Opinion
Obama's give-and-take deal
Orly Azoulay
Published: 05.06.09, 10:59
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44 Talkbacks for this article
1. Obama wants Israel to give with nothing in return!
freejay333 ,   Israel   (06.05.09)
What a stupid article! Obamas plan is suicidal for ISrael! There is no so called Occupation, this land was won during Arab wars against us..... and Jerusalem already is accessible to members of all faiths! Obama didnt even request the Arabs to change their Charters or recognize Israel right to exist! Its obvious his intentions are to destroy Israel!
2. Simplistic yes, truth no
Ilan ,   Ariel   (06.05.09)
Obama has great rhetorical skills but every day to the next he makes George Bush look more competent in comparison. The comparison of Islamic terror and chauvinism to someone added a room to his house is not only immoral, but surrealistically out touch with all sense of proportion and with reality. I'm glad the US public feel so secure as to put their future into the hands of a amateur and space cadet. Israel doesn't have that luxury.
3. Mr obama , all the respect to you
dafer ,   Haifa ...   (06.05.09)
we all want peace in the middle east , except for a few groups like bin laden and his folowers , and all those ugly settlers amnd there folowers , the rest of us and hopefully its the majority , will back all the way to achieve the peace and safety of all the people in the middle east , jews , muslims and christions
4. Give & Take
Hayim Granot ,   Petah Tikva Israel   (06.05.09)
Are you kidding? We give and they take! The past 15 years of terror have proven nothing. There walk among us blind optimists descended from forebears who thought the spit of anti semites was just a morning shower-wake up and face reality. Arab opposition to Israel is not based on borders but existance. Whwn that changes we can talk about where to draw the lines. H. Granot
5. Yes, Kassam launching Pads 5km from NatBag, Please
Israeli Leftist ,   CukooLand   (06.05.09)
I enjoy reading these Self-delusional tales from the Left-wing CukooLanders
6. Jews are alwas forced to give something theirs for "peace"
Ariel Ben Yochanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim,   (06.05.09)
7. To Haim Granot
Shalom Achshav ,   Arlington VA   (06.05.09)
There's one small problem with your analysis -- Israel continues to steal land in the territories and allows the settlements and the settlers to run amok. The situation would've been much different had Israel never started with the settlements - Israel could've held the territories and waited. Instead, it facilitated instability in the territories by allowing the settlement entreprise.
8. Jerusalem Accessible Now
David   (06.05.09)
Since 1967. Jerusalem has been accessible to all faiths. That was not the case under the Jordanian rule. Why try to achieve something that already exists especially since any change will mean that Jews are going to be excluded again and Jewish holly sites vandalized and destroyed.?
9. How could Obama force Bibi ?
(06.05.09)
10. How could Obama force Bibi ?
redbourn ,   tel aviv   (06.05.09)
Answer - he can't, and Orly Azoulay spoiled his article because he couldn't resist taking a jab at Bibi before ending it. Much as I've been, and still am somewhat suspicious of Obama's intentions, I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by his speech yesterday. As far as Israeli politics go, I'm right of center and found his support of Israel in the speech very encouraging and very forthright. He was speaking to Muslims everywhere, but left them in no doubt as to US of Israel. Arabs were displaced in 1948, 1967 and in 1973 and they still are displaced, and an answer needs to be found. Gaza is presently out of the equation because of Hamas, which means that Israel doesn't have to concern itself with a road or tunnel connecting the West Bank and Gaza. That makes the conundrum somewhat easier to solve. Obama has said that he sees a demilitarized West Bank, which is comforting. Both Barak and Olmert purportedly offered around 90% of the West Bank, and it's unlikely that more will ever be offered. If it's reoffered then Obama might be the one to say, "hey guys this is an offer you can't refuse". We shall see, Mike
11. As the article's title says:
Jeffrey ,   Boston   (06.05.09)
Israel gives Arabs take Obama's very simple solution to the "middle east problem"
12. to David
George ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (06.05.09)
Are you kidding me? Try walking through Qalandiya Checkpoint on the way to Jerusalem during Ramadan, if you're Palestinian, Muslim, and under 50 years old...good luck
13. Give and Take??
Shu ,   Ariel ISRAEL   (06.05.09)
What exactly does Israel get out of this? less security, lose part of Jerusalem, hundreds of thousands of Jews having their homes and businesses destroyed. Obama asked the terrorist to stop, why didn't I think of that, we should have just asked the Arabs to recognize Israel, return Gilad Shalit. To #7 The Arabs weren't peaceful before the "Settlements" They vowed to destroy Israel from the moment it was established and don't view ANY of it, Tel Aviv or Haifa included, as a legitimate. Getting rid of the Shomron will only prove to them that terror works and they'll increase it until Obama pressures Israel to hand over the reigns to the Arabs.
14. your article about Obama´s speech
hedy maimann ,   Austria   (06.05.09)
I appreciate your article . There are some important key words you thankfully used: simple truth- I think the deep truths can be told in simple words-, touch the heart of many- when you speak form the heart you touch others hearts. a deal that has no losers- this is possible even we are not used to it on this world bcs of,struggles of ego and honour!!., tested on his actions-true it is easy to speak but if you really mean it you can only see in the deeds of someone.. Be peace with you and all of us.
15. Ms Azoulay is Profoundly Correct: Appeasement is the answer
Neville Chamberlain ,   London UK   (06.05.09)
This is something that Yossi Beilin and Shimon Peres understand.
16. #7, Shalom Achshav = Peace Now, War Later
Jake   (06.05.09)
You cannot steal that which is legitimately under your control. I do not understand how people like you have the shame to show themselves after being so thoroughly discredited.
17. We can hope Palestine turns into Zimbabwe
steve from raleigh   (06.05.09)
which it will of course. That is the ultimate gift the Palestinians can present: the true face of everything they want and represent - - > total abject failure.
18. Obama is part of the problem
Frank ,   Canada   (06.05.09)
Obama is part of the problem and cannot be the solution. Americans are presenting themselves are peacemakers to justify their presence in the Middle East. Israel does not need them to negociate a peace with Arabs and Arabs don't want peace at all, so their policies are irrelevant and they create more war. They must be ignored or expelled from the ME if they push for dangerous policies.
19. Another useful idiot
Sidney   (06.05.09)
As Lenin is supposed to have said he relied on the useful idiots to subvert the west. Orly Azoulay is another useful idiot for the Arab cause. Somebody ought to teach people like him that the Arab goal is still to destroy Israel. Until they give up that goal, all the talk of peace and Israeli concessions can only lead to the peace of the grave.
20. To George #12
David   (06.05.09)
I am sure that even the longest wait at checkpoints is far shorter than 19 years -the time Jews had to wait to get back to their holly sites, many of them destroyed in the meantime. Not to mention, if it were not for terrorism there wouldn’t be any checkpoints.
21. 0bama sweet talk DOESNT BRING PEACE
Rami Abu Ghalyion ,   Tulkarem-Palestine   (06.05.09)
Well,The letter writer is adviser of american President 4 The Muslim minority in the United States Most of us know that the U.S. president is a good with political speeches,its not the only one there was a speech which it wented to the Muslims from Turkey.. its A mistake to believe that the United States can be runing through Barack Obama,Noway,its Runing By institutions,parties,Lobbies Barack Obama knows that the Arab and Muslim peoples are emotional people Which it wouldnt be Hard To get thier hearts and thier minds By(sweet talk) The Begning that Obama has talked about it comes after the failure of the American projects in Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan... what if the Americans now live and enjoy the security in these countries Do you expect that President Obama will be talking about this new relationship with the Muslim world..Good Try Mr
22. Not Give, Give Back ... Refreshing!
PunditRich ,   Wisconsin, USA   (06.05.09)
23. Don't be angry
Alex ,   LA, USA   (06.05.09)
This piece was written for reuter, AFP, or AP. Don't think for a second that Obama even looked at at paper the nighy before. he is not that stupid - He read everything from telepromter, and he is a very good reader
24. Inspiring?
Sarah ,   New York City, USA   (06.05.09)
I did not find Obama's speech "inspiring." It was laced with hope -- futile, of course -- and a plea to the Islamic world to be "friends" with the United States. "We like you," he said. "We really, really like you." Well, we don't. Would you like to see the response from Pakistan to Obama's gesture? Here it is, straight from the Stratfor Intelligencer: "Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani implored the United States on June 5 to write-off Pakistan’s debt, the Khaleej Times reported. Gilani said that the war in northwest Pakistan, the global economic crisis, and the millions of internally displaces persons have created additional problems for Pakistan’s economic problems. Gilani has also asked that the United States rush military supplies to Pakistan and increase its economic assistance. Pakistan owed the United States $1.55 billion as of March 31, 2008." For the record, folks, only two countries have a perfect repayment history with respect to loans made by the United States: Finland and Israel.
25. Shalom Achshav, why did you establish settlement of Tel Aviv
Genuine Tosefta ,   Tveria   (06.05.09)
if you didn't there would be Peace with Arbs a long time ago and no Israel. This is what Arbs are after, the entire land to make it the province of Southern Syria, or Western Jordan, or Northern Egypt. They do not need and do not want another Arb state, they already have too many messed up states. Arbs are for stealing other peoples' lands, Christian Lebanese, Kurds, Chaldeans, Assyriacs, Copts, Berbers, Blacks of Sudan, Saharawi, not about their national rights for which they couldn't care less, and will trample anyone else's national rights. This is only a modern tool in their arsenal of land grabbing tactics.
26. azoulai misses the point!
oded   (06.05.09)
a shalow article at best, its writer misses the big points-- obama is not our mama! yes ,america is important to israel, but a new wind is blowing towards israel from the white house... and it is frigid cold.... obama will be here for only 4 years , bh, but bibi's desicions will last all of us a lifetime... isay to bibi-- stand fast, resist this rubbish of a "" palestinian state"-- it's all a myth and an appeasment to arab terrorism. need a refernce? barak- arafat(imach shemo)- camp david. enough said.
27. Obama came and he will go but Israel without security
Frank ,   USA   (06.05.09)
is not viable.
28. Obama may not win . . .
vered ,   israel   (06.05.09)
but at least he will know and we will know that someone made an honest effort, by at least addressing the main feelings and fears underlying both sides and their weaknesses too.
29. to 13
hafeeza ,   kefelhares   (06.05.09)
shu .. you are from ariel it is a big settelment near my village it was iniciated on lands of four arabic villages .my grand father has 52 donims it was taken by force .my grandfather did not give it but if he can take it he will not hesitate for americato return it .. my friend many palastinians are like my grandfather .. my friend the one used to take by force can not give . it is the rule
30. #12 It wasn't a problem before the 1st Intifada.
Roman ,   Lod, Israel   (06.05.09)
It was still easy enough during the terror waves of the 90's, even though there added security measures - and more of them by the day. The situation today, where Muslim young men are viewed as a potential threat, is a direct result of what happened during the 90's and culminated in the 2nd Intifada. Palestinian Muslim young men can blame themselves, their neighbors, their preachers, and their leaders for the current travel difficulties - no one forced them to support or turn a blind eye to terrorism.
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