The religious right is firmly ensconced in the American media. Today the New York Times and the New Republic run remarkably similar op-eds by Israelis telling Obama to back down on the settlements issue. Here is Aluf Benn in the New York Times, urging Obama to come to Israel and stop isolating Israel. A lot about settlements.
Mr. Obama has made a mistake in focusing on a settlement freeze. For starters, mainstream Israelis rarely have anything to do with the settlements; many have no idea where they are, even when they’re a half-hour’s drive from Tel Aviv. More important: in the past decade, repeated peace negotiations and diplomatic statements have indicated that larger, closer-to-home settlements (the “settlement blocs”) will remain in Israeli hands under any two-state solution. Why, then, insist on a total freeze everywhere? And why deny with such force — as the administration did — the existence of previous understandings between the United States and Israel over limited settlement construction? There is simply too much evidence proving that such an understanding existed….
And here is Yossi Klein Halevi of the right-wing Adelson-backed Shalem Center, writing in the New Republic on the ways that Obama can "regain Israelis’ trust". More about settlements and making nice to a rightwing foreign leader.
2. Reaffirm the Israeli status of the settlement blocs in a future
agreement.
The administration is right to insist that the current Israeli government must be bound by the commitments of previous Israeli governments (a position that Prime Minister Netanyahu has in fact upheld). But that same principle should also apply to Washington. Obama should not dismiss previous administration promises to Israel–even those made by George W. Bush…6. Don’t treat the Netanyahu government as a pariah.
Do I hear an echo? Interesting that the Times allowed Benn to say flatly that Netanyahu had "called" Obama aides Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod (above) "self-hating Jews." There must have been quite a debate about that since Israeli mouthpiece Mark Regev denied it. Where are the Israeli leaders denouncing the hate speech against Obama?
The $4 billion annually of direct aid we give to Israel, the $3 billion we give to Egypt solely on behalf of Israel, the subversion of our national interests to those of Israel, are all the reason we need to not speak to Israel.
“[...] Israeli mouthpiece Mark Regev [...]”
… or Iffy Ozzie, as he’s known in some British anti-Zionist circles… ;-)
Imagine Mahmoud Ahmedinejad or senior members of his government writing an op-ed in the NYT urging Obama to let them build nuclear weapons.
Intersting how these Israeli writers think that Benjamin Netanyahu equals the President of the United States. Natanyahu got 740,000 votes. Obama got over 70,000,000.
Netanyahu is small-fry whose intransigence during the 90s led to Arab anger over the I/P situation and 911, according to the 911 Commission. Fuckim.
. 1 Netanyahu = 1/10th an Obama. Sounds about right.
It’s not President Obama’s job to “regain Israelis’ trust”. I never bought into the theory of the tail wagging the dog, but this is exactly what these two men are trying to do here.
Weiss has struggled a bit categorizing American diaspora Jewish Zionists. Are they right-wing? Certainly when it comes to Israel and attendant bigotries regarding the Jewish nation. Yet they are generally staunchly left-liberal when it comes to American government and policy. Hence for a while, Weiss was categorizing them as “the religious Left.”
I think the answer is that they don’t really pursue their politics out of any heart-felt principle or moral and ethical dedication, but rather out of self-interest depending on the situation. Where they are in a minority, it is in their interests to use the State to poke the eyes of the majority with leftist policies; where they are in the majority, it is in their interests to use the State to stomp on the minority with right-wing policies. Their politics follow suit.
This is why I bristle when naïve Lefties go on and on about what good comrades the Jews are. Even though I’m not a Lefty, I have to wonder why anyone on the Left would think they can ever trust any Jewish Zionist.
Messed up the quote tag, was referring to this:
For starters, mainstream Israelis rarely have anything to do with the settlements; many have no idea where they are, even when they’re a half-hour’s drive from Tel Aviv.
My local rag is no better. The Jerusalem correspondent NEVER covers rightwing craziness. Gates’ visit is cast as an attempt to mollify Israel on Iran. And check this out:
“During the news conference, Barak was asked how long Israel was willing to risk its security by holding back on a strike against Iran.”
What a leading question, I mean how more craven can the press be.
Oooh, porn stars for Israel!!
Men of Israel: “But according to this report from Tablet magazine, which offers smart, iconoclastic coverage of Jewish arts, politics and culture, the real breakthrough for the film is that it’s the first gay porn movie to feature an all-Jewish cast. (Obviously a fine distinction, but a distinction nonetheless.) “
It is only the strength of jewish chauvinism which requires keeping those ‘settlement blocs’ in Israeli hands. All of the settlers will have to go, every one, including in East Jerusalem.
Name-calling, then denying it happened, then name-calling again. Attacking Obama for making the “mistake” of stressing the settlements when most Israelis don’t even know where they are, then switching direction and emphasizing claims that Bush made secret agreements with the Israelis over their settlements – which is it? unimportant, or the stuff of secret agreements? With no acknowledgement that the Palestinians resent it when illegal settlors, spouting religion-based racism, steal their land, contrary to all law and in abuse of Israel’s power as occupier? What are reasoned people to make of such rude and anti-intellectual behavior? Obama is right to be firm on the settlements. I voted for him. I support Israel. But I want nothing more to do with these settlements. Tear them all down, and lock up the racists who resist. And I am sick of reading Neocon propaganda in the mainstream media. These people lack all credibility and respectability, and haven’t yet been held accountable for their deceit and blundering in the run-up to the war in Iraq. Will their tiresome screed never be silenced?
hold the phone.
Obama is being firm about the settlements???!?
He’s still selling these scum WEAPONS to commit atrocities with and has set NO DATE for a settlement freeze and stated absolutely ZERO consequence for Israel to continue its recalcitrance.
From Zionism, Fascism, Nazism for Dummies
Maybe Axelrod and Emanuel are only fascists and not Nazis, but if activists want to get some movement out of Obama to end the $60-$100 billion yearly subsidy of Israel, these two subversives must receive the Chas Freeman treatment.
Benjamin Emanuel is a good place to start: The Real Benjamin Emanuel Issue.
I do not understand the self hating remark. Would that mean that you only love yourself if you have become a killer or supporter of the illegal occupation.That by all accounts, would have been enough for the USA to send a nuke a long time ago to stop such atrosities. who has been stopping the spport of basic human rights for this entire time ? And what do they think they will accomplish….a love from everyone for the genocide of the Palestinians. I wonder what Iran has in store for the occupation when October comes around. STOP ALL AID TO THEM IMMEDIATELY AND RECALL ALL LOANS AND BOOT OUT ANYONE IN ANY OF THE THREE BRANCHES OF THE USA GOV WHOM THINK OTHERWISE. WE ALL HAVE BEEN PLAYED LONG ENOUGH. AND THERE WOULD NEVER BE ANY SYMPATHY FOR THE PERPATRATORS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS ..THAT WOULD MAKE WHOMEVER A VERY VERY EVIL ENTITY IN MY VEIW …….AM I WRONG? lETS HOPE iRAN CAN DISH OUT WHAT THE OCCUPATION HAS CAUSE IT WILL NOT BE EASY, HOPEFULLY HOZBOLLA WILL HELP OUT AND THE WHOLE THING CAN BE ENDED ONECE AND FOR ALL COMPLETELY. THEN A NEW SET OF LAWS WILL BE ENFORCED TO UNDO ALL THE DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE EVILNESS THAt dwells !!