The deeper problem—and the more complex explanation of bilateral tensions—is that the Obama administration, while claiming to separate itself from the “ideologues” of the Bush administration in favor of a more balanced and realistic Middle East policy, is in fact following a highly ideological policy path. Its ability to cope with, indeed even to see clearly, the realities of life in Israel and the West Bank and the challenge of Iran to the region is compromised by the prism through which it analyzes events.
The administration view begins with a critique of Bush foreign policy—as much too reliant on military pressure and isolated in the world. The antidote is a policy of outreach and engagement, especially with places like Syria, Venezuela, North Korea and Iran. Engagement with the Muslim world is a special goal, which leads not only to the president’s speech in Cairo on June 4 but also to a distancing from Israel so as to appear more “even-handed” to Arab states. Seen from Jerusalem, all this looks like a flashing red light: trouble ahead.
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“Israelis have learned the hard way that reality cannot be ignored”
the_nile on August 1, 2009 at 6:28 PM
I guess I feel like it serves you right. You never veted this liar and voted the way you always vote. I wonder if hitler was on the dem ticket if the jews would automatically vote for him.
Yes, Bush supported Israel and so do the Christians, but the libs, the atheists and most of the dems don’t. All you had to do was look at his past and his slim record and the people he associated with and you should’ve run in the opposite direction, as fast as you could.
OK, I wasn’t happy about McCain either, but he would’ve supported you
Bambi on August 1, 2009 at 6:28 PM
It would be a lot easier to list the reasons why Israel should not be nervous about Obama. Here, I’ll sum it up:
Done.
Daggett on August 1, 2009 at 6:30 PM
Israel’s sin is being an ally of America.
rob verdi on August 1, 2009 at 6:32 PM
Obama’s narcissim again. He is the One who can bring peace to the Middle East when no one else could. He tops off his accomplishment by getting the Nobel Peace Prize like his role model, Jimmy Carter, did.
What does he fancy after his expected two terms? Maybe Secretary General of the UN. By acclamation. He is a Citizen of the World, you know.
Wethal on August 1, 2009 at 6:33 PM
Don’t feel alone on this Israel. Obama makes Americans nervous.
Guardian on August 1, 2009 at 6:36 PM
Ditto … although I always wonder why Jews vote democrat. It’s like voting for Hitler.
darwin on August 1, 2009 at 6:50 PM
When Barry took office the Anti-Semitism envoy was out of work. By law he was supposed to make an appointment to fill that post by……(are you ready?)…..the suds summit. While Barry, Gates, Crowley, and Joe discussed the finer points of B&E Israel was given the signal that anti-semitism is on the back burner.
Way to go, Barry.
Limerick on August 1, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Barry snubs Israel
Limerick on August 1, 2009 at 7:25 PM
I’ve always wondered too. Just the other day Ben Stein explained that years ago, Jews thought all Republicans were rich country clubbers who wouldn’t allow Jewish members. They still think of Republicans that way even though it’s Jews themselves who make up a majority of the rich country clubbers today.
IrishEi on August 1, 2009 at 7:31 PM
The US telling Israel that a Jew could not build on private property he bought in the center of Jerusalem, doesn’t go over too well either.
Blake on August 1, 2009 at 7:32 PM
And what did the withdrawal from Gaza get Israel? 6,000 rockets, a war, and condemnation from the Jew hating world, while millions pour into terrorist Gaza. This is nuts.
Blake on August 1, 2009 at 7:34 PM
Hahaha! Yesterday, I called American Jews who voted for Obama stupid and Liberal343, troll, demanded, I mean DEMANDED, that I take it back. Which was hilarious because she is an unabashed Jew hater.
Blake on August 1, 2009 at 7:37 PM
There can be no peace between the Koran and other books. How difficult is it to understand this?
OldEnglish on August 1, 2009 at 7:42 PM
The US Consulate in Jerusalem apparently thinks only Palestinians live in Jerusalem; lack of mention of Israelis or Jews on Consulate webpage
Wethal on August 1, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Brooklyn Jew, born and bred. American to the core. And I can categorically say, you are 1000% accurate. F*&K the liberals. Any liberals or other vermin care to take exception to that?
J.J. Sefton on August 1, 2009 at 8:12 PM
Aren’t we all?
Christian Conservative on August 1, 2009 at 8:18 PM
I am nervous for Israel as for my country with bho as cic. I pray for you Israel and the Jews who just want a tiny bit of land God said was theirs. We will see Who comes out on top.
L
letget on August 1, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Jewish vote is still not an issue NEXT!
liberal343 on August 1, 2009 at 8:25 PM
It most certainly is an issue. The way Obammy is screwing Israel, he may not be able to count on the Jewish vote much longer.
And why are you still here? You were banned for making racist comments about Malkin, weren’t you?
Blake on August 1, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Uh . . . because they’ve been paying attention?
That wasn’t liberal343; I think it was the troll named “equality” who was banned for that.
AZCoyote on August 1, 2009 at 9:21 PM
No, this troll went by a different name followed by a similar 3 number suffix. I can’t remember it. Same syntax. Same hatred of Israel. Posted mostly in headlines. Come on! On of you have to remember her other name.
Blake on August 1, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Well, duh. She used the moniker “nice343″
Banned on 5/21/2009. It appears it was a joyous date for many hotair commenters. Just google her name and banned.
Blake on August 1, 2009 at 10:13 PM
The Banning of Nice343 aka Liberal343.
Blake on August 1, 2009 at 10:16 PM
Unfortunately, you are correct. How creepy.
Blake on August 1, 2009 at 10:21 PM
The ADL should also be screaming about the failure to appoint the an Envoy for monitoring and combating Anti-Semitism. The US Code can be found Here. Hello ADL?
batterup on August 2, 2009 at 12:27 AM
The Jews are the epitome of the kind of people who become wealthy by “pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps” (as the old saying goes). Liberals, who by default prize wealth attained by status, position, and class, detest people who dare make themselves members of the “wealth club” through the fruit of their own labors.
By comparison, Liberals love the self-named “palestinians” because they are, as a group, a kind of permanent underclass; they as a people (in general terms) show little resolve or effort to try to better themselves, preferring to go begging for the kind of “help” Liberals love to dish out: money to poor people who refuse to help themselves, who require wealth to be transferred so that they can be “equal” to everyone else – all while the Liberals behind the wealth transfer continually enrich themselves by skimming from it.
Obama will sell out Israel in a Chicago minute. Sadly, it will take having that sellout mean the beginning of the wholesale destruction of Israel as a nation for liberal Jews in the US to figure out just how much Obama hates their people.
I have to wonder how many of the liberal Jews in the US will allow themselves to be used as useful idiots, the way the Nazis capitalized on the “self-hating Jew” type of person during the reign of terror that was the Third Reich?
Wanderlust on August 2, 2009 at 5:12 AM
Dear Israel,
If you are so unhappy with B. Hussein you should stop taking American welfare. Until then, stfu.
Thank you.
The Management
simplesimon on August 2, 2009 at 9:54 AM
…and the Paulbots throw in their two cents
stefanite on August 2, 2009 at 10:01 AM
The US provides FREE protection through its Armed Services for : Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq,….and on and on. For this US taxpayers paid over hundreds of billions of dollars merely over the past 7 years. During that time, we gave Israel less than 7 billion dollars. All the rest of our aid to Israel, over 85% of all money identified as such goes to US Defense contractors prividing jobs for Americans. Furthermore, Israel’s contribution to the US Defense establishment is worth billions as well.
So, “people” like simplesimon are indeed, simple, as well as being wrong on the facts
georgealbert on August 2, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Dear Idiot: The money given to Israel must be spent on US weapons. It’s welfare for US defense contractors. Now, piss off.
Blake on August 2, 2009 at 10:22 AM