Sunday, March 14, 2010

Obama Administration Pushing Away Israel

This was a minor flap that the Obama administration is exploiting to push away one of our closest allies. 

Israel’s announcement of plans to build 1,600 homes for Jews in East Jerusalem was “destructive” to peace efforts, a top aide to Barack Obama says.

David Axelrod said the move, which overshadowed a visit to Israel by US Vice-President Joe Biden, was also an “insult” to the United States.

Israel’s prime minister has tried to play down the unusually bitter diplomatic row between the two allies.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week issued her own stern rebuke.

Mrs Clinton told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by telephone on Friday that the Israeli move was “deeply negative” for US-Israeli relations.

(8) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2228 hrs
Foreign Affairs + Politics + Politics - General

  1. REubkes are traded all the time. How is this “pushing away”?

    I’m utterly shocked that you’re overreacting in your criticism.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 14, 2010 at 2344 hrs


  2. This is shocking in its’ intensity.  The administration hasn’t just issued a rebuke….this is a “beat down”.  A “nuclear” rebuke, if you will.  I don’t believe I’ve seen such a harsh reaction toward Israel in my lifetime.

    Posted by Steve on March 15, 2010 at 0420 hrs


  3. Israel went out of its way to set the timing of their announcement to be most offensive to us. Bibi doesn’t seem to be remotely interested in peace.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 15, 2010 at 0719 hrs


  4. China, Poland, Israel… every the Obamateur touches foreign policy, America losses a friend.

    @Free Lunch Exactly how is it Obama’s place to dictate internal policy to Israel? How could he be offended that Israel did what was in it’s own interest? What if China insisted that the US come to the bargaining table with Al-Queda? Would we do as we were told? It’s the same thing… Obama wants Israel to negotiate with a violent group that includes annihilation of Israel on their bucket list.

    This man is easily as big of a buffoon as Jimmy Carter was.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 15, 2010 at 0850 hrs


  5. TFG -

    It’s not internal policy for Israel. It’s international policy. If Israel wants to include the West Bank and Gaza in Israel and allow all of the residents to vote in Israeli elections, then it would be internal policy. Until then, it’s an international problem.

    I agree that Israel does not have to listen to us, but we don’t have to give them billions of dollars every year, either. They were intentionally rude about this. They deserved the dressing down. Israel is no more our ally than Saudi Arabia is. Both countries routinely do things that hurt our national interest.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 15, 2010 at 1016 hrs


  6. Christ, Steve, settle down, and go read some history.  Try, for just one moment, to go a day without going out of your way to be overy critical of someone/something you don’t agree with.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 15, 2010 at 1106 hrs


  7. It’s not internal policy for Israel. It’s international policy. If Israel wants to include the West Bank and Gaza in Israel and allow all of the residents to vote in Israeli elections, then it would be internal policy. Until then, it’s an international problem.

    Stunning, to say the least. Israel took that land in a war… a war they did not start or deserve. No one was there helping them… just the Israelis alone. To imply that the land belongs under international oversight or should be returned would be like saying that the land Germany and Japan lost in WW2 should also be returned. When you pick a fight and lose, it’s not the responsibility of the winner to make you whole again.

    As for the Palestinians voting, I’d say that Israel should sit down to some serious peace talks with them… just as soon as the Palestinians openly, totally, and permanently repudiate the idea of destroying Israel. That will happen roughly the second Thursday of NEVER.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 15, 2010 at 2216 hrs


  8. Hey lets do the UK next, oh wait we already did that one… hmm…

    The true amature nature and level of incompetence of this administration becomes more evident every day.  Who knew that a bunch of academics with no world experiences could have done such a great job at ruining every foreign relationship we have.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on March 17, 2010 at 1303 hrs


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