Opinion
Obama on the fence
Yoaz Hendel
Published: 06.09.12, 20:11
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28 Talkbacks for this article
1. Re: Obama on the fence
David ,   Calgary, Canada   (09.06.12)
Obama has been the best friend of Israel so far. If you think Obama is only commited and not obliged to Israel courses, then I can tell you that Neither can Romney or any other Republican. I am not a democrat but after studying the unstable behaviour Romney has exhibited, I strongly doubt if his goal is to be there for Israel.
2. 'The relationship between Obama and Netanyahu is very bad'
split ,   US   (09.06.12)
Show me a one of civilised country's leader with whom is any better? ,...
3. One big difference
Beauchard ,   Amsterdam   (09.06.12)
A very good analysis. I agree with it, except for the last paragraph. Here Hendel confuses America's national interests with Obama's possible political or personal interests. It is in America's national interests to use military force to stop Iran acquiring nuclear weapons when all other options have been exhausted. It may not be in Obama's political or personal interests. This will be the biggest call of his presidency. Unfortunately President Obama now sounds like the wrong president to deal with this issue..
4. GO HOME YOU BUM
DA URBAN POET ,   SAFED ISRAEL   (09.06.12)
Retire and play golf you waste of space.
5. Uh, Obama wasn't familiar with those NOT named Netanyahu.
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (09.06.12)
"When Obama chose not to visit Israel while travelling in the Middle East, he was not yet familiar with Netanyahu." Did he know Erdogan of Turkey? Or Abdullah of Saudi Arabia or Mubarak of Egypt? Yet he visited all of them. Obama didn't know Bibi, but his then Chief of Staff did. Emanuel was with Clinton when Netanyahu tried to convey the "facts of life" in the region. When he left, Clinton's response was reportedly, "Who the hell does he think he is?" So between that and Obama's disdain for "Likud" expressed in 2008, he was predisposed not to like Netanyahu. As to the "foot on the desk" incident, folks still argue whether that was intended as an insult. Obama is known for putting his feet up on the White House furniture - as if it was his own house. He's also known for rubbing his middle finger along his nose - a subtly profane gesture - with people he disdains.
6. Big Giant DUH !!!!!
YIsrael of Jerusalem ,   Jerusalem , ISRAEL   (09.06.12)
Yo ! Wake up !! Oil has ruled the world since the 1930's and who has all the oil ? Anyone and everyone has and will sell us out at the drop of an oil drop ! Look who went to NAM in the New Hitler's Capital ! Do you know what crocodile tears are ? Remember, nations do not have friends, only interests.
7. Shouldn't it bother us
Avramele   (09.06.12)
That Bibi and Romney are both fully beholden to Sheldon Adelson? In 100 years we have gone from Herzl and Brandeis and Einstein to Adelson, Madoff and Lieberman, from the humanism and idealism of the second Aliyah to Shas and Danny Danon. Shana tova everyone!
8. Obama is on Iran's side. Not America's or Israel's.
Chaim ,   Israel   (09.06.12)
Obama has had a devastating impact on America. He has no knowledge or concern about America's true interests. He is determined to turn America into another failing socialist republic. As far as foreign affairs is concerned; Obama is on Iran's side. Not on America's and certainly not on Israel's.
9. Obama has earned his Nobel with Cairo Speech, Arab Spring
Steven Benassi ,   Silver Bay, MN USA   (09.06.12)
...and the icing on the cake will not be a ridiculous "obligation" to Israel, to bomb Iran, to stop nonexistent WMDs, but to bring Democracy to Palestine, with UNSC '67 borders. BB wants settlements, and an Iran war to justify settlements. Obama wants Democracy and Peace in Palestine, and Obama holds all the cards now.
10. Thank G-d real American's see Israel
SD Charger ,   San Diego   (09.06.12)
differently then Obama. His true colors were shown yesterday when his party boo'ed and shouted down G-d, Jerusalem and Israel on their convention floor. What other sign do you Israeli's need to show you that Obama will NOT do anything against Iran? Either vote for Romney so he will win, or go at Iran alone and then have to wait for the real American's to make our elected officials do something about them? The choice is now yours after yesterdays display of dis-respect toward Israel and G-d. The most shameful day I have ever witnessed in America.
11. A good, cynical Realpolitik assessment, Hendel
Cameron ,   USA   (09.06.12)
12. #2 Split - Show me that you can write
BEN JABO (MACHAL) ,   ISRAEL   (09.06.12)
a coherent sentence, yours wasn't
13. # 12
Birdi ,   Israel   (09.06.12)
LOL, trying to understand split is like trying to understand us speaking Hebrew backwards!!
14. Obama on the fence!
Henry ,   Cavite, Philippines   (09.07.12)
ALL words and actions by world leaders will have to lead the world towards Armaggedon. There is no way out of it. What has been written in the Bible will have to come to pass. Israel is at the center of the world. Heaven's Kingdom will be established in Jerusalem.
15. bad spin. obama has no history or use or empathy for israel.
ralph   (09.07.12)
16. Oath, Vow, promise, comittment.
(09.07.12)
(Talmud, Nedarim, 23a) "All personal vows we are likely to make, all personal oaths and pledges we are likely to take between this Yom Kippur and the next Yom Kippur, we publicly renounce. Let them all be relinquished and abandoned, null and void, neither firm nor established.
17. What choice is there?
John Prophet   (09.07.12)
“These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value.”
18. Real Americans
Dennis Wright ,   Greenwood, USA   (09.07.12)
Yes indeed, the only reason God and Jerusalem were added to the Dem. platform was because they were embarrassed by the real American outcry and fear of losing Jewish votes. Their party was split down the middle. Republicans are far from split down the middle when it comes to Israel. I personally would die for a Jew, one died for me. Can you imagine what Obama will be like when he no longer needs or cares about the Jewish votes???
19. Obama and Israel....
marat ,   ottawa, canada   (09.08.12)
The Reality is Simple: Obama DESPISES ISRAEL and if he were allowed, would destroy the nation in a flash. You will NEVER UNDERSTAND THE MAN FROM HIS WORDS, they are entirely meaningless. He sold Israel out long, long ago. He turns up his Pro-Jew Rhetoric now and then for Jewish Votes and Jewish Money. THAT is his SOLE CONCERN for the Jewish People. He is POISON FOR ISRAEL.
20. Think Small about Iran
Fahd Alharby ,   Kuwait   (09.08.12)
Iran is at a stage where it. Gets stronger the more we talk about all out war against it, yet at the most basic Even it is a very weak country .The best way to deal with it is really when we think in piece meal fashion as follows: - Ensure the success pf the Syrian uprising with the Syrian sate apparatus in place , this will impel the new Syrian regime to help dislodge Hizballah , this action in few months will take. About 40 % of Iranian power . - Stick to harsher economic sanctions , and that will take another 40 % before Iranian can muster the ability to make the bomb . - Utilize the intelligence to kill scientists and intllligence operatives , and sabotages of all kinds, that will take 10 % . - Use misinformation , support the oppositions , human rights, and minorities , as the Periasns are only about 45 % of the populations and are mainly in the central portion of the country ., this will take the remaining 10 %.
21. Stakes are frighteningly high.
John Prophet   (09.08.12)
The fate of the world pivots on what happens next with Iran. Should Iran get the bomb, proliferation of atomics will run amok as more and more nations run to build or buy their own. If Iran is stoped so will proliferations as others see the high price to pay for the effort. The stakes are huge, mankind's fate hangs in the balance!
22. he is not on the fence, he is against us
jack bauer   (09.08.12)
born a muslim, registered in school as a muslim, sired by communist muslims, there is no doubt this guy does not side with Israel. Drinking a beer on camera and claiming not to be one doesnt change the facts. The actions of the white house the last few years prove beyond doubt. Look at the support for the muslim brotherhood.... the leaks, the threats, the lies.... there is no fence! Takiya does not equal truth.... watch the new movie Obama 2012 if you care about the subject
23. To Chaim, N 8
Luiz F Haddad ,   Niteroi, Brazil   (09.08.12)
Chaim, you know my care about Israel; a State that belongs not only to Jewish people, but also to all decent and humanistic citizens of the world. But, without defending Obama's Government in U.S, I don't understand why you, and others, confound social democracy with communism or extreme leftism. For you, capitalism is a very good system? Did you forget its several failures along history and nowadays? When I visited Israel in 2010, I saw some kibbutzes with emotion. They represent work and solidarity; basic principles from Israel's independence. There is a wise third way among the refered bad systems. We must struggle for it.
24. No Treaty, No Obligation
Nina ,   NYC   (09.09.12)
We don't have a defense treaty with Israel, and therefore NO OBLIGATION. Nor will we ever sign a defense treaty with a nation that's totally out of control. Bush not only didn't do anything, even sanctions, against Iran, but he also flatly refused to give you the bunker busters Obama provided, a largess I consider to be a mistake.
25. why the subtrafuge
alexandra longisland ,   sands point n.y.   (09.10.12)
obama and EVERY repub and dem of coursw secretly despise israel for coordinating with aipac and 5 million jewish donors to blaclmail them with threats of losing their next elections,as every jew knows,and is why jews always say obama is bad for israel,of course jews know obama is the ONE person who could finally fight back and expose aipac and israel firster treason if reelected,and that terrifies jewry, this is the REAL fear. I know this wont be posted,but if you keep hiding the fact that americans are aware of the subversion of our elected officials by aipac and jewish donors you do your readers a disservice,every news thread concerning iran/israel/palestine whether repub or dem leaning shows the comment thread is 95% anger at aipac and calling congress hostages or slaves to jewish interests,why hide american public sentiment? is it prohibited by government censors?
26. inside the israeli bubble
alexandra longisland ,   sands point n.y.   (09.10.12)
American outcry? this hoax that it put forth is long past its sell date,unfortunately the moderators of ynet either because of internal policy or government censors will never allow israelis to see what Americans really think of the Aipac/jewish donor stranglehold on our congress/senate/and president,please have a gander at any repub or dem leaning news site regarding iran or israel and see 95% anti aipac comments,I guess policy is hide the truth and hope genies can be stuffed back in bottles
27. Accurate analysis. The there is Obama's Moslem connection.
Bob K ,   Orlando USA   (09.11.12)
Interests vs obligations / commitments. Yes Bush had the opportunity to stop Iran in 2003 but the presence of US troops in Iraq and their vulberability came first. Re: Syria, again Bush had enough problems so why do anything? As Defense Secretary Panetta said: there is about one year left to stop Iran - that is the US' real red line. Israel is probably on its own re an early strike Would Romney be different.? Hard to tell but maybe especially with Ryan in the team who seems to have strong feelings for Israel. Either way, Iran will be stopped.
28. If Obama wins again
Palm Beach ,   Boynton Beach USA   (09.20.12)
There will be a mass exodus of Jews and Christians out of the US. It will be a brain drain. Also I do not fear for Israel. G-D protects Israel and Jerusalem and Jews are still his chosen people. Psalm 83 is coming and this will make Israel larger and without walls or fences. As for the USA, its inconsequential or irrelevant. G-D's timeclock is Jerusalem. Marantha!
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