Axelrod: Obama Understands Israel's Urge To Respond

One of Barack Obama's chief spokesmen repeated on Sunday that it would be counterproductive for the president-elect to weigh too deeply into the crisis between Israel and Hamas while another commander-in-chief occupied the Oval Office.

But David Axelrod, appearing on CBS's Face the Nation, did reaffirm Obama's commitment to the "special relationship between the United States and Israel" in a way that suggested general sympathy for the Jewish state's actions.

Speaking a day after Israeli airstrikes, targeting and destroying Hamas facilities in Gaza, killed more than 275, Axelrod said the president-elect, from on-the-ground experience, understood the urge for retaliatory action.

Last July, Obama visited Sderot, a southern Israel town on the border of the Gaza Strip that has taken the brunt of Hamas attacks, Axelrod reminded host Chip Reid. "He said then that when bombs are raining down on your citizens, there is an urge to respond and act to try to put an end to that. That's what he said then. I think that's what he believes."

That was the extent of geopolitical analysis that Axelrod would offer. The incoming White House strategist did offer a reaffirmation of Obama's willingness to work closely with Israel upon taking office. And, in the process of doing so, he again framed the current crisis as one that Hamas provoked.

"[Obama] wants to be constructive force in helping to bring about the peace and security that both Israelis and Palestinians want and deserve," said Axelrod. "And obviously this situation has become even more complicated in the last couple of days and weeks as Hamas began its shelling [and] Israel responded."

The Obama team has diligently watched and worked from the sidelines as the latest deadly Israeli-Hamas crisis flared. The president-elect has closely monitored events and been in discussion with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her successor-designate, Sen. Hillary Clinton. But as Axelrod told CBS and repeated on NBC's Meet the Press, there is only one president at a time and Obama would honor President Bush's decisions.

There is a large element of curiosity over how Obama will handle the latest Israeli-Arab violence once he takes office. The president-elect has postured himself as a more nuanced practitioner than George W. Bush when it comes to brokering peace between Israel and Palestinians.

But the ascension of Hamas to political power has complicated not just regional politics but Obama's approach to the matter. During the course of the election, his view on the organization seemed to harden. And when it was reported that his former church had reprinted a pro-Hamas op-ed in its bulletin, Obama offered deliberately strong lines of disapproval.

Hamas is a "terrorist organization," he opined, "responsible for the deaths of many innocents, and dedicated to Israel's destruction, as evidenced by their bombarding of Sderot in recent months. I support requiring Hamas to meet the international community's conditions of recognizing Israel, renouncing violence, and abiding by past agreements before they are treated as a legitimate actor."

Comments

[furioustruthtopower]

07:49 PM on 01/02/2009

To understand Obama just research Lincoln's reaction to slavery prior to his presidency. Thoug he vicorously opposed slavery he was cautious in his statemetns and actions until he had the opportunity to act. Lincoln was never far ahead of the tone of the American people on issues. Likewise, Obama must be careful. though he no doubt opposes such military actions, he has to act caoutiously and rationally.

[yoyo1959]

02:52 AM on 01/07/2009

PLEASE USE YOUR PLATFORM TO BRING MORE ATTENTION TO THE SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENT CHILDREN IN GAZA. TODAY I SAW VIDEO FOOTAGE OF MORTALLY WOUNDED OR DYING CHILDREN, WHO ARE EITHER DYING BECAUSE THERE ARE NO AMBULANCES TO BRING THEM TO HOSPITAL, OR DYING IN HOSPITALS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO SUPPLIES OR ELECTRICITY.

I CRIED INCONTROLLABLY AND SO SHOULD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.....BUT ONLY IF OUR MEDIA MAKES THIS HUMANITARIAN DISASTER A FRONT PAGE STORY.

DO THE MORALLY RIGHT THING....BRING THIS STORY TO THE FRONT AND CENTER. THIS IS A CRISIS OF IMMENSE POLITICAL REPERCUSSIONS.

[FairTalk]

03:04 PM on 12/31/2008

If Obama is not careful, he will become mired in this quicksand, and it will destroy all he has worked for all his life.

The Palestinians have a right of return. They have a right to have their elected leaders, Hamas to be respected. They have a right to dream. They have a right to self defense.

The Palestinians should not have to dance a jig to Israel's music.

Obama will need to rise above the convenient. It is time now to address all outstanding grievances, and work with all players. It is not time for more of the same. It is time to outwit the elitists.

Outwitted

He drew a circle that shut me out--
Heretic, a rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!

by Edwin Markam

[LumberSlumber]

09:50 AM on 12/31/2008

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs.

Thomas Jefferson

[aturner18]

05:57 PM on 12/30/2008

Is this above his pay grade?

[larazon]

11:25 AM on 12/30/2008

The post I just wrote below is being censored everywhere else! What's up with this censorship, HUH, HP? What's up with that??????

Shame on you for cowering to pressure from special interests (aka "Isr")!

[FairTalk]

02:46 PM on 12/31/2008

Some of my posts have never been posted.

[larazon]

11:22 AM on 12/30/2008

What I can't stand is that the media keep using the pre-election soundbite when PE Obama stated that if b.ombs were raining down on his two girls.....etc. he would use everything in his power to fight back...etc.

First, we should make it clear that what's going over to the other side is makeshift rockets. Let's just be clear on that to begin with. The I's have plenty of technology to knock those things out of the sky!

Second, the "P's" have been subjected to losses of freedom, civil and human rights, expropriation and s.tealing of their land, b.urning of their crops and have been forced to live in poverty and squalor in refu.gee camps.

He didn't say how he would defend himself if the above happened to him and his little girls. If his girls suddenly lost all the rights and liberties b.lacks gained through the civil rights movement and r.iots and were forced to live like that!

So I, for one want to see how balanced his judgment is on this, and whether or not he will be a t00l for AIPAC and take his orders from T....l Av....v like W has done.

We shall see. The jury's still out.

[FranklyEnough]

07:18 PM on 12/29/2008

It was obvious that Obama is no different from any other pro-israel politics, thus nothing else but this should have been expected.

[dhertzfe]

02:28 PM on 12/29/2008

I ask all of you, What do you expect Israel to do? Hamas is rocketing Israel daily. Talking to Hamas doesn't seem to work. Releasing prisoners didn't help. Giving back land that was captured during previous wars was not what Hamas wanted. What?

[larazon]

11:40 AM on 12/30/2008

Those concessions you mention amount to a load of......nothing! They are just PR gestures. Meanwhile millions are without basic human rights and forced to live in miserable conditions after having everything stolen from them!

Sure they disbanded the Gaza settlements. Gaza is one of the most DENSELY populated town in the Middle East, for God's sake! It was just ludicrous for them to keep those seaside resorts there with millions under military occupation on the other side of the barb'd wire fence! It was unsustainable for them! That's why they did it! It wasn't a GIFT! It was for their own benefit and security! Then they marginalized this town in such a way as to prevent all commerce, freedom of movement and cut of their utilities and provisions. This is the height of all hypocrisy!!!!

[FairTalk]

02:53 PM on 12/31/2008

I expect Israel to negotiate in good faith.

I expect that all outstanding grievances must be resolved.

I expect that peace without justice will be called oppression.

I expect that Israel will advocate for their vision of a Jewish state.

I expect Israel to be terrified by the thought of the refugees returning to their homes and farms.

I expect that if Israel is to claim they are a democracy, they will ensure equal enjoyment of all right and benifits to all citizens, and not deny some based on religious preference.

I expect Israel to stop accusing folks who oppose Israel's policies of antisemitism. There is a difference between despising Jews and objecting to Israel's policies.

I expect Israel to talk with the leaders of other countries, especially those who are their neighbors.

I expect Israel to grow up.

[papapj]

05:31 PM on 01/08/2009

I expect (hope) that Obama will stop acting like the US is Israels b**ch....

[Rudyabdul]

02:20 PM on 12/29/2008

The idea that Obama understands Israel's motives for the merciless killing and injuring of over a thousand innocent Palenstean men women and children is coming only from the mouth of Axerod, who is Jewish. I would like to hear it from Obama himself.

[christopherflynn]

01:51 PM on 12/29/2008

I wish they were all atheists-there would be a semblance of common sense humanism and no warfare...

[BadgerinNJ]

07:21 PM on 01/04/2009

You have to know religion has NOTHING to do with it.

[ballewb]

01:38 PM on 12/29/2008

PE Obama has nothing to do with this. Focus your critical statements on the actual actors in the situtation. PE Obama has plenty of time later to get nowhere with Israel and Palestine.

[anndash]

01:09 PM on 12/29/2008

I wish Obama were more even-handed in his response. It wasn't the Israelis who got him elected. It was US - liberals who don't want any more bloodshed and massacre of innocents with weapons and money supplied by the U.S.

[KarlaElisa]

01:26 PM on 12/29/2008

Amen to that AnnDash.

I was really hoping we'd move AWAY from the zionists influence and get our heads out of their hind ends. Maybe even wipe the brown off our noses. But no.

Israel will NEVER have my sympathy.

[Petunia39]

02:41 PM on 12/29/2008

here, here.

[Amennyc]

12:56 PM on 12/29/2008

All the weaponsd use say "made in the USA" just like the weapons and gas that was used by Saddam.

[Amennyc]

12:55 PM on 12/29/2008

Israel is like..... "Bush could care less. Obama already threw the gays under the bus and look what happened. So Jews are good to go and be the new face of Bush"

[markkraft]

12:25 PM on 12/29/2008

Why would any honest American blame Hamas for breaking the truce, when Israel broke the truce last month, in a raid that coincidentally took place while Americans were otherwise preoccupied?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/05/israelandthepalestinians

All this shows is that Israel is at least equally responsible for the situation, and that they must think that Americans are awfully stupid to be manipulated like this so transparently...!