Opinion
Netanyahu’s tough choices
Eitan Haber
Published: 26.04.09, 19:04
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
25 Talkbacks for this article
1. Honor thy father and thy mother
robert eisenman ,   california, usa   (04.26.09)
The Commandment is to 'Honor thy father and thy mother.'
2. He must have more courage than Obumma has treachery.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (04.26.09)
3. What history book?
Frank ,   Canada   (04.26.09)
I don't really understand what Haber means. Whatever Bibi decides, it will be written in history books. Leaders are not elected to write books, they are elected to make the right decisions for their country. Creating a terror state is the wrong decision. End of story. Leftists have no rational arguments to support their views, that's why they are inventing all kind of craps.
4. The middle east conflict in less than 20 words....
(04.26.09)
Jews and Arabs who want to compromise and Jews and Arabs who want to demonize and expel the other. The question is.....will any compromise actually stop the new state's Arabs from demonizing or trying to expel us? Will their TV programs change?
5. Re: #1
Canadian Dude ,   Montreal, Canada   (04.26.09)
"Thou shalt not kill" is another commandment, is it not? Does honouring the father and mother involve accepting and agreeing with everything they say? If a child has a father serving time in prison, should they honour that father by following in their footsteps? What kind of a world would we live in today if every child did what their parents wanted of them, and those parents did what their parents wanted of them, ad infinitum?
6. Rabin mythology, Bibi demonology
Ilan ,   Ariel   (04.26.09)
Enough with the lies. No lies praising those who don't deserve it, no more lies defaming those you disagree with.
7. #1 you did not explain that
Gilad ,   London UK   (04.26.09)
We know well that Honor of the mother and father doesn't mean you have to do as they say! It just means to not disrespect them! You do not have to follow their bidding!
8. the reason his choices are so difficult is due to bad
randi ,   jerusalem   (04.26.09)
choices made by Israel's previous leaders. Since the Oslo disaster, our leaders have become more and more obsequious in the face of US and Eupopean stances. Netanyahu needs to show that he is the PM of a sovereign nation that makes its own security decisions.
9. Answer to #5
absalom ,   california, usa   (04.26.09)
The speciousness of your argument is demonstrated by the fact that Netanyahu's father is no murderer or criminal. He is in fact a very great scholar. In the meantime, on e might also add, he should perhaps also honor the sacrifice of his brother by not caving in!
10. Answer to #7
Absalom ,   California, USA   (04.26.09)
Of course, you are correct in this analysis and most people don't; but in this case, among his many options as PM; Netanyahu might do well to follow this injunction. It is perhaps better than all the others. At the same time, too, he might honor the sacrifice of his brother as well and not cave in, illustrating that these people did not die for nothing. Obama is perhaps too young and inexperienced to remember these thing.
11. haber again
alexi   (04.26.09)
Sure it would be easy to do what olmert and livni did, offer golan, offer west bank, offer a strip across israel, offer east jeruslame, offer shebaa farms, don't react to missiles, lose in hezbollah war by being tired of fighting, being afraid of putin, bush and solana. That's easy. Its different if you want to defend israel, stand for it, fight to the last man to save the state even if it is doomed, but take out the arabs as well. The difference is you want to go quietly to the grave as olmert did. Well that's not on. And Rabin would have reversed himself from the mad course you and beilin staked out.Liberman is correct, peace for peace. And if israel is threatened, she will attack, yes even iran and no one should take it off the table. Barak can give tactical advice, anything to do with strategic or political policy, he is useless at. Just stick to tactics. Urgency with syria negotiations is a waste of time and he should realize it by now.
12. Accepting 2 state solution +achieving it are separate issues
Sam ,   Canada   (04.26.09)
Accepting a 2 state solution is far from achieving it. It's highly doubtful that Palestinians will achieve a 2 state solution when they demand a right of return at the same time. That's a bogus 2 state acceptance. Also, Israel is so far apart on the issues of Jerusalem,settlements and borders that the odds of reaching an agreement are low whether it's the Israeli left or right bargaining. Netanyahu's number one job is protecting Israel whether he is dealing with Obama or the Arabs. Palestinian demands make his choices much simpler.
13. Ideological changes
Michael ,   Israel   (04.26.09)
Haber is excited by the fact that all PMs in the past have promised one thing and done another. Hence the shameful state of Israeli politics. Not forgetting of course that each of those ideological switches did NOT lead to peace, quiet, security or any clear ideological change on the Palestinian side www.israelspeaker.com
14. not tough choice at all G-d is omnipotent
avrom ,   bet shemesh   (04.26.09)
The following is based on Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzatto In Daas and Tevunoth chapter on unity of G-d . G-d runs the world in two modes 1]Physical cause and effect /Newtonian physics/astronomy astrology /fixed and unchangeable 2]Quantum mechanics /spiritual cause and effect /anything is possible Since the observer is inherent part of the experiment and we think that the world is run by physical cause and effect [Obama],Israel will be subject to the natural forces[opposed to Israel] of the world This explains why when Israel listened to the US in 73 and the peace proccess negative consequences occurred THis explains why the peace process was a failure ,because G-d is opposed to a two state solution. if however we think that G-d is omnipotent and can do anything and Israeli policies ignore the rest of the world e.g as in 1967 ,Osirak, Entebbe Syrian reactor G-d ensures a positive outcome Therefore all Bibi has to do is ignore the rest of the world and sort out the threats facing Israel Furthermore since the US has abdicated from the role of world policeman Israel has taken on the role and will sort out the world.s problems
15. olemrt changes position
marcel   (04.27.09)
You say olmert changed his prinicipled position as all israel PMs. It is true that things look different in the PM office than at defense or chief of staff. But just because Obama wants A, doesn't mean you have to give him A if it weakens your security position. Israel cannot afford any more withdrawals as it cannot take any more rockets.Also, Jordan occupies 75% of palestine mandate so there is more room for both jews and arabs to negotiate. If you want to revert to perstate palestine, fine, revert to the whole of palestine and not exclude jordan. Back to olmert, He never I remind you held any prinicipled position in his life. He was corrupt and weak from the start. He never did time in combat, nor did his sons. The IDf hates olmert and had trouble fighting under him as he and peretz messed things up big time. Olmert outdid chamberlain and had no capacity to negotiate, had no red lines, and was weak as hell.So Haber, join meretz and go live in ramallah. And make sure you kiss arafat's grave annually. You are contemptible along with the miserable coward olmert who continues to stonewall mazzuz to avoid a jail term. Two state is finished. Arabs will be citizens of jordan and there will not be any bridge across israel. Leiberman is right.
16. Politically as well as economically Clinton had a big
Asher ,   NY,USA   (04.27.09)
advantage over Obama. Obama as he said himself has so much on his plate much more than ever. If he has to go toward moslem nations he will do it eventually as it showed in Turkey. Netaniyahu dose not have to follow whatever the author of this article has day dreamed. I am not worried of any of these and I am positive God of Israel is watching closely. If palastinians were serious about peace they would have gained that in Camp David when Barak was ready to give them whatever they asked for and Clinton himself publicly announced it was not Israel's fault but the leader of the Palastinians had not the gautts to finish the task.(Thank God,)
17. to 4 and his 20 words
mary ,   jerusalem   (04.27.09)
you make your sum as if their is only the arabs and jews in the middle east simply iran is not arab but they are moslem and there are the arab cristian and there are the israili jews and more of the halfe of jews are not israili i mean it is more complicated than your 20 words . but you can make it one word only it is endless
18. to 14
rayyan ,   jerusalem   (04.27.09)
we must remember that it is one god controle all the people . but i see somebodies remember the god when they are weak but in power they think it is them who controle the god . .and god rule is not possibility it is justice and mercy it is the wisdome and knowledge but ignorants think it is possibility and it is only to favorite jews .. hahaha
19. There is a reality, Mr Haber
Bill   (04.27.09)
The reality is that we cannot live by slogans alone. Mr Obama cannot dictate to us what reality is. 6 million died & thousands perished becuase of slogans & nobody taking seriously the tthrats that our enemis impose. Obama is not Jweish or Zionist. I cannot say for sure that he is more pro-arab than Pro-Israel, but based on comments that he has & Hillary Clinton have made, it is clear that Obama is not living in reality. 70 years ago the world tried to pacify Hitler. The Jews & the world payed for it dearly. We cannot afford this from evry direction
20. democracy in Israel
mordechai taub ,   jerusalem   (04.27.09)
Mr. Haber fails to internalize that we live in a modern democratic state. The majority of Israelis rejected hs defeatest ideology and believe in the future of the State.
21. #18 no one wants anyone to suffer, jews were not
(04.27.09)
given but a small piece of land, even though they knew the world was larger before they entered their promised land. they were chosen to observe the lord and they feel chosen when they get as close as they can to his wishes
22. Why should Bibi be afraid of Obama?
redbourn ,   tel aviv   (04.28.09)
The whole article seems based on the fatuous idea the Obaba can threaten Bibi with something. What might he threaten Bibi with? Cutting off aid? Thanks to Bibi the Israeli taxpayer could absorb such a burden fairly easily because US aid, even when combined with the Diaspora's donations, equals less than 2 percent of Israel's GDP. Cutting of weapons supplies? That would mean firing the engineers, technicians and blue-collar workers involved in manufacturing what the IDF buys from the U.S. Can you imagine that at this present time? Israel is also the US's only true ally in the region. People who imagine that the US can simply bully Israel into doing things that it doesn't want are simply short on facts. Mike
23. Health Minister
nancy Tamir ,   israel   (04.28.09)
Before he confronts the leaders, let's see him choose a strong knowledgable Health Minister. Disgusting how we Israelis have one of the best health systems in the world, yet this PM has put us back in the Dark Ages in this respect.
24. 23
muna ,   jerusalem   (04.28.09)
i wish you and your family a good health . but the sociaty is not healthy
25. #21 "the chosen" don't serve in the military
(04.28.09)
Back to article