March 20, 2013, 5:45 AM
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Why is US President Barack Obama coming to Israel today? In 2008, then president George W. Bush came to celebrate Israel's 60th Independence Day, and to reject Israeli requests for assistance in destroying Iran's nuclear installations.
In 1996, then-president Bill Clinton came to Israel to help then-prime minister Shimon Peres's electoral campaign against Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu.
It is possible that Obama is coming here in order to build up pro-Israel bonafides. But why would he bother? Obama won his reelection bid with the support of the overwhelming majority of American Jews. Their support vindicated his hostility toward Israel in his first term. He has nothing to prove.
It is worth comparing Obama's visit to Israel at the start of his second term of office, with his visit to Cairo at the outset of his first term in office.
Ahead of that trip, the new administration promised that the visit, and particularly Obama's "Address to the Muslim World," would serve as a starting point for a new US policy in the Middle East. And Obama lived up to expectations.
In speaking to the "Muslim World," Obama signaled that the US now supported pan-Islamists at the expense of US allies and Arab nationalist leaders, first and foremost then Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Moreover, in castigating Israel for its so-called "settlements"; channeling Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by intimating that Israel exists because of the Holocaust; and failing to travel from Cairo to Jerusalem, preferring instead to visit a Nazi death camp in Germany, Obama signaled that he was downgrading US ties with the Jewish state.
In sharp contrast to the high expectations the Obama White House cultivated in pre-Cairo visit statements and leaks, Obama and his advisers have downplayed the importance of his visit to Israel, signaling there will be no significant changes in Obama's policies toward Israel or the wider Middle East.
For instance, in his interview with Israel television's Channel 2 last week, on issue after issue, Obama made clear that there will be no departure from his first term's policies. He will continue to speak firmly and do nothing to prevent Iran from developing the means to produce nuclear weapons.
He will not release convicted Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard from federal prison despite the fact that Pollard's life sentence, and the 28 years he has already served in prison are grossly disproportionate to all sentences passed on and served by offenders who committed similar crimes.
As for the Palestinians, Obama repeated his fierce opposition to Jewish communities beyond the 1949 armistice lines, and his insistence that Israel must get over its justified fears regarding Palestinian intentions and withdraw from Judea and Samaria, for its own good.
Given that all of these are positions he has held throughout his presidency, the mystery surrounding his decision to come to Israel only grows. He didn't need to come to Israel to rehash policies we already know.
Much of the coverage of Obama's trip has focused on symbolism. For instance, the administration decided to boycott Ariel University by not inviting its students to attend Obama's speech to students from all other universities that is set to take place on Thursday in Jerusalem. In boycotting Ariel, Obama's behavior is substantively the same as that of Britain's Association of University Teachers. In 2005 that body voted to boycott University of Haifa and Ben-Gurion University in the Negev. But while the AUT's action was universally condemned, Obama's decision to bar Israelis whose university is located in a city with 20,000 residents just because their school is located beyond the 1949 armistice lines has generated litte attention.
Then again, seeing as Obama's snub of Ariel University is in keeping with the White House's general war with anyone who disputes its view that Judea and Samaria are Arab lands, the lack of outrage at his outrageous behavior makes sense. It doesn't represent a departure from his positions in his first term.
The only revealing aspect of Obama's itinerary is his decision to on the one hand bypass Israel's elected representatives by spurning the invitation to speak before the Knesset; and on the other hand to address a handpicked audience of university students - an audience grossly overpopulated by unelectable, radical leftists.
In the past, US presidents have spoken before audiences of Israeli leftists in order to elevate and empower the political Left against the Right. But this is the first time that a US president has spurned not only the elected Right, but elected leftist politicians as well, by failing to speak to the Knesset, while actively courting the unelectable radical Left through his talk to a university audience.
Clinton constantly embraced the Israeli Left while spurning the Right - famously refusing to meet with then prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu in 1997 while both leaders' jets were parked on the same tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport.
Clinton's assiduous courtship of Israel's Left enabled him to portray himself as a true friend of Israel, even as he openly sought to undermine and overthrow the elected government of the country.
But Clinton always favored leftist politicians - Shimon Peres and Ehud Barak - over rightist politicians. He did not spurn leftist politicians in favor of even more radical unelectable leftists.
So what does Obama seek to achieve with this novel practice? Clearly he is not attempting to use the opportunity of addressing this audience to express contrition for his first term's policies. In his interview with Channel 2, Obama spoke of the instability on Israel's borders - but never mentioned the key role he played in overthrowing Mubarak and empowering the Muslim Brotherhood, thus emptying of meaning Israel's peace treaty with the most populous Arab state.
He never mentioned that his feckless handling of Syria's civil war ensured that the moderate opposition forces would be eclipsed by radical Islamists affiliated with al-Qaida, as has happened, or expressed concern that al-Qaida forces are now deployed along Syria's border with Israel, and that there is a real and rising danger that Syria's arsenals of chemical and biological weapons, as well as its ballistic missiles, will fall into their hands. Indeed, Tuesday it was reported that the al-Qaida infiltrated opposition attacked regime forces with chemical weapons.
Obama will not use his speech before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's most outspoken critics to express remorse over the hostility with which he treated Israel's leader for the past four years. He will not admit that his decision to coerce Israel into suspending Jewish property rights in Judea and Samaria in his first term gave the PLO justification for refusing to meet with or negotiate with the Israeli government.
So since he doesn't think he's done anything wrong, and he intends to continue the same policies in his second term, why did he decide to come to Israel? And why is he addressing, and so seeking to empower the radical, unelectable Left? Obama's speech in Cairo to the Muslim world was held at the Islamist Al-Azhar Univerity. By speaking at Al-Azhar, Obama weakened Mubarak in three different ways. First, Al-Azhar's faculty members regularly issue religious rulings calling for the murder of non-Muslims, prohibiting the practice of Judaism, and facilitating the victimization of women. In stating these views, Al-Azhar's leadership has demonstrated that their world view and values are far less amenable to American strategic interests and moral values than Mubarak's world view was. By speaking at Al-Azhar, Obama signaled that he would reward the anti-American Islamists at the expense of the pro-American Arab nationalists.
Second, in contempt of Mubarak's explicit wishes, Obama insisted on inviting members of the Muslim Brotherhood to attend his speech. In acting as he did, Obama signaled that under his leadership, the US was abandoning its support for Mubarak and transferring its sympathies to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Finally, by addressing his remarks to the Muslim nation, Obama was perceived as openly rejecting Egyptian nationalism, and indeed the concept of unique national identities among the various Arab states. In so doing, Obama undercut the legitimacy of the Egyptian regime while legitimizing the pan- Islamic Muslim Brotherhood which rejects nationalism in favor of a call for the establishment of a global caliphate.
As subsequent events showed, the conditions for the Egyptian revolution that brought the Muslim Brotherhood to power were prepared during Obama's speech at al-Azhar.
It is possible that in addressing the unelected radical Left in Jerusalem, Obama seeks to undermine the legitimacy of the Israeli government. But if that is the plan, then it would bespeak an extraordinary contempt and underestimation of Israeli democracy. Such a plan would not play out the same way his Egyptian speech did.
There are two possible policies Obama would want to empower Israel's radical, unelectable Left in order to advance. First, he could be strengthening these forces to help them pressure the government to make concessions to the Palestinians in order to convince the Palestinian Authority to renew negotiations and accept an Israeli peace offer.
While Obama indicated in his interview with Channel 2 that this is his goal, it is absurd to believe it. Obama knows there is no chance that the Palestinians will accept a deal from Israel. PA chief Mahmoud Abbas and his predecessor Yasser Arafat both rejected Israeli peace offers made by far more radical Israeli governments than the new Netanyahu government. Moreover, the Palestinians refused to meet with Israeli negotiators while Mubarak was still in power. With the Muslim Brotherhood now in charge in Cairo, there is absolutely no way they will agree to negotiate - let alone accept a deal.
This leaves another glaring possibility. Through the radical Left, Obama may intend to foment a pressure campaign to force the government to withdraw unilaterally from all or parts of Judea and Samaria, as Israel withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. If this is Obama's actual policy goal, it would represent a complete Europeanization of US policy toward Israel. It was the EU that funded radical leftist groups that pushed for Israel's unilateral withdrawals from Lebanon in 2000 and Gaza in 2005.
And in the past week, a number of commentators have spoken and written in favor of such a plan.
The is truth we don't know why Obama is coming to Israel. The Obama administration has not indicated where its Israel policy is going. And Obama's Republican opposition is in complete disarray on foreign policy and not in any position to push him to reveal his plans.
What we can say with certainty is that the administration that supports the "democratically elected" Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, and did so much to clear all obstacles to its election, is snubbing the democratically elected Israeli government, and indeed, Israel's elected officials in general. Obama's transmission of this message in the lead-up to this visit, through symbols and action alike does not bode well for Israel's relations with the US in the coming four years.
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Caroline, you raise some salient points. There is no question that Obama's attitude toward Israel since he was first elected has bordered on contempt. Much as we maintain the politically correct attitude it is all too obvious that his love for radical Islam borders on the obscene. I think that many of us are wondering why he is bothering to make a visit now of all time, but I fear you've summed it up all too well. "Obama's transmission of this message," (The support for the Muslim Brotherhood), "in the lead-up to this visit, through symbols and action alike does not bode well for Israel's relations with the US in the coming four years." Excellent post and once again I salute your courage and integrity.
Here in the US we're very proud that Obama is being recognized for his strong support of Israel. "Barack Obama will receive one of Israel's most prestigious honours... the office of the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, announced that Obama will be given the presidential medal of distinction in March.
A statement said that the honour recognised Obama's "unique and significant contribution to strengthening the State of Israel and the security of its citizens".
This is why us American Jews helped bring this President back for four more years. So far it's already paying off with a rapidly improving economy and a strong relationship with Israel.
Obama comes to your country to "agitate" as a rightful community organizer would want to. He is a man for the "little people" don't you know? So what if these little people happen to be dupes! The world needs dupes, lots of them...
Funny how a television movie series about the Bible now brings us the "devil" where many say: "Hey, this guy looks a lot like Obama!"
Kinda reminds me of those Catholics who from time to time see the "Virgin Mary" on a wall, tree or a piece of toast. We just don't know what is true, but for these true believers there is no question as to what they saw.
Even the Old Testament has both bad and good Prophets, right?
You're being visited by a very bad prophet, a guy known as Barak Hussein Obama.
Gird your loins!
I figured out why Barack Hussein is not speaking to the Knesseth! Barack Hussein considers himself a great gift to humanity. He is the Emperor with brand new purple Toga, an orator trying to compare himself to the greatest in our time, Martin Luther King. Imagine that Barack Hussein speaking in the Knesseth and getting mostly boo’s for his non-sense provocations to the nation of Israel and his love affair with The Muslim Brotherhood. Then no one will be able not to compare Barack Hussein speech to the Knesseth with Bibi’s speech to Congress standing with un ending ovations to Bibi. Barack Hussein knows that this would happen should he have the courage to speak in front of the Knesseth which he doesn’t.
There is something seriously wrong with all you people complaining about this President and Israel.
There's not a single difference is his policies towards Israel than any other American President since the 6 day war.
What do you want him to do get down on his knees and kiss Bibi's ass? Would that make you happy?
What is the old admonition?
"Trust Obama at your own peril."
It would be revealing if Netanyahu characterized the Obama handshake for us.
Was it firm and businesslike, or the usual wishy-washy limp wristed one?
"Much of the coverage of Obama's trip has focused on symbolism."
How appropriate then, that Obama's limousine broke down.
BHO's actions have spoken louder than his words concerning the rights of liberty-loving citizens, whether it is the Dalai Lama that was shown out of the WH through the kitchen or treatment of Netanyahu in several instances, as well as the callous indifference to the 4 U.S. citizens muredered in Benghazi. BHO's appearance in Israel (as far as I know without a formal invite) at this point in time, days before a national holiday, when the country has to virtually shut down just to maintain his security is a clear message that he has no respect for the sanctity of Israel as a Jewish state.
JMB's comments represents fully the morbidly willful ignorance of the American Jewish left in their lemming like rush to affect the destruction of the Jewish Homeland. They don't speak for me and a majority of other Americans who still smell the reeking stench of a corrupt electorate in their nostrils. Don't be surprised if Obama announces that he is the Messiah.
Obama probably wants Israel to stay out of Syria. On the other hand, bowing to the pacifist left, he wants the US to stay out of Syria, so maybe he wants Israel to do the US's dirty work.
Or, he can't get a good falafel in D.C.
There's no chance in hell that Barack Hussein Obama would have got boo's in Knesset.
Anwar Sadat didn't, George W.Bush's speech was received with maximum courtesy, so , why would Obama have been heckled or booed? By whom?
I believe that Obama skirting of Knesset si a testimony of his deep hate and disdain for democracy and democratic political systems. Not only Israel, but everywhere, be it the US or Egypt.
The man is incapable to utter a word without his proverbial teleprompters and outside the circle of adulators paid by his puppeteers.
Obama is the Svengali of the far left. He has the ability to stir the dangers lurking in the leftist pot especially among the youth. There has been an emboldening invigorated antisemitism throughout the world in the past four years as well as an escalation of Israeli's enemies gaining in strength and numbers like wildfire. Obama is getting a huge jump early on in his second term to finish what he has set in motion through his "arab spring" in his first term. American Jews have embraced obama as their leftist svengali at the expense of Israel. I pray for Benjamin Netanyahu and hope I am wrong.
Obama (yemach shemo vezichro)labors under the delusion that he will go down in history as "he who ushered in the global caliphate." Don't trust a word he says and watch him every minute.
So now, Caroline, you are getting a glimpse of what we in the U.S. have to put up with. He is a community organizer-and that is ALL he is. He is not comfortable speaking to politicians-not even his own cabinet. And many of us here seriously believe he IS a Muslim and is just faking being a Christian. If he admitted he was Muslim, he would never have been elected.
@JMB - Shame on you American Jews for electing this charlatan, giving him 4 more years to ruin our country, turning it into a socialist, Marxist country. Yes, things are getting better economically, but not because of anything he has done, but in spite of his lack of leadership. He is good at golf and campaigning - nothing else.
I hope all students boycott his speech!
Yikes. What a dope JMB is, which is why I guess we have a POTUS like Obama. Obama is receiving a phony award, given only as enticement for him to make his trip. It has no basis in substance. Obama has been the most hostile US POTUS towards Israel that we have ever seen. American Jews voted for him, because they simply don't do otherwise. And as for the US economy, JMB has apparently never heard of something called, for short, "the Fed". Our economy is stumbling forward despite Obama, because 1) forward is what is its default mode, and 2) there is an ocean of easy money stoking inflationary growth creating by Ben Bernancke.
I'm not sure that even President Obama is so obtuse to think that he can persuade Israelis to leave Judea and Samaria. Israelis know the consequences of leaving southern Lebanon and Gaza in less unstable times than today's. Few Israelis remain under any illusions about the intent of Palestinian leaders.
While Ariel Sharon could persuade Israelis that leaving Gaza would be good for security, PM Netanyahu will not even try. Israelis know that a withdrawal from Judea and Samaria presents far more security problems than the withdrawal from Gaza. The PA did not laud Israelis for leaving Gaza and see it as a reason to trust Israelis as leftists (laughably) argued it would. Will the PA (never mind the ascendent Hamas) be encouraged to make peace by an Israeli withdrawal from Judea and Samaria? Of course not! Not even if Israel suicidally withdrew to the 1949 armistice lines. And a withdrawal to less than that is the perfect pretext for more Palestinian demands - even abandoning Ariel and staying in Maale Adumim would be a gift to Palestinian propagandists, and Israelis are not about to withdraw that far.
President Obama knows all this. He also knows that most American Jews care about the Holocaust but not so much Israel (thus, his visit to Germany four years ago but not to Israel.)
We'll find out in time why President Obama is visiting now. Probably it's to bloody Israel's image and burnish his own before doing more to help women-hating, gay-killing, Christian-persecuting Islamists in the mistaken belief that they will like us if we just don't meddle in their affairs per Barry Rubin's piece this week.
Politically, he'll succeed. That's his genius. As for making peace, his ignorance and prejudice will prevent any progress on that front, but then, he already has his Nobel Peace Prize.
No sympathy for Jews in America anymore - Barry time after time throws Israel under the bus and you re-elect him with 65-70% of your vote. You deserve whatever Barry sends your way ( but Israel doesn't - your votes border on the treasonous - you ahould be ashamed!! )
Why I loathe Obama with a passion, what I loathe ever more are comments about an american government voting for and selecting a Defense Secretary that Caroline Glick calls " a hostile act to Israel"... Just who the hell do you people think you are? The Secretary of the Defense is for the AMERICAN government not the Israeli government. You people really do view us as "Goyim scum" dont you? Yes you call us the equivalent as calling a black person a N*****. While I also could care less about the Palestinians, they too hate us with a passion. I am sick and tired of my taxpayer monies being spent on a nation whose people view us as " goyim". History repeats itself for your "people" also viewed the christians in Czarist Russia as sun human too, and look what you did to them you slaughtered 66 million of them via your surrogates Lenin and Stalin. leave us alone...
maybe he wants to undermine all governments and appeal to the majority radical people. they are the ones who'll do the action to produce results. He wnts nations people?
At first, I thought that JMB's comment was serious.
People capable of critical thought do not support this man who considers himself King of the United States.
He considers himself higher than he is, and RJ is spot on when he labels obama as a community organizer. Obama is a one-trick-pony, whose only game is divide and conquer.
Our prayers for Israel continue.
Obama has such a poor record and favorability rating with Israeli leaders (and, I understand, Obama is not all that popular with Israelis in general) I have to scratch my head and wonder why he's going now? He only visited Israel once as a Senator, but NEVER as (unconstitutional) President.
Earlier this month, the Palestinians/Hamas forced Obama to cancel a recent trip to the Temple Mount.
So, why the urgent need to visit Israel now?
Will the leaders and people of Israel show the same courtesy to Obama that Obama showed to Benjamin Netanyahu on his numerous visits to the U.S.?
What if Obama's trip goes poorly? Will the media beat the drum and play it up that the Israelis are the evil ones who don't deserve our support?
And if they need our support due to Arab/Iran's aggression, will that be the excuse to delay or not support Israel in their time of need?
I realize that this is a leap, but it has been my experience that Obama says one thing but does another.
So, why is Obama visiting Israel now? What can he possibly gain? As Caroline points out in her article, Obama doesn't NEED this trip for any good political reason that I can see. I'm concerned that his visit is for some alternate reason.
We should really wait until after his speech this afternoon. But I will risk a guess: he is going to try to soothe/threaten us into being nice well behaved dhimmies. To believe that our highest aspiration is our safety, and that it is best guaranteed by the good will of our neighbors.
I'm going to double down on thoughts about how Obama is "playing" Israel. It is said his favorite movie is the series "Godfather" and that one might go there to seek information on some of his moves. Hyman Roth is a character in this series. Then there is the line about "keeping your enemies closer" till one is ready to deal with them.
Take your pick...I don't trust this person at all. He's not America's friend nor Israel's by a long shot. Same with Great Britain.
We are the infidels, plain and simple. He is a malignant narcissist to the max!