Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress this week to outline his plans for peace. It was, as expected, a love fest. Congress reacted to him like teenagers do to Beyonce and Lady GaGa. They drooled all over him. I couldn't help thinking that if they salivated like that over their constituencies the U.S. would be in a much better place. Not one member seemed to notice or, more appropriately care, that Netanyahu just repeated the same old. He and his current government have no intention of pursuing peace.
However since Israel is, according to Netanyahu, the "only thing right thing in the Middle East," Congress continues to listen and smile. This is ironic because of his complete irreverence for U.S. policy, interests and arrogant behavior toward them and the U.S. president.
Israel's government did not even hesitate to defy the president. Minutes after Obama's speech about a long awaited agreement on borders, Israel's government announced a massive expansion of two settlements in East Jerusalem's much disputed territory. I truly believe Netanyahu now knows the real truth -- a two state solution is no solution. The peace process has been over for sometime and his speech to the U.S. Congress solidified that.
The Prime Minister's words were purely a charade. Of course Israel is more than happy to enter peace agreements with the entire Arab world as long as the agreements have nothing to do with Palestinians and are on Israel's terms. Despite this and the fact that U.S. policy was completely dismissed, the American Congress showed its approval through an endless standing ovation. As Nancy Pelosi said, "if the Congress agrees on one thing, it is Israel."
Israel will continue to get its over $3 billion a year so that it can buy more weapons, it will continue to get its debts paid courtesy of the Cranston Amendment and it will continue to build settlements with billions of dollars of U.S. loan guarantees ($10 billion approved in 1992 over 5 years and another $9 billion in 2003). In fact, despite Israel's announcement of new settlements post President Obama's speech, the U.S. has announced that its foreign military financing will be increased. Nothing like being rewarded for bad behavior.
Overall, as of 2005, the U.S. has given Israel more than $154 billion in economic and military assistance. That number is considerably higher when you take into account all the special circumstances the country is afforded as well as other monies appropriated including $1.6 billion to build housing solely for Israelis. If only Americans who recently lost their homes due to the financial crisis would have received the same courtesy.
As Netanyahu professes, Israel is the only democracy "in a region where gays are hanged and women are stoned." However apparently there is nothing wrong with bulldozing houses, using white phosphorus on children or blockading people so they starve.
After declaring that Israel does not need America's help with nation building or American troops on their soil (although he is perfectly happy that America continues to be Israel's benefactor), Netanyahu had no problem demanding that America use American tools, and our soldiers, to pacify Iran. Iran must not build nuclear weapons, but there is no reason Israel shouldn't have nukes or fail to declare them. Israel is always the exception to its own rules.
The Israeli government continues to reserve the right to do as it pleases despite U.S. policy or human suffering of both Palestinians and Israelis. And further, unlike any American constituency, it has the complete and total bi-partisan support, politically and financially, of the U.S. Congress. Both governments apparently agree that peace lies not with the body who purportedly has democracy, a massive military and a robust economy, but in the hands of those being subject to, yes, colonialism, control and repression and quite simply have no way of governing a partitioned non-State.
As Netanyahu said, there are over 650,000 Israelis settlers in Jerusalem and the West Bank. All of which are going nowhere. He also reminded Congress that there is "an America beyond the beltway." It would do him to revisit that statement, because there is a world beyond Israel as well and it is changing rapidly. It is one that supports a new dynamic where people are demanding freedom, justice and civil rights while moving away from Hezbollah and Hamas not to them. Instead of seeing this and how both those organizations are entering the mainstream just to survive, Netanyahu is holding on to years of entrenched fears.
Netanyahu and his friends in Congress fail to see that this movement, now being termed the Arab Spring, is one that challenges the current prejudiced system and its status quo. Therefore he should not be professing Israel's "profound debt of gratitude" for those who are hanging tight to what is instead of what can be. He should be wary of them. As President Obama said, "societies held together by fear and repression may offer the illusion of stability for a time, but they are built upon fault lines that will eventually tear asunder."
It would serve Israel and its leadership much better, and the U.S. Congress for that matter, to heed President Obama's message and join the regional movement beyond war. After all true security is never achieved through weapons and force, it is engagement, diplomacy and strong relationships that truly ensure a sustainable future and ultimately a secure one.
Follow Patricia DeGennaro on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tricias_Take
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but more than this, thse people have been used as willing pawns by the arab powers since 1948 and yet, unlike the upheavals now being played out in the region, the Palestinians never protest against their leaders for an end to this conflict and a betterment of their lives.
as long as they remain pawns of the Arab League this conflict will continue and the Italian chick who wrote this story will more reason to mitigate her christian guilt over historic anti semitism.
www.hard-truths.blogspot.com
"arrogant behavior toward them and the U.S. president" .... when the President acts stupidly he should expect as much.
"Nothing like being rewarded for bad behavior.' .... just because Isael doesn't kowtow to Obumbles demands doesn't mean they are behaving badly. Besides, Congress holds the purse strings of the US Treasury and not the President. Apparently Congress doesn't agree with Obumbles either.
The reason for the hugely positive reception is that the representatives were truly representing the American people whose affinity for Israel has only grown over the last decade in direct proportion to the hatred spewed on myriad outlets.
The reason is that it is a reaction to the hatred and violence we see daily emanating from the arab and muslim world and the pure facts that Netanyahu spelled out that are truly indisputable.
The primary statement being that arab citizens of Israel enjoy true freedom that they cannot find in any arab nation. That one indisputable fact is the elephant in the room all anti Israel commentators avoid at all costs and it is the one that separates Israel from the stifling autocracies and theocracies that surround it.
The author would like to believe that the US representatives were acting on their own and are not supported by the American public--but that is pure unreality.
...watched the palestinians dance and celebrate on CNN on 9/11/01.
They have freedom of religion..something non muslims do not have in surrounding countries.
They serve in the military, the government, and in the courts as judges and lawyers...even the Israeli Supreme Court.
Arab women in Israel have full equal rights and also serve in all capacities in public service.
Arab citizens in Israel are completely free to leave...yet they prefer Israel.
Congress reacted to him like teenagers do to Beyonce and Lady GaGa. They drooled all over him. I couldn't help thinking that if they salivated like that over their constituencies the U.S. would be in a much better place.
Not one member seemed to notice or, more appropriately care, that Netanyahu just repeated the same old. He and his current government have no intention of pursuing peace."--DeGennaro
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Patricia Degennaro coverage is so complete, very little is left to be said. Hostile, bias, racial conservative politicians in congress, hates Obama to the degree that they gave Netanyahu standing ovations for coming to America, undermining, and insulting this nations' first black president.
The sad part of this story it is that, whether or not Patricia Degennaro knows it-- this meeting was nothing but another staged wrestling match, where president Obama took another dive, to this small and insufficient leader.
Even though the world did not come to its end on May 21, 2011, if there is a GOD, Israel and America have a great debt to pay. And if no God ever comes to intervene, it is up to independent liberal and progressive Americans to flush out this dirty and diseased status quo.
This quote says it all. enough is enough.
Each and every congressman's children and grandchildren should be made to live in occupied Palestine for a week under Israeli rule. They will come back running with their tails between their legs, mentally and physically broken. Then, and only then, will the congress have a clue.
the congress should be ashamed of themselves for their blind, unwavering support of israel.
A close analysis of US political history reveals that the Congress has been supportive of the world's Jewish "cause" for about 100~years. This sometimes put the President at odds with the Congress and even on occasion, involving the President's own party. Admittedly, this 'stand~off' is more profound then most~~if not all of those in the past but frankly, Mr. Obama 'made his own bed' by offering repeated speeches during election campaigns which he is now abrogating.
“I believe that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. But I think that how Israel and the Palestinians resolve this issue is a final-status issue. It needs to be left up to the two parties.”
“Look, I think that both sides on this equation are going to have to make some calculations. Israel may seek ‘67~plus’ and justify it in terms of the buffer that they need for security purposes."
(The Jerusalem Post, July 24, 2008)
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/Obama.html
The little remembered "Lodge~Fish" resolution was an older example of Congress flexing its mussels in the face of the President. When the Congress resolved to change US immigration policy in 1924, this was done AFTER the Anglo-American Treaty specified the formula with England for a Jewish~National~Home. These are not random events. Longstanding patterns can be identified. Carter had some similar problems with the same 'love~triangle'.
That is also the reason why it was denounced as illegal by the International Court. Had Israel built it on its own territory, it wouldn't have been a problem.
Canada, another country in Israel's pocket, like the US, prevents 1967 borders being mentioned at G8 summit.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/g8-leaders-omit-mention-of-1967-borders-in-middle-east-statement-1.364459
Jerusalem is also not on the table. You can finally move freely in the old city, and settlements for Israelies and Arabs continue to expand. The West Bank with 300k Israelies and roughly 2.5m Palistinians is the only land available to the Palistinians. It would be an island surrounded by Israel! That is the only way to have defensible borders. Lastly, Gaza is already under the control of the Palistinians, but that give back has created a huge threat to Israel. Hamas controls it and they continue to lob rockets into Israel. Hamas exists to eliminate Israel, so Israel will continue to control access to Gaza.
The amount of money coming into Israel as welfare pales in comparison to the money coming into the Palastinians. Now look what happens to that money and how it is used. If you have been there you see stark differences. Until the Palistinians create an independent society that is not a welfare state, we will see no changes.
Ok, let me ask you this, what are the stats.
1. No to Oslo. He is caught on tape. I am sure you have read up on this
2. No to negotiating on Jerusalem (is that really a formula for peace)
3. Continued occupation of Jordan Valley
4. Continued control of water resources.
5. Every country has teh right to defend itself except the Palestinians. So they have to be demiltarized.
6. Racists laws being passed by his coalition goverment. yeah those guys are a bunch of peace lovers.
Please spare us the semantics. Anyone with an IQ over 60 knows that Bibi is idiologically driven and continued occupation is on his real agenda.