The issue with President Obama’s speech to Adas Israel Congregation in Washington yesterday was the sense of entitlement. Obama is pandering to alleged liberals at this synagogue, liberal Zionists, and he gets laughter for saying that Palestinians are not easy partners–
Palestinians have a right to be a free people on their land, as well. (Applause.) Now, I want to emphasize — that’s not easy. The Palestinians are not the easiest of partners. (Laughter.)
and applause for completely ignoring the Nakba and every act of Israeli violence from 1948 to the present.
But he does mention Sderot.
As many of you know, I’ve visited the houses hit by rocket fire in Sderot. I’ve been to Yad Vashem and made that solemn vow: “Never forget. Never again.” When someone threatens Israel’s citizens or its very right to exist, Israelis necessarily that seriously. And so do I. Today, the military and intelligence cooperation between our two countries is stronger than ever.
The only way in which he ever mentions Palestinian suffering is in terms of the lack of opportunity for a Palestinian child in Ramallah.
And the rights of the Jewish people then compel me to think about a Palestinian child in Ramallah that feels trapped without opportunity. That’s what Jewish values teach me. That’s what the Judeo-Christian tradition teaches me.
That’s fine as far as it goes, but then he talks about how Israel can’t be expected to take “existential risks”, as though the Palestinians posed an existential threat.
And we cannot expect Israel to take existential risks with their security so that any deal that takes place has to take into account the genuine dangers of terrorism and hostility.
This is why the discussion in the US is so screwed up–the so-called liberals on the Zionist side (and I exclude a few genuine liberals like Jerome Slater) laughed when Obama made that No-easy-partner comment.
If they were real liberals they should have booed him. Imagine him saying that about Israelis in general. Imagine the reaction if he told Palestinians he was an honorary member of their tribe.
Jeff [Goldberg] reminded me that he once called me “the first Jewish President.” (Laughter.)… I was flattered. And as an honorary member of the tribe, not to mention somebody who’s hosted seven White House Seders and been advised by — (applause) — and been advised by two Jewish chiefs of staff, I can also proudly say that I’m getting a little bit of the hang of the lingo.
If he told them he was inspired by their struggle:
And to a young man like me, grappling with his own identity, recognizing the scars of race here in this nation, inspired by the civil rights struggle, the idea that you could be grounded in your history, as Israel was, but not be trapped by it, to be able to repair the world — that idea was liberating. The example of Israel and its values was inspiring.
Imagine Obama giving an equivalent speech to Palestinian-Americans. Says he’s same tribe, mentions the Gaza bombing and the shooting of fishermen, maybe the Nakba, too. The national reaction would be fun to watch.
Obama is disappointing to say the least. It is hard to stomach the fact that he has to grovel and show such devotion to the American masters in Israel. All that, and he expects the victims of Israel’s occupation and other Arab people, to have confidence that he is truly devoted to a 2SS. It is all an eye wash, typical of American leaders. Next time Israel starts their massacre in Gaza, Obama will hand over the ammunition again.
OT but seems Israel’s loyal sugar daddy, Adelson, will have to face a US court.
“Sheldon Adelson to face allegations of graft, ties to Chinese organized crime in U.S. court
Wrongful termination case of former CEO of Adelson’s Macau casino, which raised questions about mogul’s business practices, will be heard in U.S., not China, Nevada judge rules.” Haaretz
A man who truly deserves to be in the hot seat. :)) I hope he melts.
A photo on the front page of the New York Times showed President Obama as he addressed a Jewish group at Adas Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Washington, D.C.
He wore a yarmulke which has become the de rigueur sartorial accessory for presidents when they speak to Jews, particularly when they are assuring their audience of America’s ” unshakable bond ” to the self-proclaimed ” Jewish State ”.
So, I have a question: Who was the last president NOT to don the yarmulke when speaking to such groups? I vaguely remember Ford wearing one but not Nixon. Clinton wore one so often one would suspect he was covering up a bald spot. More importantly would Washington or Jefferson have worn one? How about Jackson or Lincoln or Teddy Roosevelt ?
Maybe I am being rather petty, but ask yourself: What would be the reaction if the President put on the traditional Arab headdress, the Kafiya Keffiyeh , when addressing a group of Muslim Americans?
There is a precedent: Calvin Coolidge was once photographed wearing an Indian headdress.
Frank
“The idea that you could be grounded in your history, as Israel was, but not be trapped by it” I can’t believe he said that; he must be kidding. Does anyone seriously think Israel and Israelis are not trapped in history? That they are not trapped in a hell of their own making, seeing Nazis everywhere, seeing anti-semitism in every other nations actions. Seeing conspiracies against them in the shapes of the clouds? These are people who think you can make international boundaries by what was written in the Bible, -or their interpretation of what was written in the Bible. “This is our land, God gave it to us.” The way that Obama cowers, sucks up to, and is obviously terrified of the Zionist lobby is sad and disgusting. I can only wonder if he feels he is doing what he has to in order to help Hilliary win in 2016 and get money from wealthy Jewish donors for his post-Presidency career. He will need groups willing to pay him $250K per speech in his retirement. To point out the obvious, he is a black man, therefore, he has to know that the same racist comments and slurs he is so happy to throw around about Palestinians and Arabs in general are the same ugly comments that used to be openly made about black people in this country. I suppose he is stuck in the past of that part of our history as well. I have never been so disappointed by a president.
Well, Donald, welcome to reality. Israelis and Palestinians are not equal in the United States. The Israelis have deep connections with the United States on every level – political, economic, military. The Palestinians do not. So if you think that these simplistic analogies carry any currency, or that they should, you’re being delusional.
“Never forget. Never again.”
Unless it’s being done by Israel to the Palestinians.