May 31, 2011, 2:54 AM
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In the aftermath of US President Barack Obama's May 19 speech on the Middle East, his supporters argued that the policy toward Israel and the Palestinians that Obama outlined in that speech was not anti-Israel. As they presented it, Obama's assertion that peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians must be based on the 1967 lines with agreed swaps does not mark a substantive departure from the positions adopted by his predecessors in the Oval Office.
But this claim is exposed as a lie by previous administration statements. On November 25, 2009, in response to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's acceptance of Obama's demand for a 10-month moratorium on Jewish property rights in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, the State Department issued the following statement: "Today's announcement by the Government of Israel helps move forward toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"We believe that through good-faith negotiations the parties can mutually agree on an outcome which ends the conflict and reconciles the Palestinian goal of an independent and viable state based on the 1967 lines, with agreed swaps, and the Israeli goal of a Jewish state with secure and recognized borders that reflect subsequent developments and meet Israeli security requirements."
In his speech, Obama stated: "The United States believes... the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states."
That is, he took "the Palestinian goal" and made it the US's goal. It is hard to imagine a more radically anti-Israel policy shift than that.
And that wasn't Obama's only radically anti-Israel policy shift. Until his May 19 speech, the US agreed with Israel that the issue of borders is only one of many - including the Palestinians' rejection of Israel's right to exist, their demand to inundate Israel with millions of foreign Arab immigrants, their demand for control over Israel's water supply and Jerusalem - that have to be sorted out in negotiations. The joint US-Israeli position was that until all of these issues were resolved, none of them were resolved.
The Palestinians, on the other hand, claim that before they will discuss any of these other issues, Israel has to first agree to accept the indefensible 1967 boundaries as its permanent borders. This position allows the Palestinians to essentially maintain their policy of demanding that Israel make unreciprocated concessions that then serve as the starting point for further unreciprocated concessions.
It is a position that is antithetical to peace. And on May 19, by stipulating that Israel must accept the Palestinian position on borders as a precondition for negotiations, Obama adopted it as US policy.
SINCE THAT speech, Obama has taken a series of steps that only reinforce the sense that he is the most hostile US president Israel has ever faced. Indeed, when taken together, these steps raise concern that Obama may actually constitute a grave threat to Israel.
On Friday Yediot Aharonot reported on the dimensions of the threat Obama may pose to the Jewish state. The paper's account was based on administration and Congressional sources. The story discussed Obama's plans to contend with the Palestinian plan to pass a resolution at the UN General Assembly in September endorsing Palestinian statehood in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
According to Yediot, during his meeting with Obama on May 20, Netanyahu argued that in light of the Palestinians' automatic majority support at the General Assembly, there was no way to avoid the resolution.
Netanyahu reportedly explained that the move would not be a disaster. The General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the PLO's declaration of independence in 1988.
And the sky still hasn't fallen.
Obama reportedly was unconvinced. For him, it is unacceptable to be in a position of standing alone with Israel voting against the Palestinian resolution. Obama's distaste for standing with Israel was demonstrated in February when a visibly frustrated US Ambassador Susan Rice was forced by Congressional pressure to veto the Palestinians' Security Council draft resolution condemning Israel for refusing to prohibit Jews from building in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.
Yediot's report asserts that Obama refused to brief Netanyahu on the steps his administration is taking to avert such an unpalatable option. What the paper did report was how George Mitchell - Obama's Middle East envoy until his resignation last week - recommended Obama proceed on this issue.
According to Yediot, Mitchell recommended that Obama work with the Europeans to draft a series of anti-Israel resolutions for the UN Security Council to pass. Among other things, these resolutions, which Mitchell said would be "painful for Israel," would include an assertion that Jewish building in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria is illegal.
That is, Mitchell recommended that Obama adopt as US policy at the Security Council past Palestinian demands that Congress forced Obama to reject just months ago at the Security Council. The notion is that by doing so, Obama could convince the Palestinians to water down the even more radically anti-Israel positions they are advancing today at the UN General Assembly that Congressional pressure prevents him from supporting.
Since General Assembly resolutions have no legal weight and Security Council resolutions do carry weight, Mitchell's policy represents the most anti-Israel policy ever raised by a senior US official. Unfortunately Obama's actions since last week suggest that he has adopted the gist of Mitchell's policy recommendations.
First there was his speech before AIPAC. Among other things, Obama used the international campaign to delegitimize Israel's right to exist as a justification for his policies of demanding that Israel capitulate to the Palestinians' demands, which he has now officially adopted as US policy.
As he put it, "there is a reason why the Palestinians are pursuing their interests at the United Nations. They recognize that there is an impatience with the peace process - or the absence of one. Not just in the Arab world, but in Latin America, in Europe, and in Asia. That impatience is growing, and is already manifesting itself in capitals around the world."
From AIPAC, Obama moved on to Europe. There he joined forces with European governments in an attempt to gang up on Israel at the G8 meeting.
Obama sought to turn his embrace of the Palestinian negotiating position into the consensus position of the G8. His move was scuttled by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who refused to accept any resolution that made mention of borders without mentioning the Palestinian demand to destroy Israel through Arab immigration, Israel's right to defensible borders, or the Palestinians' refusal to accept Israel's right to exist.
If Harper had not stood by Israel, the G8's anti-Israel resolution endorsing the Palestinian negotiating position could have formed the basis of a US-sponsored anti-Israel Security Council resolution.
Israelis planning their summer trips should put Canada at the top of their lists.
THE FINAL step Obama has taken to solidify the impression that he does not have Israel's best interests at heart, is actually something he has not done. Over the past week, Fatah leaders of the US-backed Palestinian Authority have made a series of statements that put paid any thought that they are interested in peace with Israel or differ substantively from their partners in Hamas.
At the Arab League meeting in Qatar on Saturday, PA President Mahmoud Abbas said the Palestinian state "will be free of all Jews."
Last week the US-supported Abbas denied the Jewish connection to the land of Israel and claimed absurdly that the Palestinians were 9,000 years old.
Equally incriminating, in an interview last week with Aaron Lerner from the IMRA newsgathering website, Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath said that now that Hamas was the co-leader of the PA with Fatah, responsibility for continuing to hold IDF St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit hostage devolved from Hamas to the PA. And the PA would continue to hold him hostage.
Shaath's statement makes clear that rather than moderating Hamas, the Fatah-Hamas unity deal is transforming Fatah into Hamas.
And yet, Obama has had nothing to say about any of this.
Obama's now undeniable antipathy for Israel and his apparent willingness to use his power as American president to harm Israel at the UN and elsewhere guarantee that for the duration of his tenure in office, Israel will face unprecedented threats to its security. This disturbing reality ought to focus the attention of all Israelis and of the American Jewish community. With the leader of the free world now openly siding with forces bent on Israel's destruction, the need for unity has become acute.
MADDENINGLY, HOWEVER, at this time of unprecedented danger we see the Israeli media have joined ranks with Kadima in siding with Obama against Israel in a joint bid to bring down Netanyahu's government. Yediot Aharonot, Maariv, Haaretz, Channel 2, Channel 10, Army Radio and Israel Radio's coverage of Netanyahu's visit and its aftermath was dominated by condemnations of the prime minister, and praise for Obama and opposition leader Tzipi Livni, who called for Netanyahu to resign.
The fact that polling data showed that only 12 percent of Jewish Israelis regard Obama as pro-Israeli and that the overwhelming majority of the public with an opinion believes Netanyahu's visit was a success made absolutely no impression on the media. The wall-to-wall condemnations of Netanyahu by the Israeli media lend the impression that Israel's leading reporters and commentators are committed to demoralizing the public into believing that Israel has no option other than surrender.
Then there is the American Jewish leadership. And at this critical time in US-Israel relations, the American Jewish leadership is either silent or siding with Obama. Right after Obama's shocking speech on May 19, the Anti-Defamation League released a statement endorsing it. Stand With Us congratulated Obama for his AIPAC speech.
With the notable exceptions of the Zionist Organization of America and the Committee for Accuracy in Middle Eastern Reporting in America (CAMERA), leaders of American Jewish organizations have refused to condemn Obama's anti-Israel positions.
Their silence becomes all the more enraging when placed against the massive support Israel receives from rank-and-file American Jews. In a survey of American Jews taken by CAMERA on May 16-17, between 75% and 95% of American Jews supported Israel's position on defensible borders, Jerusalem, Palestinian "refugees," Palestinian recognition of Israel's right to exist and the right of Jews to live in a Palestinian state.
The refusal of most American Jewish leaders, the Israeli media and Kadima to condemn Obama today makes you wonder if there is anything the US president could do to convince them to break ranks and stand with Israel and with the vast majority of their fellow Jews. But it is more than a source of wonder. It is a reason to be frightened. Because Obama's actions over the past two weeks make clear to anyone willing to see that in the age of Obama, silence is dangerous.
Originally published in The Jerusalem Post.
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Caroline has relentlessly followed logic and the facts of reality, toward the path that leads to tomorrow. Obama is not just another Woodrow Wilson, FDR, or LBJ. He is of a quite different sort of man. Flawed character so overwhelms the man, it colors all that he does.
Though I am awed by Caroline's presentation allow me present additional insights. Let's start with the photo she posted. Notice the clenched fist against his chin; the cold, hostile eyes; the down-turned mouth lines.
Though apparently now scrubbed from The Telegraph archives, they had a very psychologically revealing photograph. A weak-appearing Obama tries to steer Netanyahu, but Bibi appears blissful, an amused look in his eyes, almost smirking; one hand in pocket, casual like he's playing pool; the other hand preening, adjusting his suit. Bibi looks like the cat that ate the canary, pleased with himself (and deservedly so).
Caroline, it’s bad enough dealing with the likes of Obama who is attempting to destroy Israel but you have to wonder why the Israeli media doesn’t see through this phony.
First you have to understand Obama is an anti-Semite pretending to be a Christian [for political reasons] and he embraces Islam.
He was anointed and supported by George Soros [anti-Semite] and company and the liberal left media.
It’s vital for Americans to get out and vote this character out of office and I believe it will require the help of G-d to wake up the liberal American Jews to stand up for Israel and get off the Obama kool-aid.
I mentioned a number of times Jewish Americans and all Americans for that matter are not getting the truth about Israel and her fight for survival in the ME.
You could be the one to get the message out and I only wish there were more of you to go around.
Just maybe a “Caroline Glick and the Latma group touring the US spreading the truth to especially Jewish American organizations”.
The truth needs to be told and the liberal left media won’t do it.
Early on Israel knew to survive in this hostile neighborhood.They had to fight to win or face another certain extermination.
That all changed with the advent of the peace hoax plan.
Now the only thing Israel does well is surrender.
The peace drunk Israeli's forgot how important is was to leave no quarter to the likes of Hamas and Hizbollah who are now an even greater threat than they were before because of the incompetence of leadership.
(No worry, all Natanyahu has to do is make a speech and the sheep headed for slaughter are back in line)
The only important thing for Jerusalem's quisling political runts was to keep Washington happy.
It takes more Jewish blood to accomplish this impossible task.The slaves of peace deliver another leg ,another arm to their executors of the peace and more and more is always required ,and still the drunks don't snap out of their stupor.
It has once again become an easy task to push the Jews into the ovens,this time with the help of so many fellow Jews.
'and by peace shall destroy many' Daniel 8
Caroline, once again a job well done. I shudder to consider how much more in the way of proof American Jewish leaders, the Jewish Left, Israel media and Kadima need to finally realize the current US administration is working hand in hand with our enemies toward the destruction of Israel and ultimately Jews everywhere. HaShem has sent us Amalek and as He has warned us in the past if we don't destroy them our existence is in peril. Obama and his supporters have shown their true colors by word and deed. It is incumbent upon every lover of Israel, both Jew and non Jew, to raise our voices and rally to her support or all is lost.
It would seem that Israel has yet to accept that unprecedented threats to its national security, is not exclusive to Israel, and it is ultimately Israel's responsibility--even though it may fly in the face of Israel's allies' foreign policies--to define its own borders and vanquish its own enemies, who, unfortunately, as a consequence of foreign policy, and although the sworn enemies of Israel, are too often the allies of Israel's allies.
A further complication, taken at face value and alluding to the possible propaganda that may be behind the accusations out of Washington and subsequent trade and banking penalties: It does help when the Ofer brothers donate $25-million towards a secure hospital in case of chemical attacks from the likes of Iran and its terror proxies; then sell a tanker to Iran, to recoup the cost of the donation and make it more likely that Iran and its terror proxies are in a better position to fund the terrorism, for which the hospital may be needed.
The point being: Why should any Washington adminsitration be more concerned about Israeli security, than the Israelis.
A new middle east proposal to establish a Palestinian homeland: Jordan should provide a Palestinian homeland from the Desert Castle region east to include the pan-handle that borders Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria. This land, which is sparsely populated would made an excellent homeland for all Palestinians.
Migration of the Gaza Strip and what the Arabs call the West Bank to the pan-handle should be supported with funds from the Arab league.
Let the acceptance of this new proposal stand as a challenge to the Arab league demonstrating that they will fund and support peace in the middle east.
Of course, since the Arab leagues position is to destroy Israel using the cannon Palestinian cannon fodder, I seriously doubt their acceptance. But this is an alternative that all Israel should stand behind.
I just tried to read the Heinrich Heydrich Hertzberg article in the NewYorker but couldn't get through it, it so galled me. We're seeing a repeat of the left's embrace of the Stalin/Hitler pact in 1940 which they sold as a peace pact, no matter that it sealed the fate of 6 million Jews. Then too deracinated Jewish leftists like Hertzberg couldn't care less about what was in store for the Jewish people from their peace treaty. Whatever Stalin did or Obama does is beyond criticism, no matter the consequences for the Jews. Their hearts bled then for the eastern European workers, as it does now for the "Palestinians", who soon would be beating Jews to death and assisting in their extermination. Today its the poor Arabs. Then it was the poor Poles , Ukrainians etc. It is an unspeakable betrayal and its taking place now before our very eyes.
BWM (LA)
Excellent analysis.
What’s going on with the American Jewish leadership? How can major American Jewish organizations just sit on their hands and do noting to protest Obama’s polices vis-à-vis Israel? The problem is not only the 1949 armistice lines which Abba Eban called the “Auschwitz borders”, but Obama’s inability to understand the danger to Israeli coming from Hamas, Hizbullah, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, jihadists in Turkey, apocalyptic return of the Mahdi seeking and nuclear war desiring Iranian regime and his absurd belief that Syrian Assad is a reformer. Day by day the threat to Israel is rising from seven different points.
Haven’t the American Jewish leadership ever read what Prof.Bernard Lewis said in the movie Iranium regarding the Iranian regime:
“What makes this particularly alarming is the whole question of nuclear weapons. During the Cold War both the United States and the Soviet Union had nuclear weapons. That they did not use them, and they knew they we not going to use them, because of what we used to call at that time MAD – Mutual Assured Destruction. Each side knew that if they used nuclear weapons the others would respond in kind and this would obliterate everybody.
With these people, with their apocalyptic mindset, mutual assured destruction is not a deterrent, it is an inducement “
Haven’t the American Jewish leadership ever read what Reza Kahlili, the CIA agent who for 10 years risked his life being under cover as a member of the Republican Guards, said:
“Once they get the nuclear bomb, and they have the nuclear capability, and anybody can determine this because they are running multiple convert operations, parallel projects of nuclear bomb and missile delivery systems. It is a parallel project for one purpose, and I can argue both sides of the coin, but my belief is that .this is a messianic regime, there should be no doubts, they will commit the most horrendous suicide bombing in human history. They will attack Israel, European capitals and Persian Gulf region at the same time, then they will hide in a bunker waiting for Mahdi to get out of that well, ride the white horse, draw that sword and kill the rest of the nonbelievers.”
http://atimetobetray.com/blog/in-support-of-democracy-in-iran/
Bernard Lewis and Reza Kahlili are men of integrity and with authority whose warnings should be discussed not ignored.
How can the American Jewish leadership be so complacent about the implications for Israel and the US of the fact that the doctrine of mutual assured destruction will not work with Iran? Is it out of ignorance or they are just trying to be polite? How can they be so blind?
"Flawed character so overwhelms the man, it colors all that he does."
He isn't flawed. That character is who he is. His words and deeds accurately reflect the man, the inner man, the man's soul. Pray for America, Israel, and the world. If his rule continues, no one will come save us.
It's unfortunate that Israel's right wing leaders refused to deal with the radical left media. Begin, Shamir, and Bibi in both his former and current tenure did not have the balls to change things, even though much of the media is government controlled.
I keep reading, "How can the American Jewish Leadership" do this or do that. I'm curious how much communication there is between American and Israeli jews and of what nature. Establishing good clear communication seems like a valuable project, to educate, to make friends, to get answers, to make a difference.
Clearly depressing, in fact frightening stuff. Please don't let up warning all of us against this un-American, anti-Israeli president in the weeks and months ahead. Perhaps some unafraid people among the Reps and Senators could stand up to him before he creates ever increasing harm against Israel (but also wesetrn civi.).
However bad this is looking, I am utterly convinced that nothing the world throws at Israel is going to even come close to what God is going to throw back. Not even the most wily and concentrated efforts of jihad diplomacy, Islamic political and military machinations and the duplicity of the entire global left can even begin to touch the power of the Almighty whose plans for Israel's eternal place in the world (and that place a source of blessing to every nation on earth), will not be stopped.
"for such a time as this..."
Agree, "silence is dangerous." Your article is excellent! Maybe God is using all the 'voices' who are trying to help people see. This article is one of the voices.
Dear President Obama:
I am writing today with a somewhat unusual request. First and foremost, I will
be asking that you return the United States of America to its August 20th, 1959
borders, so that Hawaii is no longer a state and thus you are no longer a citizen ...
With utmost respect,
B. Netanyahu
Prime Minister - Israel
Thanks Caroline, that clears up a lot. This article required a careful reading, especially to get the time lines right. Since Netenyahu's speech to congress, a lot of things have popped up on line and it has been very hard to figure out what is going on.
Why can't these people leave Israel alone? This anti-Jew cabal in the White House is going to drive the US over a cliff. Is there anyone left at all who really believe that they are concerned about anything except kicking Israel around? There are many issues in the world that ought to be more important and taking more of our time. Yet we are obliged to parse every word and inflection in positions of power and authority from the US to the UN to the EU in order to uphold the simple self-defense of a tiny country and it's long, unjustly suffering people.
There is no choice but to turn this around and when we do, these people need to be taken into account. The Muslims are the easy culprits, but their enablers are going to take some real sorting out.
Obama is leading Israel into the sea. And those who care enough to do anything about it do not have a voice that is loud enough nor a voice that is embraced by mainstream media. An enormous problem.
Then there's the problem of the message Israel sends out to the world. Related to that, I think this piece is brilliant and a very worthwhile read. Right up there with the caliber of Caroline Glick's work:
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2011/05/great-error-of-israeli-normalization.html
Caroline,
This post is brilliant, as usual. You never disappoint.
Ted Moran,
That was incredibly funny & clever. Permission to repeat it (and repeat it a lot)?
A more important question is ;
Where is Netanyahu leading Israel ?
The Likud party has fallen down,down,down.
He makes war against true Zionists obedient to God's command to rebuild on their land in order to please Israel's enemies.
Netanyahu is not God.
There is a higher authority who is greatly displeased by this evil.
He is punishing the righteous and rewarding evil.
How long will his supporters allow this to go on ?
BRAVO!! Caroline, BRAVO!! Thank you for the insight, the courage and truth you display in this article.
obama is a big zero and he is in bed with radical islam and soros. He loves, admires and works for ALL the enemies of the USA, its people and he hates Israel and the Jews.
ANY Jew or Christian who votes FOR that man has been seduced by the devil! Lord have mercy on their demented souls!
Obama has just requested that the Maccabeats video of the Jewish accapela group performing for him be scrubbed entirely from the Internet. That's right. And of course, the Jewish organization he asked caved.
http://matzav.com/obamas-office-asks-for-removal-of-maccabeats-video
'between 75% and 95% of American Jews supported Israel's position'… That may be, but 70% will still vote for Obama. Always have, always will. It's Tradition. And part of the extended Victimhood Lobby. In fact, it may be their ploy to watch Israel's destruction as 'former' black slaves recently freed two centuries ago, gays in the military, illegal immigrants, and lesbians banned from the priesthood have pushed the Holocaust from the top-tier evils in high school history books. It could really propel them back on top!
i wish some one would rid us of these traitors like sorros and other billionaires who back bongo the racist hater of israel and america.i could never understand why any jew would vote for obama knowing that he sat for 20yrs. in phony anti-white,anti-semitic, liberation church.did you know that bongo's boy jerry wright was a member of screwy louie's nation of pisslum? the fact bongo has close ties to pisslam and anti-american groups should have been a big red flag for voters but the msm covered it up.i don't know if the voter are prepared for what bongo is doing to us but i am.