the fragile self-esteem? Who has troubles handling anything that may perceived as crticism? To make yourself feel better you react withrage and efforts to belittle the other to make yourself appear better by: -believing you are better than other -fantacizing about the power -expecting others to go along with your ideas and plans -taking advantage of other -setting unrealistic goals -appearing as tough minded ( unemotional) -unable to forgiving because "the others are wrong" ...and, more and more treats which are the symptoms of tha narcisism= personal disorder.

and for once they kept it. Obama seems to be a man of his word.Impressing? Yes, very. The very accusation that: "Jews control America and the Americans know it" said Ariel Sharon and this is the litmust test whether that is true or not.

the usa is becoming a thoroughly dishonest broker. there CAN BE NO DEMANDS TO EITHER PARTY BY THE PEACE BROKER or mediator!!!! this appears to have passed the barindead by at greta speed !

Just stop talking, and start dismantling.

If it was not for the Americans the Zionist state would have never existed and the jews would have been systematically persecuted. Just think what the muslims would do to ya'll if the US didn't exist........Vaporize ya'll?

is to do with Iran threat? It is a funny way to mixt the things which has nothing to do with themselves.

Its funny how no one seems to realize that the US is our only friend in the world, we need to keep them happy. Secondly this incident just shows how idiotic our government is. The only thing it can occupy itself with is to try and keep the coalition togeather. What about Eli Yishai will he be fired?

The timing of the announcement was insulting, and Israel should grovel for that. More important is that Israel generally needs to get over itself- insulting a new ally every week, and wondering why it has a PR problem, and thinking that it is all the other countries' fault is so outrageous to be fascinating. Most important is that the US is saying that it wants a solution to the Middle East's main problem; and that that solution includes Jerusalem being also the capital of Palestine. Israel can state that it doesn't accept that, but it will be on its own in doing so; and that will be a very lonely place indeed.

Nice article. But perhaps when the Israeli settlements in occupied E.Jerusalem and the West Bank are a violation of article 49 of the fourth Geneva Convention, then Israeli compliance with International Law is not a grovel, but an obligation - punishable by sanctions and boycotts - Israels choice.

Israel should know enough to not unilaterally vary the conditions on the ground as that would have adverse effects on the prospect of peace with the Palestinians. And the crux of the issue is, if it is so difficult to convince the Israeli government to suspend building new settlements is it going to be any easier to have them evacuate those same settlements in the advent of a peace agreement? Israel should be sincere to their only true friends(the US).

All that is needed is to do the following (impossible as long as the haredim are in a government coalition): 1. Stop all child allowances above three children per family. In this day and age, people must plan their familiy size according to their incomes, and not rely on government support. 2. Stop all government support of kollel students (a kollel is an institute for advanced studies of the Talmud and of rabbinic literature for Jewish adults, essentially a yeshiva which pays married men a regular monthly stipend or annual salary (and/or provides housing and meals) 3. Stop all government support of yehisvas whose students do not or have not served in the IDF. 4. Budget all haredi schools according to the number of students, not according to the number of classes. It's unfair that haredi schools have 15-18 pupils per class while secular schools have 35-40. If these steps are tken, not only will we be able to do without US aid, we will be able to lower taxes.

I suppose Netanyahu and his government believe they have the Religious Right and various groups in the US, particularly among the Republicans sewn up so tight they can engage in any kind of behavior they want and nobody can call them on it. However, these people aren't taking into account that the President of the US has the bully pulpit and if he has to make a case against Netanyahu and his administration, they very well might find themselves running out of friends on this side of the world fast. America doesn't require Israel to grovel. What we require is for Israel to behave lawfully and in a civilized manner - and building new settlements are neither. And America does not have to support bad behavior. America does not have to support Israel doing everything in it's power to make a peaceful settlement with the Arab World and impossibility.

isril is acting like antachable and above the low but it is time to give peace chance you lived in the land for so long so give plastane a chance to live with you side by side

More and more, Americans are starting to view Israel in much the same terms they viewed Nazi Germany- one country rolling right over the rights of another, stealing land in the name of Zionist Destiny. Worse yet, many Jews buy into the BS of being a "chosen people" and their ridiculous religious notions rile idiots in America too, like Born Again Christians. Why can't Israel just stop expanding into Palestine's lands?

Makes you wonder if Israel is truely interested in peace. Removing U.S.A. dollar support may be way to wakem up.

This US administration is interested in a peace deal between Israel and Palestine, not in seeing Israel illegally seize more and more free Palestinian land for more illegal settlements. Why should any democracy be a partner in that dishonest venture? The only people in the world still pretending that Israel has any rights at all in E J'sem are Likud and a posse of acquisitive Jews/realtors from the right. There's not a single nation at the UN that supports the notion. The game is up for Israel on this one, though Bibi will be the last to admit he has failed again.

"Whereas in the past he negotiated with Israel while settlement activity continued, without setting prior conditions, " This is the crux of your argument and it is simply dishonest and not true. There were NO peace talks and that is the point! Israel always found a reason not to have them Fist there was no partner, then the Palestinians had to first accept the idea of a "Jewish" only state. As we say, it was always something. Your commentary is built on delusions and is dishonest. BTW, the US is not asking for groveling, but instead honest negotiations in the interest of all. Otherwise we are all doomed to go down the rat hole together.

No, folks. "Timing" is essential. Whether you agree with your most important (and apparently, only) supporter or not, you certainly don't spit in their eye and expect AIPAC to bail you out again. You simply use some semblance of brains and a bit of diplomacy.

Israel won its War of Independence in 1948 without any help from the US, thank you.

GROVEL!!!!!!!!!!!

Just sayin'.

This takes Hasbara to new levels of artistry.

The US needs to stop giving Israel 6 billion in aid every year. The settlement building will stop instantly.

Oh yes Israel needs to grovel and apologize and do what ever it takes to regain the support of the American people. I for one have been disgusted with Israel for a long time. It is my belief that as a country Israel as been dis-ingenious re: attempts at reaching peace with Palestinians. At the same time Israel has been playing the U.S. as a patsy for years. It is time for it to end! Function as an independent country without the U.S. support and a constant drain on the U.S. treasury. Work out your differences with the Arabs or cease to exist as country!

Every day it becomes more evident that this President has an animus towards Israel. Only Britain gets anywhere near the poor treatment Obama dishes out to Israel. The housing under dispute is not in Gaza or the West Bank, but in Jerusalem. Bibi needs to tell Barack, Hillary and the gang that they need go elsewhere to find somebody to grovel for them. With Iran openly calling for the annihilation of Israel and engaged in a race to obtain nuclear weapons Israel dare not show any weakness at this point!

American Zionists. both Jewish and Christian, should take note when they go into the voting booth this November, and don't vote for, or give a cent to any democrat. Let the people who agree with Hussein vote for them. And in 2012, remember this when Hussein, Biden, and Billary claim to be friends of Israel.

Right...he didn't know Moshe, Moshe you act as if we are still the children from before we became the aggressors. The truth is the longer this process is extended the more facts on the ground. You are transparently lying. Joel

yes they do need to grovel if it was not for the us needing intell in the region they would have been wiped out in 1948

It is not to Israel's advantage to give avay half the land so maybe Obama's 'suggestions' will keep Abbas' intransigence intact.