Israeli mockery of Obama's Nobel is pure chutzpah

The Nobel prize committee may have awarded the prize for the hopes Obama engendered rather than realized accomplishments. They did the same for President Woodrow Wilson long ago. What is more important is the disgraceful attitude of many Israelis towards a U.S. President even while few of their leaders have done anything for peace (with the exception of Rabin) for the last few decades. Perhaps Israel should turn down U.S. military aid, charitable donations, etc. just as Israelis would have Obama turn down the Nobel. Personally, I'd rather be led by Obama that have the corrupt politicians that have dominated Israeli politics. Your past president and prime minister are on trial for rape and graft, respectively. and Netanyahu's last government fell because of corruption. Hear O Israel, get your own house in order before criticizing mine.

Who mocked Obama?

David, I enjoy your posts, learn from them and agree with you always. This time though, I wonder what else could Obama have done besides accepting the price. Let's say he would have said: "Listen guys, I don't deserve it yet". That would have caused shock, rifts and could have been interpreted as a rejection of peace, and inflamed those bellicose Muslim fanatics who would have crowed "I told you so! - I told you so!". It's certainly not Israel's Chutzpah to question the prize. It's certainly not Obama's fault he received it. It is the sole responsability of a prize that has lost almost all moral value. To share such an honor with Yasser Arafat just can't be moral. Do you agree? Best, Fortuna.

for the Heissman, Motor Trend Car of the Year, a Grammy, an Oscar, the list is endless. After all, he might do something at a future date to warrant them. (well, the Oscar is for his performance at the big party in Chicago) What a man, what an image!

11 days into his presidency? "Shiny prize going to the nice man who made the best speech" (UK) "What has he done?"(most US papers) "What?" (followed by guffaws on MSNBC) and the most ridiculous was the CNN fact checking of SNL skits by Blitzer. Who didn't laugh? Besides Obama and staff.

All over late night...

Obama himself admitted he didn`t deserve the Nobel Peace Prize because he hasn`t yet accomplished very much. In fact, many people here in the US beleive it should have gone to Neda, the young woman who was killed by the Iranian government thugs when she was protesting the elections there. ***** IMO, Rachel Corrie should have been awarded a Peace Prize.

Israeli side,it's chutzpah that Obama accepted the prize for not as yet doing anything concrete towards world peace. The Nobel prize today has no moral value only monetary.

So now Israeli's are mad fanatics...I would say the only mad thing in this whole peace prize is giving it to a man in order to spite our previous president. One has to laugh at this prize given to a man who has accomplished nada,nothing during his presidency...oh yes he has made things worse..has gone on an apology tour smearing the memory of our fallen soldiers who have died trying to bring freedom to those who could never understand the concept of freedom, has put us in financial chaos and has never missed an opportunity to fly around spending money on himself and that lady he lives with. Oh yes the Noble committee loves him because they see his true intentiions to bring America to her knees and to instore a socialist country that will crumble from within. No Israeli's are not mad fanatics..americans are for voting for obama and lending a hand in destroying the good ole USA.

Maybe Mr. Eldar is covered in teflon and has stoppers in his ears. Israel is threatened with annhilation, bombarded with rockets, assaulted with suicide bombers, and it's ennemies are brainwashing the next generation of Palestinians with hate rhetoric. So preach all the fantasy peace you want. The reality on the ground is this: Israel is a vibrant modern society, and the Palestinians who embraced hostility and hate 60 years ago are still languishing in civil war and repressing their own people. I'm embarassed to be a leftist if you think you are one too. I'd rather be alive and realistic.

I read and reread your post several times...it still does not make any sense to me. You forgot to say that you joined in with the arab world to destroy Israel and kill all of the Jews in '48...and this dangerous game continues until today. Stealing land....killing your people...take some time out..have a cup of coffee and read a history book. You might have the shock of your life. Look towards your arab brothers and blame them and your unfit leadership,that has robbed your people blind,for the problems that you face today. Just think of it...60 plus years wasted because of hatred and bigotry and stubborness...60 plus years wasted on stupidity instead of using those years to build a viable country and joining the assembly of nations instead of being looked upon as terrorists and murderers...and reckless,senseless barbarians searching for the next suicide bomber to blow themselves up for allah.You think you are hurting Israel but you are destroying yourselves.

Israel is playing with fire, but that's fine with us pals. You stole our land. You kill our people. You put us all in prisons. You humiliate us. Your turn will come. The world is moving to right this wrong. Obama will make peace happen.

The election of Obama was a resurrection for Eldar and some other people. His speech in Cairo was the ten commandments. His speech in the UN was the prophecy. His Nobel prize was the anointment. And mockery of him is blasphemy.

But of course!

Another purely partisan analysis,no content.Begi,Rabin and Peres did not achieve peace because goal of Arab nations(in fact, Islamic masses) is to destroy Israel.barak and Olmert offered 97% of the territories supposedly to be part of Arab palestine.But they want Haifa,TelAviv,Hadera,etc.If Mr.Eldar believes another unilateral withdrawal is the answer(should include East Jerusalem,I guess),then say so.Otherwise,shut up

You correctly enumerated Obama's successive cave-ins . These cave-ins have now created the pitfalls for any further progress. Mitchell might as well stay home.Voted for him but hoped for more backbone. Disappointed

We laugh at the fact he has done nothing so far to make him worthy of his prize but lets not forget the fact that he had to be nominated for this prize. He was nominated around Febuary which is basicly one month since his inaguration. At that time he hadn't even been on his tour of the muslim world making big speeches or talked about his vision of nuclear free world, which will come to nothing and is not even his idea its hyping up & trying to make look like his own initiative things Bush negotiated agreements on like the US & Russia jointly decommissioning some of their oldest Cold War era nukes. If he has not done anything in 9 months what exactly had he done after 1 month to even make him a worthy candidate? Obama was nominated for 2 reasons. 1) He wasn't Bush and the Europeans were sick of Bush so they bought into the Obama celebrity cult of this young cool politicians with lots of ideas. 2) He was Americas first black president so that made him special.

First, yet another empty threat - this time 'Clinton's report'. Hey Eldar, I'm still waiting for Obama's peace plan. Hello? Then the anti-Zionism and worse - 'wealthy Jewish lobby', 'little Israel', etc. etc. Old Eldar is getting increasingly shrill and frantic, and the nonsense in his writing increases as he gets more desparate. He and his ilk could manage no more than 3 seats out of 120 - this shows he has no influence whatsover except to make empty threats.

Thank you for showing the world that not all Israeli's are mad fanatics, always using force and invasions instead of common sense and approachment. After your bloody incursion into Lebanon in 2006 and Gaza in 2008, I had just about lost faith in anything good coming out of Israel, but you've restored my hope that Israel will come to its senses. Now about that Goldstone report on Isareli war crimes....

The criticism at the intersection of Obama and Peace Prize is totally understandable. Obama is trying to find a peaceful solution to the Arab/Israeli war, and the Nobel Peace Prize is given to those seen as notable in promoting Peace and the resolution of international conflicts by diplomacy and arbitration. The intersection of Obama and Peace Prize represents the conjunction of everything the right holds most evil and contemptuous. The mockery is not chutzpah, it is the natural defense of everything held sacred by the right against everything it loathes.

To argue that those Israelis who mock Obama and criticize the Nobel prize commission are not alone is not a sound Alibi. To put them in the same tent with Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and other Republicans known for their bizzare if not outright questionable frame of mind is not a complement. Israel would have done infinitely better if it had a politician in the mold of Obama who is forward looking and is committed to changing the accursed status quo.

Obama has achieved (at least) one very important fact. I travel quite a bit, mostly in central america and the middle east and ever since Obama became president I have noticed a definate change in the attitudes of the people i meet. I meet buisness peopleas well as farmers, drivers, teachers, pretty much everybody, once I tell them I am American (I NEVER tell casual aquaintences I am from Jerusalem) they immediatlly voice support for USA and Obama. Immedeatlly!!! I used to have to tell people I am Canadian just so not to hear them complain for 20 minutes about US policy and bush in particular. I know this is just anecdotal, but others have voiced the same. Obama's first great achievment is the restoration of American prestige and leadership that in itself leads to talk and reconciliation. Certainly a surprise award, maybe corect, maybe not but certainly he is more deserved than past winners like Kissinger, Peres and Begin, etc

Akiva as usual you spout all your anti Israel garbage while it has nothing to do with the topic you chose to write about. B Hussein did nothing for peace and has accomplished nothing. The prize was given to him for what he might do and most probably won't. Your self hate is disgusting and not worthy to be printed.

Israel may not currently have any politicians worthy of a Nobel Prize thats no big deal, they don't come along every day you have to have done something to have EARNED the prize. Obama people mock him because he has done NOTHING so far except a few speeches to the arabs and tried and failed to get Israel to play ball and do things his pro arab way. America is still fighting 2 wars. He has not achieved anything on the Iranian front other than turn a blind eye to the violence after the election. You have to have made real achievements above & beyond the call of duty to EARN a Nobel Prize. Jimmy the penut had to wait until 2002 for his. Where is Bill Clintons prize? He left office 9 years ago, he hellped make peace with Northern Ireland, he tried hard on the palestinian front and managed to make peace with Israel & Jordan but he is still waiting. Obama was inagurated 9 months ago, is still a serving president has done nothing but he has a Nobel Prize where is the justice?

According to Eldar: "...Obama is promoting universal dialogue based on hope for a better future, combating racism and improving human rights..." Exactly what has he done to further these ends? He is still fighting two wars, has yet to even mention climate change, and until he dismantles all our nuclear warheads unilaterally, he should not lecture any other country about nuclear proliferation. The Nobel committee has made a mockery of the peace prize by turning it into a European popularity contest.

The Obama administration's efforts towards comprehensive Middle Eastern peace is part of the agenda of global peace. They've reiterated constantly their security interests to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Last month in the U.S. there were 3 terror related plots, which were planned by U.S. nationals in relation to these conflict-zones, but nevertheless halted by U.S. security officials. So to think that the American administration will commit to inaction in these regions is highly unlikely, whether diplomatically or militarily. There's an obligation by the Middle Eastern parties to commit to the Road Map proposal and bring a resolution which is satisfactory to the majority of moderate populations involved in the conflict.

As BHO reaches his hands in surrender to N Korea, the N Koreans react to his overtures. No wonder He won the Prize. He WILL bring "peace" in our time.....since the Islamists and Fascists will succeed in winning on his watch and there will be no democracies left to succeed. IN FACT, he IS the one that stated at the UN that Democracy is NOT a right of the people! http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,564186,00.html

I wish there were a "Laxative for the head". Mr. Eldar could certainly benefit from taking one such remedy for the spew emanating from his head via his writing. Maybe I should get the Nobel prize for my wish. Nobel prizes are for achievement, not for endless chatter!

Jesus of Nazareth. When the Nobel people get around to awarding the Peace Prize to this man, they'll have finally done their job and can close shop.

Here's the latest score: Netanyahu 3. Obama 0. Bibi scored, in May, with the "reaffirmation documents" concerning US approval of Israel's illegal nuclear arsenal. Bibi bragged to the media about it. Then Bibi scored a second time, when he got Obama to back down on the demand for a settlement freeze; with world-class chutzpah, Bibi announced hundreds of new housing starts on Arab land. More recently, Bibi wanted to quash the Goldstone Report, a docile Obama complied; US pressure succeeded in getting the UN vote postponed - tabled for six months. Bibi scored again. Obama has scored nothing but scorn, contempt and now mockery - from the beneficiaries of his submissiveness. Obama should be angry, Bibi has played him for a fool. Question: If Obama should retaliate, by threatening to re-evaluate the "special relationship", would the Mossad or fifth-column, de facto Israeli agents in the US consider engaging in another targeted killing - justified as Israeli "self-defense"?

The award was very premature, and one basis I use on this is the fact that Middle East peace is in no better shape than it ever was. Doesn't mean I'm mocking him. I find it funny that Ehud Barak would defend Arafat vs. Netanyahu. Wasn't it he in 1999/2000 who offered Arafat 95% of what he asked for in a peace deal and was rebuffed by Yassir completely?

Maybe we should have Nobel peace prize for war. The Arabs need a chance to win. But i reckon Obama would win that too.

Approval ratings towards Americans from the eyes of foreign coutnries have increased, dramatically, in every country except Israel and Iraq. Iraq is easy to see, over 100K civilians killed in an invasion and war. But Israel is more difficult. The relationship between US and Israel has changed with this new President; peace is a front burner issue and Mitchell is dedicated for daily pushing of the process. The "carte-blanche" no longer exist from the White House ( of Bush) to Israeli leaders and that could be disturbing. Americans are rethinking their expenditures overseas and trying to figure out what we get from these activitries.

I think it was premature prize,because intentions are not enough.But even lake of accomplishment is better than what Kissinger and Arafat accomplish. Desmond Tutu got it for talking,and so Amnesty International.UN's peace keeping force has done more than talking,but peace prize to military, and there was some wrong doing too. Kofi Annan?Mohamed ElBaradei?.Obama deserve it as much as those people,but i wouldn't be proud to be on the list of laureate.

Luckily we have been blessed by an impressive group of straight-thinking scientists like Prof. Ada Yonath. Would really like to know what Ada Yonath (and of course Akiva Eldar) would do with terrorists intercepted before or after carrying out some atrocity against Israeli citizens. Perhaps to send them on their way with a slap on the back, a wink and a nudge. The idea she expressed of not having any kidnapped soldiers if terrorists aren't kept in prison is beyond ridiculous - there is nothing to stop the Arabs from continuing to try to kidnap Israeli soldiers (or civilians) but, in the absence of prisoners to free, just demand something else, like a chunk of territory, a caseload of money. she should stick to chemistry. And not every ridiculously fatuous statement needs to be adopted by those who see themselves as pundits and all-knowing.

This is such a silly article. Instead of finding logical and reasonable arguments to support Obama's prize, the writer uses the space to excoriate Netanyahu, in a particularly puerile and gloating way, too. And the fact remains, regardless of what happened to each of Israel's peace prize winners, Obama still hasn't done anything to warrant being awarded it. He hasn't made peace anywhere in the world and I fear that his apologies, his self-effacement on America's behalf and just downright naivite, will ensure he never does.

Akiva Eldar, regarding Rabin, you state "the second was murdered by a Jewish fanatic who paved the way for a right-wing government," - Do you seriouse propose that Rabin was less deserving of the prize because he was murdered by a right-wing fanatic? What kind of logic is that? This is the first Haaretz article I have read in a long time and if this is the level of journalism, guess I haven't been missing much.

Boston Globe: Now Obama needs to earn the prize he won too soon Portland Maine Herald: President may deserve a Nobel, but not yet. He should thank the Committee, but ask it to wait a few years to consider his actual achievements. Manchester, N. H. Union Leader: There should have been no surprise. With one or two exceptions, the bar has been set so low for this award that Pee Wee Herman could jump over it on his way to Oslo. Burlington, Vermont, Free Press: Editorial: The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to President Obama can best be seen as a recognition of this nation's potential to inspire and lead the world. The prize is as much about the changes in how the United States engages the world than Obama's few concrete foreign policy accomplishments during his scant nine months in office. Buffalo News: It seems a shame to call President Obama's Nobel Peace Prize a joke, but how seriously can you take a prize that has yet to be earned?

Is it only Chutzpa with Israeli mockery?,what about US mockery?.If they give the prize for talks,they should have given it to Letterman or Leno,that was on CNN.Have you heard Jon Stewart on the daily show?.Eldar seem to accept world wide mockery,but not Israeli.Again all but Israel may do it,but never Israel. BTW,one shouldn't mock Obama's prize.One should mock the Nobel institution.

Israel media & public have frequently been too happy to mock Nobel Prize for Pres.Obama as if they have been waiting this opportunity.It seems they are now realizing how trivial, vulgar & offending their voices have been. It is not excuse that in USA amasement has not been less. But there is difference between amasement and amusement, between critical & insulting. I can not deny: Israel public discourse frequently has bad manners. What is worse sometimes it has no what in Idish called "saihl", which is "practical wisdom". if You want. I would never suggest that the article has none of it. But I would humbly point to Mr Eldar that not very many Arabs in Palestine want reconsilation with him in a way he dreams about or many Israli would enjoy defeat of their Goverment in a way he hopes. To imagine himself being a a promoter of peace & enlightment , for this in Idish there was another word:"luftmenchen", the "salesmen of air ".

And it's very ugly. Until Israel stops blaming others and demonstrates that she's truly committed to peace, her leaders can never hope to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

has more to do with the realisation by Israelis that maybe they can't get out of this one. That they are actually going to have to make concrete steps towards a two state solution, and that a repeat of Lebanon2 or Cast Lead is not going to get it put on the back burner. Even Israeli attempts to start a third intifada has failed. Obama's award of a Nobel Prize is seen by right thinking people as a downpayment for what he is about to achieve, he will get another next year when a Palestinian State is established.

What a shallow article. Check the political extreme views of The chairman of the Nobel peace prize committee, Thorbjörn Jagland. Anti Israel and viciusly anti American during the Bush era. Charamn of the M.E. committee of the Socialist International. The cunnig astuce of the defeatest liberals that form the Nobel committee is to make him a modern time Chamberlain. We know how many lives that cost. Why the committee would give President Obama the award when he hasn't done anything yet? In giving this award, the Nobel Committee is telling these right-wing forces to back off. And it's sending a message of encouragement to those Naive liberals who put Obama in office. This is The Anti-Bush Nobel Peace Prize. Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize for what? This is completely bizarre It is unclear why. For making peace, of a kind, with Hillary Clinton? For giving up the missile shield and cheering up the Iranians? For preparing a surge of troops and weaponry in Afghanistan?

If I remember right, Obama was awarded the price for his publicly stated vision (and plan to work towards) of a nuclear weapon free world (absolute novelty for a US president) and the change of climate in international politics he brought about. both things he has actually done and sticks to it.That he wasn't (yet) able to change much about the situation in the ME is not exactly his fault,is it?Israel is not the center of the world and peace does not always mean peace between Pals and Isis. As the stronger party in the conflict, Israel should start to seriously work towards the 2 state solution and stop wondering why Obama got that price, then they could get the price next time,and I would rub my eyes

Eldar never loses an opportunity to slate his own country. Barak and Peres praised Obama's prize - the most negative comments by an Israeli were from Gideon Levy!!

Sorry Akiva, you're still a manic-depressive walking bomb. It will be unfortunate foe an aging, an otherwise lucid gentelman of yesteryear, to finish his illustrous carrier this way. The Article, though a continuation of provacative stands, does not illuminate any of the various issues Akiva raised helter skerterly. One point though: it was the people of Israel that elected the majority of the government. We ought to abide that result, even if we don't agree with it. Regarding the composition of Netanyahu cabinet, look at the French one; made up from a rainbow electorate, and Sarkozy isn't at war. Obama, yes your reflections on Obama: Akiva it is so provincial of you, read the international media, they are all stupefied by the choice which somehow has drove lower the high bar to which Nelson Mandela,and Guandi has let us to expect.

who voted for him and whose car sports an ardent Obama bumper sticker as well as one on its rear windown has expressed her surprise about the award. :ppl, deadlines for nominations were in April. He was inaugurated as president in January. It really was premature to award the prize, based on hope and dreams and his speeches during the campaign, rather than any accomplishments.

Obama himself admitted he didn't deserve the Nobel Peace Prize because he hasn't yet accomplished very much. In fact, many people here in the US beleive it should have gone to Neda, the young woman who was killed by the Iranian government thugs when she was protesting the elections there. Thus, the Israelis are not alone in their thinking on this matter. That said, I hope Obama's current and future ACTIONS--not his promises--come to justify this award.

my god. the point is that obama has not done anything to desreve the prize. in a round about way he admitted it himself. thepont is that the committee that voted for this made a mockery. what is the peace prize about - popularity of the left? come on mr. eldar, arafat also got the prize is that not also a mockery? use your education to think! dont just write words for the sake of writing words. do you not value freedom & democracy?

Maybe it was too early...One thing is sure. He has changed the atmosphire of the politics of the world more than anybody in his position of power, already in a very short time.Those with the hawkish ideas, those with intolerant ideas as to sexuality and equality of the people, those who support the racisism of all kind -colour, religion...(exept as to themselves)and so on ...for them the aims of Obama are not welcomed.

All the news sites are using words like "bemused" and "bewildered" to describe the award to Obama, it is not just we in Israel who are stunned. The Nobel committee has lost its credibility, now as in the past.

It is obvious that Obama received the prize based on what the committee thought he might achieve, the same way they gave it to Woodrow Wilson, who actually did broker to "new nations" that have since disappeared, and, once out of the way, the old ethnic feuds returned to plague Eastern Europe. Ah! and shall we forget the way Germany was "made to pay" for its war crimes, which, in turn lead to yet another World War. Some peacemaker, eh? If, according to Eldar, Israel has made a mockery of the Prize. If Marshal Pildsusky could ignore the League of Nations and keep the Vilna Corridor as part of Polonia Restituta, what's so strange about Israel reclaiming its Historic Homeland.

Mr Elder you have it wrong. If there is mocking going around it's not at Obama but at the process that can award this prize for zero achievements - it would be like giving a student a PHD directly after they have finished the BA on the basis that they might actually study further. The President of the United States. has to date, done nothing to earn this award, and his acceptance of it cheapens all previous and future winners.

C'mon Akiva, so many in the world think that giving the prize to Obama was very premature, including Obama himself. No one is blaming or laughing at Obama. People are laughing and blaming the Nobel peace prize committee who decided on the prize when there was only about two weeks to nominate after he was made President. The trouble is that they made a mockery of the prize and of Obama. Its a Chutzpa that you blame Israelis. But then, you always do.

Still, to the best of my knowledge, this is the only time a Nobel has been awarded a person who hasn't a single achievement behind him. But according to the present U.S. attitude, it is racist to question anything regarding the anointed one.

To give a price to some one who has done nothing, what a nice education example for our kids!

it is not only in Israel that there is scorn..it is far too soon to give Obama the Nobel Prize..he has not brough Peace anywhere-there were many more suitable candidates.

Mocking I would say goes a bit too far but being ashtonished - well the whole world is . Questioning if he deserves it is normal and there are many - from both right and left - who are saying the same thing. He has no acheivements that warrant such a prize, promises are not accomplishments. But this is water under the bridge, he accepted the prize.