It's too bad Netanyahu and Obama didn't stop and think first
Netanyahu and Obama are like heroes in a Greek tragedy, waiting for the inevitable confrontation.
By Aluf Benn Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu Barack Obama Israel news Middle East peaceLike boxers who heard the bell, like rhinos during the mating season, that's what the sparring between Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu has come to resemble. Adrenalin pumping in the veins, eyes seeing red, and in their ears the cries of their supporters: "Knock his teeth out," "Let him have it," "Where's the blood?" The only thing missing is good sense.
Since the days they took office, the prime minister and the U.S. president have behaved like heroes in a Greek tragedy, bound by fate and waiting for the inevitable confrontation. Netanyahu saw in Obama and his aides a group of leftists who want to overthrow him and bring about "regime change" in Israel. Obama saw in Netanyahu a liar and subversive who is rallying the support of the Jewish lobby to foil U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. The only surprise was that the two have managed to restrain themselves for a year before the exchange of diplomatic blows.
Now they are fighting over honor. "We are not willing to be suckers," was how Netanyahu once summed up his political worldview. "Insult," "humiliation," is what senior administration officials cried after Israel announced that 1,600 new housing units would be put up in Ramat Shlomo - a declaration made during Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel. On both sides they are talking in terms of life and death: Netanyahu's backers charge Obama with sentencing Israel to death via the Iranian nuclear program and "Auschwitz borders" from which rockets would be fired onto Tel Aviv and Ben-Gurion International Airport. For their part, the Americans warn that Israel's desire for settlements is endangering their soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The cheerleading only encourages the rivals not to give in. Obama was congratulated by The New York Times for his firm stance against Bibi and the settlements. Finally he has shown that he's a man, he was told. The right in Israel has called on Netanyahu to stand tall for the nation and throw the two-state solution into the garbage once and for all, making clear to the evil Americans that Israel will put a million Jewish settlers in the settlements. That is why you were elected, he is being reminded, not to surrender to Hussein Obama. Netanyahu agreed, went back to his ideological hearth and declared that construction in East Jerusalem will continue and settlement expansion in the West Bank will resume in the summer.
It's too bad that Netanyahu and Obama didn't stop and think about the implications of their actions. Let's assume Netanyahu overcomes American pressure and steps up construction in the territories. He will be applauded on the right and his rule will be secure for another two years, or maybe three, with the given coalition, but how would this folly serve Israel's national interest? It would only lead to deepened international isolation, foil a settlement with the Palestinians and waste billions.
Obama's gamble is even more risky. The Americans assume that the minute he stops to take a breath, Netanyahu will recall Israel's great dependence on the United States and give in to the ultimatum, as in past crises. Even the fabled David Ben-Gurion, who declared the existence of Israel's third kingdom at the end of the Sinai Campaign in 1956, caved in two days later and agreed to withdraw from the peninsula. The combined threat of Dwight Eisenhower and the Soviet leaders was enough to reverse Ben-Gurion's promise that "we will not stand idly by when we are under attack - especially when the attack is unjustified."
Netanyahu is not Ben-Gurion. He has a weaker personality and his rule depends on Eli Yishai and Avigdor Lieberman, who are extremists. But herein lies the danger of isolating Israel: Netanyahu may brace himself behind his existential fears, assume that Obama has come to terms with the Iranian bomb and send the air force on a preemptive strike on Iran. If the United States kicks Israel, we can ignore their calls not to hit Natanz. Thus a relatively minor dispute over the construction of a new neighborhood in Jerusalem may ignite a regional war.
The severity of the danger requires that this crisis be contained quickly. Someone needs to tell Obama not to push Israel into a corner and to remind Netanyahu what the true balance of power is. The Americans may be polite, and it's not nice that they remembered to oppose Israeli construction in East Jerusalem after they turned a blind eye for 42 years. But the American rhino is bigger and more powerful, and if he really becomes angry, the shock of his blow may be too painful to bear.
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All smart bombs have a backup non-GPS based guidance system. The U.S. installed these in case China or some other power manages to destroy enough satellites to hurt the GPS net. The practical effect is that smart bombs will be slightly less accurate but will remain effective. (Also, I'm not sure GPS can be disabled selectively, without hurting other American operations in nearby Iraq or AfPak).
"Who else uses the "insult" to dictate foreign policy?" - Ingrid Kim Jong Il? Mahoumed Ahmadinejad? It is a distinguished company that Netanyahu keeps.
"Where was Prime Minister Rabin born?" - Johnny Weintraub In Jerusaelm, in the Palestine Mandate. Why was he murdered? For attempting peace. Who murdered him? An ultra-Orthodox right wing extremist. Yigal Amir remains a hero of the Israeli right Johnny. Is he a hero of yours?
Netanyahu didn't think before acting. Obama thought too much without acting.
Well, well, well, Tony. Yet another histrionic outburst from you. Complete with a fabricated quote. What else can we expect from you?
What kind of person are you? Do not dare to think that the U.S. has any right to make decisions for Israel? And It is getting sickening listening to this latest Fiasco from the Obama camp. We in America can't make important decisions for Israel and should never meddle in Jewish affairs unless Israel ask the U.S. for advise, which I don't believe they need. Just My thoughts. I'll be back I'm sure. Shalom.
Only dumb-ass politicians get away with this level of idiocy, a truly dumb-ass affirmative action negro and a quivering pudding with no boundaries - what a combination
I reject the notion that they are both responsible. BIBI is right winger who does not give a hoot abour Palestine. OBama is a humanitarian and Prez of the mighty US.You do not see the difference? Think of it as plant and tree.
If Israel thinks they can launch a war against Iran using US-supplied smart bombs without US permission, you are kidding yourselves. All it takes is a push of a button from a bunker in the United States, and the US Satellite supplied GPS targeting for all those smart bombs shuts down. No public announcement is needed. No confrontation. Just a push of the button, and all those US-supplied smart weapons will be hurtling aimlessly through the sky and landing hopelessly off-target. You want a war without US permission? Forget about using US Smart weapons.
The article has a series of wrong assumptions: A) Obama has no interest in stopping Iran, as can be clear from Obama's lack of effort. How many "final" deadlines did Iran break? 3,4,7? So Iran doesn't give Bibi a reason to be nice to Obama. B) The U.S. being friendly to Israel will have no effect on Israel's decision to strike, since some in Israel (like Bibi) consider the threat to be existential. Nor does Israel need to go via Iraqi/US airspace (Saudi will cooperate). So Obama has no Iran-based incentive to be nice to Bibi either. In fact, he must relish the opportunity to finally look tough. Did you read the Dowd NYT article? C) Bibi will look very weak and indecisive if he back down over Jerusalem. The government will not survive. D) So the only possible compromise would be that Israel continues building in Jerusalem but gives in to a few of the US other demands'. However, it's unlikely Obama will accept this, which means we're in to a rough ride.
The rhetoric I'm hearing from the right in Israel today is eroding any support I once had for Israel - which used to be pretty strong during my previous 3 kibbutz visits. Everyone has their opinions and I'm entiled to mine, just as the US is NOT entitled or required to support Israel on it's sprint down the wrong path. If Israel is the world's example of what being a Jew is - I don't want to have anything to do with being one anymore. Israelis are a tough people, but the waves of immigration must be bringing something bad into the mix. I won't be told by a group of people I don't know - that I NEED to support their rediculous hate-filled ambitions to conquer more than they need. It's time for Israeli's to show some respect and, God forbid - some humility for once. They have become a poster-child for "over-comphensation" in all regards. Enjoy being even more isolated than you are today Israel - you've earned it. God Help you - you're going to need it if you keep this up.
You cannot compare P.M. Netanyahu to President Obama. Netanyahu is a P.M. of Petite state but Obama is the President of a Super Power Country. Wake-up Aluf Benn.
it was called palestine and was under brittish occupation....gawd you are stupid!
Barack Hussein Obama II , Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. , George John Mitchell , and Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton - decide to harm Israel : 1. They Don't let Israel attack Iranian nuclear weapons plants 2. They and others didn't stop Iran to get it... 3. They just giving Iran more time for more bombs 4. Iran train, equip, and financier terrorists in Lebanon , Syria , GAZA - Hamas and others include in PLO , Yemen , Saudi Arabia , Egypt , IRAQ... , Afghanistan , South America ...! , north America ...! - And those and other MF - just more soft to them... - Why ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtP9KU7FuaY&feature=fvw 5. After Mitchell and Biden visit they inflame the ARABS in Israel - as in every "peace process" - include OSLO - and you can see today the Arabs riots... 6. Arabs should go back to Arabia, Arab from Arabia , Jew / Jude from Judea. The people of Israel live in the land of Israel for more than the last 3000 years... If other subjugators / empires took control on the l
As a people almost exterminated by the Nazis, Israel will never give up it's weapons. Iran has repeatedly announced its intention of wiping Israel off the map. Can you honestly advocate Israel leave itself defenseless against such barbarism and threat? I don't think so.
"... send the air force on a preemptive strike on Iran" In defiance of the USA? That has to be the most incredible innane thing I ever seen written!
Are you sane ?? The heading should have been ' It is too bad Netenyahu did'nt stop and think first. Why in God's name you bring Obama in the same line as that Idiot of yours ??????????????
"Every time we do something you tell me America will do this and will do that . . . I want to tell you something very clear: Don't worry about American pressure on Israel. We, the Jewish people, control America, and the Americans know it." - Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, October 3, 2001XXXX -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
israel must destroy its nukes in order to have a Middle East Nukes Free Zone
America floods Israel with money, weapons and political support, and then fights Israel?s wars for them. In exchange, Israel spies on America, refuses peace making efforts, and interferes with America?s political and economical systems. There is no worse enemy that America has in the world today than this fake friend.
You say that Israel is a client State. You really believe that the US gives away so much money all for free, with nothing in return.? No combined R&D. No Israeli advanced communication equipment.? No all Israeli advanced avionics.? No all Israeli advanced computer programs.? No all Israel armored equipment for Humvees etc. No all Israeli security systems at US Airports.? That is just the tip of the iceberg. Boy, are you lacking in common knowledge, coming from Boston and all.! By the way Boston is one of my favorite cities. Have a nice day.
My belief is they will force a change in gov. Bring Livni back in to smooth things over and to be an opposition to Lieberman. Sounds more like it.
The Israeli left never stops attacking the right, even if it means putting Israel in a dangerous situation.
The retreat without demanding anything from Egypt in return led to the 1967 war and today's situation. Aluf Benn inadverently provides arguments for Netanyahu opposing Bambi's dictates.
It is all about ideologies. This confrontation is about a year and half over due and it is far from over. It is not an issue of timing, or Obama middle name. it is an irreconcilable clash between this right wing Israeli government agenda and the policy of the US, plain and simple. It was just a matter of time of when will it eventually erupt and it will end either with US pulling out of its role as mediator in the conflict or this Israeli government falling. There is just no common ground between them,
Fear not "son", do you really believe that it was the united states that has made you great? Show some faith and stand with your people. Israel is and will be protected and provided for forever. Shalom
The Israelis seem to forget that they are a client state, having received $114 Billion from the US gov't. Those F-15s and F-16s which guard Israeli skies, where do you think they come from? Bibi needs to be reminded that he is not an equal partner in this relationship. We get nothing for our continued financial and military support of Israel but hatred from the Arab world and thumbs in our eye from the Israeli government. If Israelis want to continue receiving US tax-payer largess, I suggest they treat the US administration with a little more respect, and understand that they are A CLIENT STATE. Start acting like one or the US will turn off the money and weapons spigot.
...."The Jewish Lobby" needs to be further described, because as you know the moderate JStreet organization has successfully exstablished itself as credible and significant. Jstreet is growing at a more rapid rate than "old' AIPAC. These two Washington based advocacy groups do have opposing positions. There are other Jewish advocacy groups in America, ADL comes to mind, but their message and purpose is also different than the two groups mentioned above. TWO: America has not really turned a blind eye to Jerusalem construction for 42 years. (a) America is not consumed w/daily activites in Israel like Israel is of the USA--Israel is a low priority. (b)Both Clinton & Bush Sr. identified problems with Jerusalem and openly expressed them. (c) Obama has gone one step further--He's asking for "action steps" indicating a willingness to work for peace. Over this construction issue. A C T I O N
Carter who made Bin Laden possible. Clinton who misplaced his genitals and bombed capital of the European country (hitting Chinese embassy) Obama in Istanbul, Cairo, bowing to Saudi King...
we teach people, how to treat us. The Pal-PR has taught the world that they are "victims",who cannot even choose their own reactions, therefore they are NOT responsible for their violence, temper tantrums and short fuse, but Israel "the scapegoat" is. The world has fully accepted this pic. Israel has taught the world that she can be treated like this; the world can spit on Israel and make the rules Israel has to faithfully follow. Israel is a "pleaser" that pursues to "accomodate" everybody else except her own needs. Such behavior does not attract respect on the contrary. AND those you try to "please" will NEVER be happy with you Israel. Therefore any self-interest Israel demonstrates will raise a global tsunami followed by fierce condemnation. Israel needs to change her own attitude and approach to the world at the risk of global animosity and losing her "friends". Better to stand alone with some self-respect than with bad "friends" and with no self-respect.
OK, Netanyahu is NO ben-Gurion, but then this ain't 1955. Israel card is much stronger.
Obama IS the thinker. The other one is the cunniver. Do not equate Netanyahu to a true leader.
The planes would be very unlikely to fly through Iraq. This is why Georgia was so important as the fabled unsinkable aircraft carrier / forward opperating base. Also, it would be missiles, and special forces on the ground, not planes, that would be first on target. I don't think Israel could survive the resultant firestorm unless they took the nuclear option early.
Its quite shocking that the most powerful man in the world has lowered himself to using the pathetic excuse of being "insulted" as a tool in his foreign policy. Is he taking his cues from international Islamists? Can the american Administration find no better way of managing their relations with their most loyal ally? Its clear that Obama has always had a distaste for Netanyahu, but is unilaterally supporting Palestinian rejection of peace talks and placing the blame on Netanyahu really becoming of the leader of the free democratic world? http://anothermudpit.blogspot.com/2010/03/insult-is-obama-administration-using.html"
The sad part of this is that Netanyahu is just not up to the job of peace-making. He chose such morons for his cabinet - Yishai, Lieberman, etal. Once again he makes clear his weakness to maintaining his position no matter what. The Gulf states as well as the Arab League have made gestures to thaw relations with Israel and he has spit in their faces as well as in the face of the President of the United States. No, Netanyahu is not up to the task and Obama has every reason to be tough with him. Obama is not anti-Israel or an anti-Semite as any person with half a brain knows. He truly wants to forward a peace agenda and Netanyahu is making that all but impossible. Unfortunately the Israeli people are not standing up and demanding change so what are we to do? I imagine the US and Europe will simply walk away sometime soon and wait for a better Israel to spring up from the Likud mess.
Aluf Benn taps into a core element, often disregarded in real time: psychologies of two leaders. Obama and Netanyahu don't have "chemistry": Read no "sympathy" for one another too. And their ideologies, or purported ideologies, don't help overcome that lack. For a year, they twisted and withheld themselves. An imbecile miscalculation by the Netanyahu administration is escalating now, nurturing on that very lack of "chemistry" or outright antipathy between them, and the circles around them. We are rapidly approaching the end of normalcy in Israel. Reversing that trend, will require much more than the end of Netanyahu's administration. It requires the isolation and containment of the fanatic blocks (both secular and orthodox) and replace them with sound, intelligent, fresh thinking. That generally occurs after a war, -G'd forbid-. I hope it doesn't take that for Israel to come to its senses, despite globalized anti-Semitism.
his constitution is over 200 years old? he has never heard of the 1968 vienna convention on treaties look it up potty and then you wont post total crap every time you post !
Once given the keys to the Whitehouse something happens to presidents. Even leftists like Obama are given the kind of information largely kept from the public and that information is about the primary threats to the US all over the world. I am sure Iran is at the top of that list and the US will be forced to deal with it even if we don't want to. While we are elated that the war in Iraq is winding down everyone knows there is a great possibility that Iran will simply take over where we leave off. However successful we are lately in Pakistan Afganistan, Iran is also involved there. The Sunni know what the threat is and they also know how much damage Iran can do if it becomes the only declared nuclear power in the region. There are so many elements that have nothing to do with Israel but everything to do with US interests in the region. Obama could just walk away but the information he has will prevent that from happening.
health care, skirting the constitution is not what Americans had in mind.Americans need Israel.Israel is the obstacle between the destruction of the US constitution by the radical political Islamists who deon't want to coexist with democracy. Obama is not following the will of the people. The American people are safer because of Israel not Obama who is not protecting Americans.Israeli intelligence has protected the US While Syria and Iran strongarm US regional friends into submission, Obama focuses US foreign policy on fighting with the best ally the US has.Obama is hurting the American people who are about to wake up
Sooner or later, the Left in Israel will realize that the world views them as being as Jewish as the Chief Rabbi. No matter how extreme their views, no matter how close they move to Communism devoid of religion, when it comes to Jews, the world is not interested. Jews are lumped together. So the sooner the Left get behind Jewish history and heritage, the sooner the conflict will be solved because the Left helps to confuse the world about just how important Jerusalem is for Jews.
erm ... rabin was born in Jerusalem Palestine in 1922 Israel didn't exist until 1948 ...
The underlying confrontation has already begun, in a step by step manner, with China. Its about US Monetary Policy. Its about Taiwan. Its about the Dali Lama. However, the US believes it can contain China. For China relies on its exports to the US..or are they prepared to forgo the above and change tactics. That is where the US must be careful. The US cannot contain the Regime in Iran. Neither can they contain another front in the ME. The US have only one true ally, that has the military might and that can be relied upon in the ME. That is Israel. Forget the rest, including coalition forces and the great NATO bureaucracy when in time of an emergency. Good day.
You fixate and fixate and fixate on Balfour and the dead past. If the oowers of the world decide that art of the past is meaningless, it is meaningless. Who will enforce those treaties against them?
And if people in the US decide they are more interested in the interests of the US more than those of Israel? What then?
The problem with this article is that it assumes that Obama actually has the ability to push Israel. I think it is clear that Netanyahu is banking on the assumption that the Israel lobby will protect Israel, once again, from American pressure. He may be right. If he is and Obama is forced to back down, then Obama will have lost his credibility and Israel will have further sealed its slide into becoming an outright apartheid state and an international pariah. But it seems that many Israelis are quite happy to live that way.
Israel has been building and expanding settlements for decades. It has always been contrary to Americas position. Even though a number of American presidents have raised objection, the building went on. It is finally, after decades of inaction, time for a confrontation. If Israel insists on going against Americas goals, then it is high time, god only knows, to cut American support. What nation is stupid enough to support their opponents?
Yes, our catastrophe. The enmity he is creating around the world and within key groups of Americans could take generations to erase. At best, he will win a pyrrhic victory or two on his way toward isolating his country at their hour of greatest need.
Where was the first "sabra" Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, born? Answer: In Jerusalem, Israel. That part of Jerusalem (near the Western Wall) was not referred to as an "occupied territory" back then, and it should not be called "occupied territory" nowadays. Prime Minister Rabin was born in the Land of Israel.
"Netanyahu may brace himself behind his existential fears, assume that Obama has come to terms with the Iranian bomb and send the air force on a preemptive strike on Iran." Those planes have to go through Iraqi airspace to get to Iran. Think about that, because Iraqi airspace is patrolled by... the US Air Force. Who says those planes will let your planes just waltz on through?
Bibi, the best leader Israel ever had. Wait and see the consequences!
obama tries to create new treaties of non existence and bibi fails to safeguard those that already exist ! the building freeze shows a buffoonery thta israel may never recover from !
The first round in the confrontation will be far away from the Middle East...and it is 8 months from now,in November...
So in essence, the only threat potential Netanyahu has with regard to the US is to behave like an irrational maniac threatening to set the world on fire.