The Rebuke

Just as President Obama was riding the crest of his newly re-energized popularity from capturing Osama bin Laden came "the rebuke." Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was seen publicly rebuking the American president on his home turf after Mr. Obama had called for "the return to the pre-1967 borders" to restart the peace plan for Israel and the Palestinians. Israel would be unable to defend those borders, countered the Israeli. How would each leader handle the tension?

Addressing the AIPAC (American Israel Political Action Committee) convention two days later, the president "reassured them that America's support for Israel is ironclad." He "shifted tone" by insisting that "land swaps" would be part of the deal. In his most masterful legal analytical re-evaluation, he maintained that he had said nothing different from many previous administrations.

WRONG! Wrong! Wrong! No American president had ever made such a preposterous, presumptive, arrogant proposal as to impose his will on the sovereignty of another nation. He started with the supposition that Israel should concede all of the land it conquered in the 1967 war, the third major conflict inaugurated by the Arabs to destroy Israel (War of Israeli Independence, 1948; Sinai Campaign, '56; Six Day War, '67; Yom Kippur War, '73). He decided that he could cede territory of a foreign nation as a precondition to negotiations. Any skilled debater would have countered: Suppose you were negotiating with the president of Mexico to stop illegal immigration over our borders and to attempt to halt illicit drug importation and he said, "Done. First you cede back to Mexico all of Texas, New Mexico and California and then, I will then consider your proposal."

Remember the history of these two men. President Obama clearly humiliated and abased Mr. Netanyahu on previous occasions. He treated him as a persona non grata, rather than an ally. He seemed to be relying on the goodwill of Israel because the USA is its only friend in the U.N. He miscalculated and misconstrued the effects of his pronouncements. He was sure that the Arab world would appreciate his even handed diplomacy. Of course, they disagreed completely; their reaction to the Israeli "he went too far" was "he did not go far enough." Not only Israelis, American Jews and other Zionists were appalled, but all Messianic-believing, evangelical Christians were shocked and disappointed by Mr. Obama's words, his demeanor and callous disregard for common decency.

Ironically, this week's Torah reading was Bechukotai (Leviticus 26:3-27:34). It is usually referred to as "the Admonition" or "the Rebuke." Seven times does the Bible repeat the refrain of the Almighty, "as you deal with Me, so shall I deal with you." If you act contrary to My laws, so shall I be contrary with you. Do you desire peace in your land? I have sent you "the book and the sword." Choose the Book, the Bible; renounce the sword, the path of violence, death, destruction. Israel has offered peace to its Arab neighbors since its inception -- in the days of King David, three millennia ago to the days of David Ben Gurion. It has been rejected by those who sought to annihilate every Jew. When the civilized nations of the world will begin to stand up against suicide bombings, intifadas and jihads and instead fight for justice and righteousness, will peace prevail.

 

Comments

[nypoet22]

01:56 PM on 05/29/2011

i too have concerns about the president's decision to place himself at the center of this conflict right now, by dictating a direction for negotiations. however, this "rebuke" is repugnant and myopic. if we have any hope for peace in our land, we must fully recognize that it's not ONLY our land. the 1919 border is no more valid now than the 1948 border, no matter who's on the ground.

[Manchurian]

05:54 PM on 05/27/2011

Glad to see you're referencing Leviticus. Such a great guide for modern life! For example, Leviticus 25:44 has God telling us, "Such slaves as you have, male or female, should come from the nations around you. From them you may buy slaves." A God that advocates human slavery is definitely one that has an interesting perspective on how we humans should treat each other.

If this is the kind of moral guide you're using, it's not surprising you do not empathize with the plight of the Palestinians, or condemn Israel's theft and illegal settlement of its neighbors' lands.

[Fein]

11:23 AM on 05/25/2011

Take a look at the posts on this blog if you dare, Rabbi. You'll see that Americans were outraged when our President was forced to sit there while this petulant churl from the mideast lectured him. Folk that normally supported Israel had pause to think. How dare this despotic nation bite the hand that has been solely responsible for it's existence? The backlash is so predictable, that it certainly seems that it was a calculated effect by the administration, to separate patriotic Americans from those who pander to a foreign culture.

[magicthighs]

10:21 AM on 05/25/2011

"Not only Israelis, American Jews and other Zionists were appalled, but all Messianic-believing, evangelical Christians were shocked and disappointed by Mr. Obama's words, his demeanor and callous disregard for common decency"

So zionists and fundies are shocked and disappointed? Sounds like how the rest of the world feels about the treatment of Palestinians.

[Semprini]

02:09 AM on 05/25/2011

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2011/0520/From-American-Jews-a-wide-reaction-to-Obama-s-Middle-East-speech

Many different opinions about the speech. This "rebuke" is uncalled for.

[Julius Romanoff]

12:55 AM on 05/25/2011

President Obama did not understand why Prime Minister Netanyahu objected to starting negotiations from Armistice line ending 1973 war. Israel conquered Jerusalem, Sinai, Golan Heights and Gaza strip, and Obama was urging Israel to give up what they won at cost of many Israeli soldiers. 4 Arab armies attacked Israel, and the UN and world leaders prevented Israel from finishing off the Arab forces, and the peace they demanded Israel knew would not last. It meant returning to restrictions prior to 1967 war when Jews could not come to the Western Wall of their Temples. The Golan Heights enabled Arabs to fire directly into Israel cities. Sinai and Gaza Strip permitted weapons and supplies to be smuggled in to Arab troops. It negated the fruits of a defensive war won. The Arabs refused the original 2 States offer. However, to appease the Arabs, land was taken and given to Jordan, Libya, Syria, and Iraq from the land to be used to form Israel and Palestinian nations. Knowledge of the history of the Middle East conflict explains the intense reactions and difficulties of attaining a lasting Peace.

[MajorKong]

06:49 AM on 05/25/2011

Ever since World War II we've been trying to get away from the annexation of territory gained through warfare. The "grab as much as you think you can hang onto" philosophy helped cause two world wars in the 20th century.

Otherwise there's no reason why we couldn't have made Iraq the 51st state in 2004.

[GodBlessAmerica]

04:15 PM on 05/25/2011

History is important. But for, um, God's sake, it can't interfere with a peacful future!

[OneFish]

11:51 PM on 05/24/2011

Talk about arrogance! After watching this thing for many years I have reached the point where I don't really care what happens in Israel and its surroundings. It isn't that I want to see destruction, I just don't feel any loyalty to either side. Not one American life, not one American dollar, that's my only position.

[Magic 62]

10:59 PM on 05/24/2011

I am sorry to disappoint you, but most Americans found the behaviour of PM Netanyahu Childish and disrespectful. This has been a trend that is not sitting well with people. Please don't forget that Israel depends on the US for military advantage, political protection and economic health.

[GodBlessAmerica]

04:17 PM on 05/25/2011

Both sides apparently dismissed it out of hand, Israel for the land and Palestinians for the "right of return" thing. I'm so very disappointed in both :(

[thebigbike]

08:10 PM on 05/24/2011

It is entirely within the moral authority of the US president to insist on return to the 1967 borders, especially when he includes the concept of mutually agreeable landswaps (difficult as that may be) The US SUPPORTS Israel. Israel is in fact a complete client state as would be seen if US government direct and military aid were withdrawn, never mind the implicit expectation of the possiblity of US intervention in a conflict where Israel was losing.

[PtaRay]

05:19 PM on 05/24/2011

Any people who are so busy trying to prove any fact for the purposes of "told you so" and "so there!" might be a peoople who are hoping for destruction.
The leadership from both sides is often the weakest link not the people.

[doubleplus1984]

05:18 PM on 05/24/2011

This is an absolutely useless article.

It is a fake controversy since everyone has always known that the final peace agreement will be based on the 1967 borders. Which are Israel's internationally recognized borders. This is just another example of feigned outrage from the right wing...

[Edward Standley]

08:40 PM on 05/24/2011

IMO, we have no responsibility whatsoever to support another country regardless their direction. I have never put any stock in the false phrase "My country, right or wrong", and I see no reason to extend that blind allegiance to another country.

[PtaRay]

05:14 PM on 05/24/2011

Netanyahi is nothing moe than a wanna be war lover who can't find the courage to just allow the people of Isreal to seek peace. He would rather support the radical and far right wingers from his land and ours.

The reasonable jews and the reasonable folks get drowned out by the crazies and the media groups who are on the pockets of the more "bible belt" mentality media groups.

Netanyahu is like the Bushies and the other GOP social conservatives. It's their own idea of religious glory they seek. It's s shame they use the people of all nations to feed their war and terror to stay relavent and wealthy.
The global nations are seemingly seeking to move forwards, now if the GOP and the Yahoo-ites would try to act like adults and stop being so miopic and narrow minded, the rest of the world might be able to get some direction.
But expecting extremists and radicals from this nation to see past their obsession for the end of days and the thrill of sinners being tormented, let alone Netanyahu (war monger ) to be man enough to try to really solve the problem is no doubt a severe stretch of the imagination.

[SarahRuth23]

04:50 PM on 05/24/2011

Samuel April's one-sided article is not helpful.

There will be no peace in the Mid-East, or in the world, until all parties acknowledge their offenses, reconcile their differences, and make amends.

Two wrongs do not make a right. The government of Israel does not and has not understood that. The late Prime Minister Rabin started to, but look what happend to him. He was killed by a right-wing faction of his own people.

David Ben-Gurion, modern Israel’s first Prime Minister, said: “If I were an Arab leader I would never make terms with Israel. That is natural: we have taken their country. ... Our God is not theirs. ... They only see one thing: we have come here and stolen their country. Why should they accept that? ... So, it's simple: we have to stay strong and maintain a powerful army. Our whole policy is there.”

Ben-Gurion admitted that Palestinian land was stolen. But he was ignorant of the fact that the Qur'an says that Jews and Christians "all believe in the same God.” (Qur’an 29:46.)

Ben-Gurion set the tone for the Israeli Zionist cause, insisting Jews have a “divine right of return” and military force was the only thing Palestinians would respect. However, by their Zionist logic, Americans would have to give all the land back to the Native American Indians, as their prophets foretold.

Now is the time to face the true. See http://messenger.cjcmp.org/israelipalestinian.html

[Bloviator88]

04:09 PM on 05/24/2011

Obama did not 'capture' Bin Laden. He sent a military unit into a soverign nation without their knowledge to assassinate an old man convicted of nothing.

[Edward Standley]

08:42 PM on 05/24/2011

Everybody has their "read" on it, I guess.

[thorrsman]

11:46 PM on 05/24/2011

Well, Bloviator88 is factually correct.

Of course, Obama had little choice in the matter. Had he NOT given the green-light to the operation, the news would have leaked eventually--and I suspect that there were those in the military who let Obama know that in no uncertain terms--which would have insured that he was a one-term president with a very dark cloud over his entry in the history books.

[nypoet22]

12:34 AM on 06/01/2011

bin laden is the casualty of a conflict he himself declared, and was still coordinating operations against civilian targets. the US was not faultless, but i certainly won't weep for him.

[geoff kl]

04:05 PM on 05/24/2011

enough of this game

israel is not an occupier

one cannot occupy land that was previously illegally occupied, and is now in dispute

the arabs do not just want the west bank and gaza...they want all of israel

that is why they chant....FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA...PALESTINE WILL BE FREE

well...it is free...free from jordan...free from egypt...and soon...very soon...it will be totally free from the islamic hordes

[Thelonius]

07:11 PM on 05/24/2011

Let's check with the British Foreign Office and the U.S. State Department, two of the world's leading authorities on international law:

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=News&id=579904682

05 April 2011

Britain’s Foreign Secretary, William Hague:

“I condemn Israel’s decision to approve more than 900 settlement units in the East Jerusalem suburb of Gilo and the retrospective approval which has been given for construction in five West Bank settlements. This is not disputed territory. It is OCCUPIED [my emphasis] Palestinian territory and ongoing settlement expansion is ILLEGAL [my emphasis] under international law, an obstacle to peace and a threat to a two state solution. We call on the Israeli authorities to reconsider this decision, which undermines the prospects for peace. All those who support a secure future for Israel and a future Palestinian state should be working urgently to restart peace negotiations, not taking steps which make this more difficult.”

On 24 February 2004, the U.S. State Department reaffirmed its earlier position in a report entitled Israel and the Occupied Territories, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: "Israel OCCUPIED [my emphasis] the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights after the 1967 War.... The international community does not recognize Israel's sovereignty over any part of the OCCUPIED [my emphasis] territories."