Not since George H.W. Bush tried to stop Israeli settlement activity has an American president openly confronted Israel. Now Barack Obama, first through vice-president Joe Biden, then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is admonishing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about expanding settlements. Just as he has begun to make the case publicly for health care, so Obama is now starting to demand progress in the Middle East.
Obama, in other words,is going for broke. He has not given up on his insistence upon an Israeli-Palestinian peace. Instead, he's doubling down, much as he did in Afghanistan. Anyone who thinks that Obama lacks boldness should think twice.
The blunt fact is that this is no sudden outburst of anger, but a simmering fury on Obama's part. Obama's calls for negotiations have gone nowhere over the past year. Biden's humiliation was apparently the last straw. By flaunting its contempt for the administration, the Israeli government may have miscalculated.
Obama clearly believes that he has the political capital to lecture Israel, which is what makes the current standoff so fascinating. Obama is apparently calculating that the surge in Afghanistan, among other things, buys him enough political cover to push Israel to treat with the Palestinian leadership. Obama also appears to have a united foreign policy team. Biden, who is staunchly pro-Israel, was blindsided by the announcement of expanded settlements almost as soon as he touched down in Israel this week. The result has been an opening for Clinton, who lectured Netanyahu today. The message is clear: Israel is jeopardizing its special relationship with America.
Whether Obama's efforts will actually lead to a comprehensive peace is another matter. Obama could end up simply alienating the Democratic Party's traditional constituency of mostly liberal Jewish voters, who bridle at overt criticisms of Israel. But after a year of passivity, Obama is, to use a Clinton term from the 2008 campaign, finding his voice. America's allies and foes have been put on notice.
Edward Klein and Richard Z. Chesnoff: The Jewish Problem With Obama; Part One
Show time.
however, Palestinians are Semites too. How Ironic!
Let Lula DeSilva handle the problem, and have the US Admit to the world that it's too compromised to deal with the situation fairly, and agree to any DeSivla or UN recommendations including funding cutoff and boycott.
In fact, Mr. Obama's foreign policy strength comes from being completely fair. He knows that he can finally broker a peace treaty involving Israel with clear vision and determination that helps both the warring parties.
Israel has always been an asset for previous administrations for pusuit of war. By taming Israel, Mr. Obama can even win Iran's trust .
Truly this man is smart in domestic and foreign policy, both. The GOP will be 'Going On Protest' on this issue because he is taking an assertive action against the naughty state of Israel.
By golly, a good leader is known by his fairness and exemplary action.
I wish more Americans would understand this phrase.
Israel cares not about the USA but in its own self preservation. at any cost. they have even attacked us in the past {see 1967 USS Libetry}
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/23/world/book-says-israel-intended-1967-attack-on-us-ship.html?scp=2&sq=1967%20war%20israel/us%20ship&st=cse
CUT OFF ISREALS FUNDING
then we could put that money into health care.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-fbi-files-alleging-aipac-theft-of-government-property-and-israeli-espionage-released-87230727.html
we need distance.
not "NO SEPARATION" like little Joe stated.