Akiva Eldar, the Israeli reporter, reveals that, in a meeting with Jewish Members of Congress, the President was apologetic about his tough stand on settlements.
Hopefully, the report is false. Both the American Jewish community and the American people at large support Obama on this issue. The 78% of American Jews who voted for him are not Israel-firsters or they wouldn't have voted for him in the first place. Jews who put Israeli interests first vote Republican because, since Jimmy Carter's day, they know that the Democrats will promote negotiations and the Republians won't. (Of course, even the Democrats don't do much). And they know that Barack Obama does not share their contempt for Muslims and Arabs.
Also, Obama should not meet with Jewish Representatives about Israel per se. First, none of these guys represent Jews. They represent St. Paul or West Los Angeles or Manhattan or whatever. It is one thing to meet with African-Americans as African-Americans on domestic issues because they are not meeting with the President to convey messages from a foreign government. Members of Congress represent only their own constituency, not their tribe.
As for the AIPACs, American Jewish Committes, and the rest, they simply mouth the Israeli line which they get from the Israeli government. Israel is a sovereign country and it has an ambassador to the United States. He represents Israel. The Jewish lobby represents wealthy older Jews (i.e. themselves, and nobody but themselves). The President should discuss matters relating to Israel the same way he discusses matters relating to the UK -- with its representatives.
On top of that, the lobby is collapsing. The President should read Peter Beinart's amazing piece on the lobby's collapse before he wastes five seconds with AIPAC, Eric Cantor or Gary Ackerman. These people are irrelevant on the Middle East. (Ackerman is the go-to guy on matters relating to Queens and Cantor can speaking for the Republican Robots in Congress).
Ignore these guys, Mr. President. And remember General Petraeus' warning: the Israeli-Palestinian status quo is endangering America. That should be the President's main concern: keeping America and Americans safe. And that means pushing Israelis and Palestinians to a final status solution, now. Not just for them. For us.
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Forget it Rosenberg, you can't turn Israel to be the scapegoat of Obama's failed policy towards the ME and Islamic world. You have to study this matter before echoing the messanger Petraeus. I don't buy your cheap formula which by selling Israel's security you may buy American's. Does the "super power" America is so disparate?
once stated at a CAIR rally:
"Jihad is physically fighting the enemies of Islam to protect and advance the religion of Islam. This is jihad. "Islam doesn't permit us to hijack airplanes filled with civilian people.... "If you hijack an airplane filled with the 82nd Airborne, that's something else."
Any indignation from Mr.. Rosenberg who apparently vehemently opposes any lobbying and supports the khem.... purity... of American politics?
Why not?
Or it is only the Jews- who should be prevented from lobbying?
I wonder which one's is more likely... gee, a difficult dilemma... or not.
once stated at a CAIR rally:
"Jihad is physically fighting the enemies of Islam to protect and advance the religion of Islam. This is jihad. "Islam doesn't permit us to hijack airplanes filled with civilian people.... "If you hijack an airplane filled with the 82nd Airborne, that's something else."
Any indignation from Mr.. Rosenberg who apparently vehemently opposes any lobbying and supports the khem.... purity... of American politics ....?
Why not?
Or it is only the Jews- who should be prevented from lobbying?
I wonder which one's is more likely... gee, a difficult dilemma... or not.
Most of the Jews support Israel much because they first support the US. So 50 of the US retired generals http://www.jinsa.org/node/1570 .
By the same logic the Council on American Islamic Relations and other lobbies founded with Muslim Brotherhood money and ran by the same represent no one but the interests of Muslim Brotherhood members in U.S. right?
Oops... logic...
Here's what passes for agenda at a typical meeting.
This quote is taken verbatim from evidence in a trial of terrorist funded Muslims Brotherhood front group.
U.S.. Government Exhibit 003-0010; 3:04-CR-240-G; U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation et al., p. 1:
“Hamas is a Godly gift to the Palestinian people, the Muslim nation and the International
Islamic Movement: like the gift of the Afghani Jihad; and the establishment of the nation
of Islam in Sudan; and the triumph Islam and Muslim in several places (Algeria, Jordan,
Malaysia, Turkey…; "
next subject...
If you could speak the truth more often that would help shackle the rest of the MSM from it's non-criticism of Israel.
Now if you could get more Jewish Americans turned around the status quo then there might be actual change in America.
Do YOU think that encouraging Islamic terror in the ME will minimize Islamic aggression in the US? YOU ARE NAIVE !
Somwhow though, the "ignore them" language reminds me too much of the most objectionable nature of the AIPAC defenses which involve dismissing other peoples views.
I don't agree with much of what AIPAC does in the name of Israel, but there is no advantage to defining down extremity to this degree.
MJ Rosenberg,
What an outrage that it is even needed to remind any leader that his first priority is to his own countrymen, not furthering the interests of those who want to maintain an illegal & ugly occupation in Palestine!
I would encourage you to make a parallel equation to check how many Americans have been died in wars initiated by the US since 1776.
The US has no responsibility to the Israeli strategic policy. Haven't you heard the US and Israel are democracies?
""did not say anything about [Israeli] settlements, didn't say anything about putting our soldiers at risk or something like that."
Why do you choose to continue to lie rosenberg?
http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=2&x_outlet=118&x_article=1829
STATEMENT OF
GENERAL DAVID H. PETRAEUS, U.S. ARMY
COMMANDER
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND
BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE
ON
THE POSTURE OF U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND
16 MAR 2010
and it's available here:
http://armed-services.senate.gov/statemnt/2010/03%20March/Petraeus%2003-16-10.pdf
One relevant passage is:
"A credible U.S. effort on Arab-Israeli issues that provides regional governments and populations a way to achieve a comprehensive settlement of the disputes would undercut Iran’s policy of
militant “resistance,” which the Iranian regime and insurgent groups have been free to exploit."
There are others. You can find the yourselves.
There are others.
"And remember General Petraeus' warning: the Israeli-Palestinian status quo is endangering America."
???
"did not say anything about [Israeli] settlements, didn't say anything about putting our soldiers at risk or something like that."
And yet you say he's lying? WTF?
10 seconds are necessary to destroy credibility, decades are necessary to rebuilt it. America will need decades to cancel Obama lunacies in the ME.