Does Emanuel Appointment Signal Obama Pro-Israel Tilt?
There seems to be a semi-conspiratorial meme developing in the left blogosphere that Rahm Emanuel's appointment as Obama chief of staff (along with Dennis Ross' potential role at State possibly dealing with Iran or Israel-Palestine negotiations) involves a sort of "pro-Israel fix" in which Aipac guarantees itself both access and an administration fully supportive of Israeli interests. I don't buy it. But before I explain why, I must add that this doesn't mean that I'm not watching developments carefully like a weather vane to see which way the wind blows.
Regardless of Rahm Emanuel's past, during which he volunteered at an IDF base during the Persian Gulf war, he is a political professional. He understands, unlike some other DC politicians like Jane Harman (who's actually been lobbying to get herself named CIA chief), that his loyalty must be to Barack Obama and not to Aipac or even Israel itself. Barack Obama is no fool (unlike George Bush). He won't suffer an insubordinate staffer or someone whose allegiance is clouded or whose decision making apparatus is compromised.
And unlike George Bush, I think Obama has a much deeper sense of political mission and agenda. Dick Cheney was able to perpetrate his outrages due to a president who had no sense of political self. That isn't the case with Obama. No one is going to take this man for a ride, political or otherwise.
All that being said, I AM deeply alarmed by this Jerusalem Post story which quotes an interview with Dr. Benjamin Emanuel, Rahm's father, in which the elder gentleman says the following:
Dr. Benjamin Emanuel said he was convinced that his son's appointment would be good for Israel. "Obviously he will influence the president to be pro-Israel," he was quoted as saying. "Why wouldn't he be? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to clean the floors of the White House."
Seems to me, in this odd and gratuitous non-sequitur, the dad is inadvertently sabotaging his son's prospects; not to mention how the Arab world is going to react to a statement like that which is probably already featured prominently at Al-Jazeera. I realize Rahm Emanuel's father doesn't speak for his son. But still, this kind of jingoism and racism is absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable even in one's father.
The original Hebrew language interview with the 82 year-old Emanuel puts the latter's own life story in context. He grew up in Jerusalem and in 1933, his brother, Emanuel Auerbach, was murdered in an altercation with an Arab. Memorializing his brother, his parents took the family name, Emanuel and moved to Tel Aviv. Given this sense of personal loss, it isn't surprising that Rahm Emanuel's father turned to the radical right-wing terror group, the Irgun, and ran guns for it before the 1948 war.
It's also important to note that Rahm's brother, Ezechiel, interviewed in the same article had this to say:
Like everyone, my brother wants to see peace in the region. This would be his highest wish. This is what you need. This is what we need. And like every sensible person, Rahm believes in a solution of two states for two peoples. The question is: how to get there.
American Jews have a schizophrenic relationship to Israel. Here we have within a single family the bifurcation perfectly illustrated. The older generation marches to the drummer of past national trauma and personal suffering. The newer generation looks for a way past, that allows both peoples to live in peace. The question becomes-which pole will dominate? Will it be the atavistic return to one's protective shell represented by Dr. Emanuel's racism? Or will it be the tolerant, open, forward-looking sentiments of Dr. Emanuel's son, Ezechiel? The jury is out. But for their to be real peace, the younger generation must win in the end.
As for Ross, I am a bit more concerned about him. While one could argue that he at least tried to be an honest broker during his Clinton administration years, he is closely identified with WINEP, an Aipac-related think tank. His statements towards the end of the campaign on Iran, though designed to reassure those in the right-wing leadership of the American Jewish community, were unnecessarily categorical and bellicose. I just don't see how you assign negotiating a peaceful agreement with Iran to someone with Ross' views.
I also think because of the failure of Camp David and Taba and his role in that, it would be a mistake to give the Israel-Palestine portfolio to him once again. Obama does need an experienced hand in this, but not one who has failed as Ross has. To be clear, I'm not personally blaming Ross for the failure. There's more than enough blame to go around on all sides. But he's still tarnished by what happened back in 2000 and the issues need fresh blood and fresh eyes.
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It signals that Obama wants to get things done
It helps to know the history - since it isn't that old.
The U.N. Resolution 181 partition plan was to divide the remaining 25% of Palestine into a Jewish Palestinian State and a
SECOND Arab Palestinian State (Trans-Jordan being the first) based upon population concentration.
The Jews accepted --- the Arabs rejected. They still wanted ALL. On May 14, 1948 the Palestinian Jews finally declared their own State of Israel.
On the next day, Israel was at war with seven Arab armies... Egypt, Trans-Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen. Most of the Arabs living within the boundaries of "Israel" were encouraged to leave by the invading Arab armies to facilitate the slaughter of the Jews. When the war ended, Israel survived even with a loss of 1% of it's entire population. Those Arabs who did not run away became today's Israeli Arab citizens. Those who fled became the seeds of the so-called "Palestinian Arab refugees."
http://israelipalestinian.procon.org/viewadditionalresource.asp?resourceID=908
The US has remained a sponsor since the partition. The Brits - who screwed the Arabs didn't even have the guts to vote yea or nay in the UN.
The Brits and their colonies...a barrel of laughs for everyone.
Good history. Jews and Arab Muslims have coexisted in that part of the world since Muhammad. They are both tribes of Abraham and, before British occupation, that counted for something.
The British are directly responsible for most of the slaughter going on in the world today--a by product of their colonial Empire. The plan for them to leave what is now Israel was in the works long before the Irgun began their attacks. They had done all they could to sow the seeds of hatred between Jew and Muslim--their most effective tool world-wide for governing conquered peoples. They stripped the Jews of their weapons, turned all their armaments over to the Arabs, and then stood off shore hoping for an Arab slaughter to create a vacuum they could move back into. It didn't.
The Arabs created the "Palestinians" as you note. Afterward they refused their own brothers entry into their countries, and denied them humanitarian assistance as well. The worst refugee camps in the world are in Syria and Jordan where the Palestinians are treated worse than dogs. So much for the Arab brotherhood.
Most Israeli's today want peace. They have the same problem we do--A Government that prefers war. We have replaced the British as the world's worst empire. Israel could exist nicely without our help. It is our interference that keeps their Hawks in power and the ME a powder keg.
The neighboring Arabs wouldn't allow such a large Palestinian presence to achieve full citizenship for two very proper reasons:
01) They would upset the demographic balance in a part of the world where governmental office follows pre-set tribal representation.
02) Israel could then legally avoid any responsibility for those Palestinians, since by law a national government is responsible for the welfare of her citizens. Do the Vietnamese owe any responsibility for refugees who have since become American citizens? Nope.
I'd like to add, that just as old Yassar Arafat refused peace because it would have meant the loss of his position and power, most of the countries surrounding Israel use the Palestinians in the most cruel and heartless ways as pawns to gain support for their own military dictatorships. Even Egypt which signed a peace agreement with Israel and is considered moderate compared to Saudi Arabia, is in reality a repressive dictatorship that denies religious and human rights, especially those of women.
The leaders in Israel are just the same. Its the power and money they want. As long as there is war in the ME, those countries and their hereditary leaders will be safe from real Democracy or the will of the people. But, without America and its Military Industrial Complex making money on death and spreading that money to prop up monsters, the region would have no choice but to find a peaceful resolution to their problems.
I spoke to some Israeli Coptic Christians whose families go back over 2,000 years in the ME. When the topic of Great Britain was raised they agreed instantly that if the Jews and Muslims could unite in common hatred of the British Empire that peace would be the result in their land!
Even his middle name is Israel. No seriously, it's Rahm Israel Emanuel. Lol.
That said, I think you're right, because Rahm is naturally pro-Israel, but not in the neocon, right wing, Likud or Zionist sense.
while Rahm middle name is israel obama middle name is Hussein. this is irrelevant.being pro israel have shades
Duh! And what did I say?
Unfortunately peace in isreal is very much like like what peace looked like in the U.S. frontrier - more dead indigenous people. After the palestinians homes were sacked , and their lands , water and taken over by the isrealis , can you really say gaza is any different than a reservation here in the U.S?
Rahm is Obama's choice precisely to keep jewish donations flowing to the Dems.
Rahn is Obama's choice because he is a highly capable and experienced individual of character and commitment to a POSITIVE AGENDA for the U.S. and for the Middle East.
None of us can change the past. We must accept where the past has brought us and look to a better future for ourselves and our posterity.
Among my good friends in college were two jewish guys and an islamic. My room mate and I were christian. We all visited back and forth throughout college rotating the responsibility of hosting a dinner party each month where we shared food, wine, laughter and even our viewpoints on political issues in harmony and genuine affection. Of course, none of us had been scarred by war., so yes, it was alot easier for us. But just the fact that we did that as naturally as if we had all come from the same background demonstrates how easy it is to get along if people just let go of their sense of "otherness" and accept one another as human beings with individual merit and worth.
We all MUST move past the past, learn to compromise and live in harmony. We really have no other choice. That is our only acceptable future. We owe that to our children.
It doesn't matter what Emanuel's opinions are.
I have never in my life heard of what a CoS's opinions were, if at all different from the President. Think of previous CoS's - did you ever hear about the views of this one or that one apart from the position of the White House? No. That's because it doesn't matter what a CoS thinks, it matters how they do their job, which primarily consists of getting policy enacted.
My only objection to Rahm Emanuel is that he withdrew Democratic National Committee funding from anti-war Congressional candidates. This is why the Dems didn't do so well in 2006.
Is this true? Can you cite a source?
I can't understand why America, a country with a population of 300 million has to be so servile to Israel, a country with a population of 6 million. It is obvious to everyone outside the USA that America's aggressive behaviour towards Iraq and Iran has little to do with US interests and everything to do with Israeli interests. Once these two countries are knocked of, Israel can do anything it wants in the Middle East and no one will be able to stop them. AIPAC and the other pro Israel groups have bullied US politicians into giving Israel everything it wants and more. From what I have read, Rahm Emmanuel was very active in 2006 in making sure that Democratic candidates who were selected to run were pro-war and those who weren't were simply shunted aside. The future doesn't look too bright!!!
Good post and just the right question.
Especially when you consider what it costs America. In actual $$$ there is about $3 billion per year in military financing to Israel; then another $150 -200 million in counter-terrorism aid; then sundry 100's of millions for economic and settlement funds... There are all those other unquantified costs, such as the suspicion and hatred of every Islamic country in the middle east, the loss of respect from several other "friendly" countries because of this one-sided aid, the economic costs of losing access to gas and petroleum supplies in Arabic countries, the threat of terrorism from enemies of Israel...Friendship comes at a cost
So the incitement from the likes of al Jazeera or al Manaar and many of the other Islamist TV outlets that bean hatred and racism throughout the middle east have nothing to do with it?
Wow ... there's some real extreme denial going on here.,
I think before we paint with some very sweeping brush strokes, perhaps many here would be well served to read "Infidel" by Ayaan Hirsi Ali which does a pretty good job of explaining where the hatred is coming from so people can stop believing the myth that if Israel disappeared the Muslim world would suddenly like us. It just ain't true.
Israel has nothing to do with the Islamist violence in Thailand or in the Philippines, or in India or any of the many violent Islamist movements around the world.
Osama bib Laden didn't hit the WTC because of Israel but because of America's close relationship with Saudi Arabia.
There's a reason scapegoating the Jews has gone on for centuries ... and here it is going on again
America servile to Israel? Is that what you believe?
lololol
I think you have it reversed poster
America tells the Israelis to jump and the Israelis ask "how high ? "
America tells Israel to arm the PA (Palestinians Authroity? and they do
America has US military training the Palestinian Police
America demands Israel remove checkpoints
and you think its the other way around?
You think it has something to do with Jewish influence?
You don't think its to stabilize Jordan and Egypt and its at the request of Saudi Arabia who is desperately trying to contain Iran and the influence they are asserting via Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza which is all a threat to the Sunni Saudi regime?
Try to think beyond the Jewish stereotypes and you might see a more accurate geopolitical picture. Lets hope that in the coming Obama years, we can move beyond suspecting every Jew's loyalty and motive ... yes?
And much of your post has been refuted by Colin Powell's Cheif of Staff who specifically stated numerous times the Israeli officials were coming to Washington and privately warning the Bush administration NOT to invade Iraq,
"WASHINGTON - Israeli officials warned the George W. Bush administration that an invasion of Iraq would be destabilising to the region and urged the United States to instead target Iran as the primary enemy, according to former administration official Lawrence Wilkerson."
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/08/29/3488
I tried to post this twice - for some reason it does not go up... so this time I will keep it as short and direct as I can. GZlives - I agree with you 100%, and I hope that you keep up the effort and energy to educate as many misguided opinions as possible. It is factual information like yours that helps to divert (a little) the mass amount of anti-israel, and anit-semitic propaganda that is floating out there, insidious, and growing.... I appreciate your efforts, and I am sure many others do as well.
The Russians will stop the Israelis......just watch. The Russians stopped the Israelis in South Ossetia, and they will do that again in the MidEast.
One does not need to wait for long to see how Obama will fair with the Israeli government; simply wait for appropriation time and see how much government-to-government aid (including military supplies) are given and in the case of the latter, whether it violates US export law on specific armaments. Such will be part of the line-by-line search through the budget of which he has spoken in the past month.
I realize that priorities must be set, and the economy is numero uno now. But Barack Obama is multi-tasking, and he does not have to personally do everything. His skill is getting the best minds and people with the effective skills to carry out Obama's decisions. I think that within the next few weeks he shall have the high level staff members who can and will focus on the ME. To wait, as opined elsewhere, that Obama will have to wait until his second term is amazingly short sighted given Obama's leadership abilities and the volatility of the Middle East.
Is an Arab's life worth less than a Caucasian's? Is a Palestinian's life worth less than an Israeli's? Who decides this and how do they come to their conclusions and do they act on their conclusions to end the lives? Over 1,000,000 innocent Iraqi's are dead, women and children included, as a result of the U.S. led invasion. Are their lives so worthless that we can do this to their people? Should we expect them not to defend themselves and families?
Realize that there were 0 incidents of suicide bombings before we invaded Iraq. 0. Also realize that the largest amounts of suicide bombings have been committed by the Marxist secular group, the Tamil Tigers. According to Robert Pape of the University of Chicago, who has compiled a database of ALL 462 suicide terrorist attacks between 1980 and 2004, he states that the primary motivating factor of suicide bombers is "to compel modern democracies to withdraw military forces from the territory the terrorists view as their homeland" and not religious beliefs. The largest Islamic countries in the world, Sudan and Iran have NO suicide bombings. 0.
We're all God's children who have an equal right to life. Let's start acting like it.
ROTF-LMAO Nonsense, with the one notable exception being that it is not wise to telegraph what's going on to the Arabs, yet that cats been out of the bag for quite awhile. Come-on we're all grown ups here, let us not start off with trying to BS one another.
Rahm Emanuel "understands ... that his loyalty must be to Barack Obama and not to Aipac or even Israel itself."
How do you know that?
Another issue along with that is Obama's (for me) regrettable statement, repeated on several occasions: that it is Bush's 'fault' that Hamas were ELECTED in the Palestinian territories. That which Obama was not called on is that it is neither Bush's administration nor now his own who determines when it is time for Palestinians to vote nor who should be in the line up for election?
As Tom Lehrer said:
For might makes right,
And till they've seen the light,
They've got to be protected,
All their rights respected,
'Till somebody we like can be elected.
Rahm Emanuel "understands ... that his loyalty must be to Barack Obama and not to Aipac or even Israel itself."
How do you know that?
____________________________________
How do you know otherwise?
because when thefirst Iraq war began Rahm went to suport the Isreali military, not the American military!
Mr. Obama is expected to get things done in his role as President. He has to hit the ground running, or all those sitting on the sideline (FOXies) are going to be waiting to pounce and scream failure.
The president's Chief of Staff is the person who, I believe, is expected to facilitate the accomplishment of the President's agenda. So who should he pick?
A guy whose reputation is all about getting things done.
I really don't think there was a hidden "Pro-Israel" agenda here.......Mr. Obama has been given a deep pile of manure to shovel by the Bush/Cheney administration that needs to be addressed January 21.
Anyone who stands in the way of Mr. Obama delivering on his promises to the American People should be copped down and ground to pulp.
WE need Mr. Obama's solutions, not the Republicans, not the Democrats, the people.
I see Mr. Emanuel's appointment as Obama chief of staff as an appointment of MY advocate.
I do not see this as innuendo about an Pro-Israel agenda.
If Mr. Emanuel has to hurt some Country Club feelings to get what I as a US Citizen need done, I'll contribute to a "Hankie Fund" for the crying.
I agree and I'll donate to the hankie fund as well!
I absolutely agree with you.
Obama is the democratic party. Your rhetoric is hollow. Rather than admit Emanuel was a bad choice for chief of staff, you state, rather blindly, that we should trust Obama. If we learned anything in the past 8 years it is that we shouldn't blindly trust anyone, democrat or republican blindly. Dissent is democracy.
This is legit criticism and a worrisome choice by Obama. Obama spoke to AIPAC and said some pretty hawkish things about Israel. Can you take off your Obama tainted glasses and realize that Obama is definitely not perfect, and we have to make sure Obama doesn't move to the right and abandon progressive values.
This choice of Emanuel is not representing progressive values.
President Obama is not the Democratic party - he is the President of the nation. All of it.
President Obama has held and espoused his beliefs about Israel for years. They are not new.
His centrist policies and beliefs are what enabled him to be elected. None of the Presidents choices need, should or will represent progressive values exclusively.
The Democratic party is not filled with progressives - it has large numbers of centrists, numbers which have grown as the party as grown. The new Senators and Representatives just elected are not predominately progressive either. It is with them that the President will work and build his alliances. To best represent the majority.
Emmanuel was selected to keep extreme leftists and right wingers away from the broad center ... the middle way - to use Buddhist parlance -- his job is to be tough and get things done on the agenda he set out during the campaign (with modifications as necessary) . Stay th heck out of people's bedrooms, bodies, and churches ... let's get something done.
"He understands, unlike some other DC politicians like Jane Harman (who's actually been lobbying to get herself named CIA chief), that his loyalty must be to Barack Obama and not to Aipac or even Israel itself. " Interesting observation, but where is your supporting evidence?
Pro-Israel tilt? Be serious. The only thing Rahm Emanuel's appointment signals is that Obama wants someone as COS that can kick-ass when it needs to be done and leave Obama out of it.
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