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Obama may define terms of peace talks
Yitzhak Benhorin
Published: 12.01.10, 18:32
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31 Talkbacks for this article
1. What arrogance!
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (01.12.10)
It is quite arrogant and inappropriate for the United States president to delineate terms to Israel for a renewal of negotiations. Israel is a sovereign state whose policies are set in Jerusalem, not Washington D.C. Obama has no business sending letters to Abbas, either. Abbas, is after all, the head of Fatah, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and United States law prohibits American citizens from any contact with a terrorist organization. So I guess (i) Obama is not an American; (ii) Obama does not respect United States law or (iii) Obama does not believe that United States law applies to him.
2. O NO 1 HERE COMES ANOTHER TRICKRY OF OBAMA !
Benjamin   (01.12.10)
3. Dear Sarah B
Big Al ,   Los Angeles, USA   (01.12.10)
1. Obama is more American than you, as he has no dual loyalties such as yourself. 2. Just checked the state depts list of terror organizations and surprise surprise I did not see Fatah on that list. So what law is YOUR PRESIDENT breaking. 3. Obama is merely coming up with ideas that just might prove fruitful seeing as Bush's eight years of diplomacy did not bring the sides closer. Obama will be more balanced and yes Jews will not get 100% of what they ask for and they will just have to deal with this fact. 4. TRY TO ACT A LITTLE MORE AMERICAN WHEN YOU POST ON THESE WEBSITES.
4. This is what you get when you have a boy doing a man's job.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (01.12.10)
o-BUM-a is a snotty little megalomaniac with soiled pants who thinks he is the leader of the free world. NO, it takes a MAN to be the leader of the free world.
5. #3 Al. Most Americans oppose Obama's policies.
Chaim ,   Israel   (01.12.10)
America is getting increasingly nervous about Obama's leadership for many reasons. Sarah B has touched on some of them. It would be difficult, if not impossible, to cite an example of another U.S. president who has done so much damage to America in such a short time. Skyrocketing unemployment, taxes, deficits, attacks on freedom are already Obama's legacy. No wonder recent polls show a mere 30% of Americans agree that America is going in the right direction under Obama. American support for Israel stands at over 70%, far above American support for Obama. Obama's treatment of Israel is disgraceful and that's a fact.
6. SHAZAM!!!!! and GOLL LEEE
Gideon Reader   (01.12.10)
Of course! Why the #&@% did I not think of it? The absolute totally complete (and stunningly simple) answer to all of this Arab-Israel fighting stuff. What you people need is a (wait for it) a,.....COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. That;s the ticket. You need to get a community and organize it. See how easy that was? bidda-bim, bidda bam, schoen, fartig. Another ZerObama fix. As in Chicago fix.
7. The silly bufoon President...
Vinny ,   Brooklyn N.Y.   (01.12.10)
dug his own ditch, let him fill it back in himself and not rely on the parties to do his dirty work - the lazy bum.
8. To: No. 3
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (01.12.10)
1. Really? Despite his formative years studying in Islamofascist Indonesian madrassas? Are you sure? I'm not at all sure. An ever-growing segment of the American public is not all that sure, either. 2. Fatah purports to have renounced terrorism in 1988, but has never done so in writing or in public. In fact, Abbas continues to assert that he is interested in the liberation of Palestine. Since there never has been a country called Palestine, it is clear that he refers to mandate Palestine, which includes present-day Israel. Moreover, a number of divisions within Fatah, including its so-called "military" arm, adamantly reject any possibility of peaceful co-existence with Israel. Fatah is rather fragmented and its several internal divisions certainly do not march in lockstep. If anything, they spend as much time killing one another as they do killing Israelis and Jews. Fatah's charter has never been repudiated, and continues to call for the destruction of the State of Israel and the extermination and/or expulsion of the Jews. A number of American administrations have said that they no longer consider Fatah to be a terrorist organization, but Fatah remains on the list of terrorist organizations with which Americans may not have contact under United States Treasury regulations and by the United States Congress. The president may set foreign policy (with the approval of the Senate) but it is Congress that enacts law. Quite a few members of the United States Congress have rejected Fatah's claims that it has privately renounced terrorism, and said that nothing short of a full, public and documented repudiation of its charter and recognition of the right of the State of Israel to exist in its ancient homeland can constitute proof of Fatah's purported renunciation of terror. You will recall that two intifadas were launched when Fatah was asked to do precisely that in conjunction with accepting an offer of a two-state solution (which would have even allowed them to claim East Jerusalem as a capital). Clearly having their own country, 94% of the West Bank and East Jerusalem as their capital was not enough to cause them to renounce terrorism openly and publicly and yet you expect anyone to take seriously Fatah's claim that "oh, yes, we renounced terrorism in a private meeting held in 1988?" If you do take it seriously, well, that says quite a bit about you, none of it particularly positive. 3. How did you like his idea of a "hands-across-the-water" approach to Moslem and Arab states? Apart from the fact that it has drawn much ridicule from the Iranians and Syrians, it has not worked all that well to prevent expansion of armed conflict into Waziristan, Pakistan and now Yemen, as well. I point out that Jews are asking for nothing. The State of Israel is a sovereign nation that does not take its marching orders from an American president. Sorry. 4. I am very American. I am also Israeli. This happens to be an Israeli website, so why should I need to be concerned about how American I may appear to you?
9. Obama again?
Brad ,   USA   (01.12.10)
Obama will do what he always does. He'll talk stupid, try to divide Israel's land, try to get Israel to make concessions, and declare the "talks" a success. Then, when the rockets and mortar shells are fired from Gaza, he'll tell Israel to "moderate" their response, or some other bullcrap.
10. to Sara
Saria ,   Syria /USA   (01.12.10)
there is nothing sovriegn about you . when you live under my roof and i garantee all your loans and give you 3 billions a year ....you just listen .
11. re#5 Chaim
Big Al ,   Los Angeles USA   (01.12.10)
Chaim, Obama was elected with 51 percent of the vote here in the states. The US has always been a 51/49 country for the most part. Obamas poll numbers are 51% favorable, so to say the 30% of Americans support him is just plain silly. Obama inherited an economy left in shambles by George W. Bush. Unemployment, the collapse of the US housing market, the collapse of the banking system all began under George Bush. To expect Obama to fix this in one year is about as realistic as middle east peace i guess. As far as being friend or foe of Israel, has Obama stopped supplying you with subsidized quality arms and aircraft? Has he condemned Israel in the United Nations? How exactly has he offended Israel in any way? Is it because he asks Israel to stop building illegal settlements that make peace an impossibility? Obama is not George Bush, he actually wants to end this conflict once and for all, and to do this he must be a partial mediator.
12. #10; saria-educate yourself
henry ,   la,us   (01.12.10)
Educate yourself first then learn how to spell before you make comments.
13. To: No. 10
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (01.12.10)
Just because Syria is the pet toadie of Iran doesn't mean Israel needs a similar relationship with the United States. In fact, Israel does not need the United States at all. Permit me to point out that Israel can claim a perfect repayment record of all United States interest-bearing cash loans. The military credits Israel receives from the United States must be spent in the United States, which keeps a lot of people employed in the defense industry. The balance of United States aid takes the form of joint venture projects which have benefited the United States far more than it has benefited Israel. Finally, the total aid package from the United States to Israel is $2.2 billion. Contrast that with the $25 billion which Israel could earn instantly by concluding a weapons system package deal with China ($18 billion) and one with the Republic of Georgia ($7 billion) -- both deals halted because the United States asked Israel not to conclude the sales -- and ask yourself, indeed, cui bono? Israel is a sovereign state. For you to suggest otherwise is testament to your sheer stupidity. I really love the Golan, by the way. Banias is one of my favorite places to visit in all of Israel. Thanks so much for giving Israel the opportunity to kick Syria's @$$ in 1967, and then do it all over again in 1973. The opportunity so generously given to Israel to shoot down over 80 Syrian MIGs in 1982 was also a most thoughtful gesture. Don't push your luck. Next time, we won’t stop at Quneitra.
14. # 11
Birdi ,   Israel   (01.12.10)
You mean "impartial" leader, dont you ?
15. Ha! Obaama can't even define what an act of terrorism is.How
can he define terms ,   of peace???????   (01.13.10)
16. #13 - Thank you Sarah!
Arthur ,   SF, CA   (01.13.10)
What a great response.... You should start "Sarah's Fan Club"!
17. To: Arthur at No. 16
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (01.13.10)
Thank you so much for your kind words. Team Sarah, though? Not so sure .... ;-)
18. to #5 chaim , would you explain that for me plz ?
saher   (01.13.10)
CNN poll show that Obama has stable popularity bet. 50-52 through november and december so when it down to 30 % ?? beside that ,im sure you heard about world public opinion which show that in july 2002 52% of americans against the settlements but in july 2009 75% of americans against the settlements you could google it
19. 13, etc. Count me as another Sarah Fan Club member! Kole
Yonatan ,   Philly US   (01.13.10)
hacavode. May I suggest you copy & paste your longer responses? There is so much ignorance, anti semitism, anti Jewish sovereignty both here & elsewhere, you are bound to repeat yourself. Its exhausting writing so much, so it would make things easier. cheers!! also my email is. Maybe we can share some ideas with Israel, etc. teshuvahutzedakah@yahoo.com
20. impose peace ? how can anyone
michael   (01.13.10)
believe they can force two people sfrom stop hating each other and force cessation of war. what is obama going to do implant computer chips in everyone's brain and use mind control. This notion of imposed peace is bizarre and a disaster waiting to happen.
21. #11 Al. Most Americans oppose Obama's direction.
Chaim ,   Israel   (01.13.10)
Al, it is true that Obama was elected with about 51% of the vote. However, the approximately 51% of Americans, who voted for Obama, have now had a year to contemplate their mistake. Recent polls show a mere 30% believe Obama is taking America in the right direction. It is disingenuous to lay all the blame on Bush. The fact is that virtually EVERYTHING was better when Bush was in office than a year into Obama's presidency. Pick just about any objective measure: unemployment, taxes, deficit...and compare. On the international scene, Obama has made America a laughing stock for the first time in it's history. His apology tours have terrorists and tyrants quaking with laughter. Obama's jettisoning long standing agreements with Israel on Judea and Samaria are totally wrong and do nothing but strengthen terrorists and tyrants. Like most of Obama's foreign policies.
22. Big Al, she lives in "The Dakota", has 1 Harvard degrees...
BBSNews ,   Charlotte, NC   (01.13.10)
...and one from Uppsalla. Her main hobby seems to be hating Muslims, with a sideline of hating the United States, and President Obama, but she saves most of her vitriolic energy for advocating the ethnic cleansing of Arab Palestinians from their land. She's a dreadful PR liability for Israel. But a quick perusal of her fans reveals that her following isn't exactly a cabal that is playing with a full deck... So she's kind of an object lesson in what constitutes today's Israeli "supporter". Shrill, strident, and without reason.
23. Big Al so youve seen a Birth Certificate?
Alan ,   SA   (01.13.10)
24. terms
colin   (01.13.10)
The islamic american president wants to define terms of peace talks--IS HE REFERING TO PAKISTAN AND THE TALIBAN???MAYBE HE IS MISTAKEN AND SHOULD SPEAK TO AFGANISTAN !! Here in Israel he can get humus in abu Gosh nothing else, Mitchell and his owner can get "stuffed" NOBODY EVEN TRIES TO ATTEND TO THIER RUBBISH
25. Let Obama define
Bubba ,   Stone Mt. GA USA   (01.13.10)
who he is; his true birth certificate, his college records, his transcript and attendance record from Columbia, his true affiliation with : ACORN, SEIU, Rezko, Rashid Khalidi,Khalid Al Mansour, Bill Ayers, etc. Tell who you are Obama that we should know if and why we should listen to you
26. #3 Big Al
John ,   Wheeling WV USA   (01.13.10)
If Barack Hussein Obama Sr. was the allged POTUS's daddy, then he does have dual citizenship as daddy held British citizenship being that he was a Kenyan. The only was he can be a qualified POTUS is if Frank Marshall Davis or Malcolm X was his daddy or if Stanley Armour Dunham was his daddy If he is a full US citizen how did he travel to Pakistan in 1980 when it was on the State Dept.'s list of off limits places?
27. To Sarah B.
Tyra ,   Lebanon, US   (01.13.10)
AMEN!!!!!!!! finally someone with enough guts to say it. He is the man of lawlessness, period. He exhalts himself above our laws, above all religions, above all actually. I swear I think he thinks he is God. He needs to back off of Israel before God shows him who really is in charge. Americans had better wake up now!
28. To #18 Do you honestly believe....
Tyra ,   Lebanon, US   (01.13.10)
everything CNN states???? HA, HA, heeeheeeheee, Oh my gosh, that's made my day. I can't believe we have so many sheeple that actually believe CNN (or any of them for that matter) This one has made me laugh out loud. I can assure you by just speaking to people the big Peace Maker is at 30%. It's a brainwash technique you know. Tell people the polls are higher, because most don't want to be the one to stand alone, so they'll go with the crowd at lunch time, blending in, being good sheeple.
29. To: No. 22 - Second Attempt
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (01.13.10)
Two Harvard degrees. I have a Master's degree in addition to a law degree. Oops -- it would appear your “dossier” is incomplete. I never went to Uppsala and I never claimed to have gone there. I mentioned that one of my colleagues did, and you know it. I did spend my junior year in college abroad, though – or does your mythical dossier fail to include that as well? Let’s talk about you for a bit. Did you attend college and graduate school? (Mail order and online "degrees" do not count.) I do know a Michael Hess, but the one I know graduated from West Point and went into government service following his retirement from active duty. You are the furthest thing from him imaginable. You seem to have spent your -- er, "career" (for lack of a better word) haunting news websites where you seem to have a knack for making yourself a general nuisance and a considerable laughingstock. I guess whatever graduate school in journalism you attended never taught you the importance of objectivity and impartiality in journalism . (Actually, I'm just having some fun at your expense. I happen to know that there is no record that you ever graduated from college, let alone graduate school.) Unlike you, Mr. Hess, I do not seek "fans." Unlike you, I do not need the accolades of others to convince me of my self-worth. Besides, you do have your share of fans -- the likes of Mike van Harris, an assortment of functionally illiterate and woefully deluded Arab and Moslem flotsam and jetsam, Marco, Matty Groves, Tayfun the Turk, Nour, Noor, Shlomo Kamra .... my goodness, there's enough of you to form a support group. But I imagine you know all about support groups already, don't you, given your unfortunate psychiatric history, Why, I'm betting you could write a book about support groups. A first-hand account that might actually find a publisher, as opposed to all your other submissions which, alas, have yet to bear fruit. Of course, your borderline personality disorder and your narcissism with paranoid and delusional overlay (sorry -- one of our friends is a psychiatrist and I just couldn't resist showing her some of your posts) come through in everything you write and your grandiose episodes fool no one. They never have. You have developed quite a reputation for going from internet website to internet website. Evidently is it is always only a matter of time until you wear out your welcome and it becomes necessary to move on. Did you know that making hollow threats and maintaining mythical "dossiers" on people who disagree with your point of view (well, that would be the narcissism) does not impress anyone? We know you have no connections in government. You have no friends in high places. You are the quintessential “nobody.” Why don't you go watch your magical satellite TV? I bet that for ten more box tops you can get the accompanying super-duper spiffy real-time spy satellite controller in either a shiny metallic or sleek back finish. You really want to stop making threats, Mr. Hess. Your mythical threats and your mythical dossiers and your mythical letters to all manner of government agencies and government officials have a legal term: menacing. Largely misdemeanor, but you’ve met the felony threshold for a number of jurisdictions. You should be somewhat concerned – felony menacing is a serious charge, particularly when the record clearly shows that you have a history of engaging in it repeatedly. I suppose that ultimately, it is unfortunate that you fail entirely to realize that vitriol and invective, coupled with empty threats and lies, have never stood you in good stead. Sadly, it is increasingly apparent that you are simply incapable of controlling certain behaviors; the very ones which are responsible for your failed life. You really are pathetic. But you know that already, don’t you?
30. To: Tyra at No. 27
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (01.13.10)
Thank you. I always enjoy reading your input, and wish you would post more often. Your assessment of Obama is spot-on. Obama's ego certainly outpaces his abilities and is disproportionate to his meager accomplishments. Obama is the quintessential poster child for classic narcissistic personality disorder, which is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, an obsession with power and the appearance of success, and lying about abilities and achievements. Sadly, Obama managed to hide his true self from the people of the United States while campaigning for the presidency. Since his outward appearance is charismatic and charming and hides the manipulative psychotic living within, he is clearly a sociopath as well. He's a one-term failure at best, and may well be impeached before the conclusion of his term.
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