Opinion
Nothing new under the sun
Eitan Haber
Published: 22.10.12, 10:02
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25 Talkbacks for this article
1. Yes - some good points but...
Rube Vogel ,   Jerusalem   (10.22.12)
the difference between left and right, as the difference between US Presidential candidates is mostly in the details. Some of us do hope for a US president who distinguishes between Gilo and Beit Safafa and a US president that leads from the front on Iran and not one who leads from behind. In truth though, both candidates lie and it is very hard to know which President will truly back your positions on the day after.
2. "It's not what you are, it's how you enter the room" comes
tomt ,   tel aviv   (10.22.12)
to mind. Besides, until now Israel hasn't been facing an instant annihilation by means of A-bomb and until Obama there was no President that was so.... devoid of patriotism towards his own country! Otherwise(for a change) a passable article by Haber.
3. American presidents
Tomek ,   Poland   (10.22.12)
neither drive nor shape American foreign policy. In this respect, they are mere pawns that are tasked with communicating foreign policy decisions of the state to the public. Politicians come and go, so their ephemeral prominence does not give them power to decide on things that really matter.
4. My concern is not "position vis-à-vis Israel"
rebecca ,   modiin   (10.22.12)
,I believe the people of the US support and appreciate Israel, and would not let harm come to it, no matter who is in charge. It's the position vis-a-vis Israel's neighbors that worry me.
5. Well said Rebecca
David ,   On this planet   (10.22.12)
What is the purpose of this article. every body knows what he wrote, and no one in his right mind will fantasize of something different. We just hope that the Us will remain our friend when needed and be happy with it. Israelis should forget Europe . they are not our friends and never will. Israel is not part of Europe , it is in the Middle East., get used to it
6. #3 tomek
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.22.12)
You show how little you understand of the actual workings of the US government. The congress may try to act as a guide or a restraint, but it is the President who sets the policy, especially on things that really matter.
7. The democratic party of today isn't the party of Truman
(10.22.12)
it's the party of B Hussein Obama
8. To #3 Tomek, You are Clueless
progressoverpeace ,   Philadelphia, USA   (10.22.12)
foreign policy is almost exclusively the charge of the American Presidency. Save the need for Senate ratification of treaties and Congress' control over War Powers, foreign policy is the business of the Executive branch. If you don't understand the American governmental architecture then you probably shouldn't be giving any seriously uninformed opinions about it. Go read the Constitution. It isn't long and not difficult to understand - except for leftists ... but they can't understand much of anything.
9. It's pathetic how Haber repeats his assertion "Obama and Mc
ab   (10.22.12)
Cain are equally good for Israel" from before the last elections. How has it worked,genius ?
10. The big difference is...
Ruthie ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (10.22.12)
... that while Obama wants to avoid a breakout of war by sitting down with Iran, Romney seems to want to go to war with Iran. He certainly said he'd put troops back in Iraq and Afghanistan - and he's said he doesn't believe that talks with Iran are of any use. If the US goes to war with Iran, Israel will end up getting involved - no question. Neither the US nor Israel can afford to enter another war. Not economically and not socially.
11. Haber is wrong
(10.22.12)
Obama has thrown Israel under the bus. Romney will revitalize that relationship. Haber is definitely wrong.
12. wisdom
michael Pielet ,   israel   (10.22.12)
words of wisdom from a man who supported oslo.
13. The track record is what makes the big difference here...
Harry Wright ,   UK   (10.22.12)
not the expectation of what Romney may or may not do regarding Israel. Romney has not been tested so that is not as much an issue as Obama's track record during his tenure. By his policies of leading from behind, appeasement & subservience in the ME, refusal to acknowledge terrorism, betrayal of allies and even of the American people (the most damning example being Benghazi), dangerous wheeling and dealing, deception, divisivness etc, he has weakened the US and EMPOWERED the enemies of BOTH the US and Israel and has seriously compromised the western way of life. He has made the world a more dangerous place for all who are not of the islamic faith and he took four years to do so. Give him another four years and it will be absolutely disastrous. Anyone who is conceited enough to think that personal charm will win over his enemies and is shocked when it does not, is unfit to lead anybody, far less a nation like the US. That is the bottom line. His track record is DEPLORABLE and he should be kicked out of the WH as a total failure. Anyone who has to resort to spending millions to conceal his personal records has PLENTY to hide. OUT! OUT! OUT! of the White House!
14. It might be pathetic,
Mira ,   Vienna   (10.22.12)
but it is understandable considering the way Obama has treated Israel and if it would not have been for the congress I am sure he would have happily cut the funding! This did NOT come from the president! Israel just thinks it can't get worse, so let's give us a try with Romney.
15. I don't think there's an Israeli alive who really 'gets it'!
Edithann ,   USA   (10.22.12)
Is Israel a nation that can support and defend itself without America or not?...it's not rocket science!!... If it can't then it has no business being where it is and doing what it has done for 60+ years with impunity as that wont last forever and there will have to be an accounting of grievences...... If you want to be an adult, you must assume adult responsibilities or accept the fact that you're nothing in the the worlds eyes... TATA
16. haber is correct about US but
iraj   (10.22.12)
US could give a hoot about israel which is a headache I agree as are the arabs as well. It is impossible to live in the area without the jordan valley, the golan and control of east jerusalem which are ancient israeli in any case. The next 3 wars will see missiles flying and many west bankers harmed by their fellow arabs, thousands. Haber should read the levy report and some jewish his tory to understand who the land belongs to.Arabs would have more respect for israelis if this were t he case.
17. #6 solomon
DavidR ,   USA   (10.22.12)
You show how little you understand of the actual workings of the US Government. It is the Council on Foreign Relations and the Bilderburgers together and with others known as the Illuminiti who sets the policy, on all matters. The President is a puppet.
18. Haber
DEB ,   WashDC   (10.22.12)
Haber is a shill for Obama, trying to minimize the strong understanding, support and commitment Romney offers to Israel. Its odd that you have had two of these type pieces recently. I wonder if they were ghost-written in the WH?
19. Mr Haber you are totally wrong
Rozie   (10.22.12)
Pres. Obama is the first president in the WH with Marxist ideology. His wish is to make the middle east a "democracy." He does not care that all the countries are Muslim. he does not want Israel to be a Jewish nation. He wants to transfer wealth and land from the Jews to the Arabs. He looks upon the Jes as colonialists that need to give the land up to the Muslims. Mr. Haber you should study the background and ideology of Pres. Obama. He was a bit in control during the first term. The second therm he has nothing to loose. He will follow his extreme ideology!!!! He is no friend of Israel and would be happy to have it disappear.
20. Obama's father was a Moslem, he is unconnected to Israel.
bob k ,   orlando us   (10.22.12)
21. ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!
Rafi ,   US   (10.22.12)
Take it from me... I've followed these things for the same time period that Eitan Haber refers to here - and he is 100% correct: interests ARE interests... and as national interests, they remain stable, very little changes. There are of course outlying extremes in US implementation of its interests, as during Carter or Geo W Bush years - but those were extremes... and surely not present in the current US Presidential race or options...
22. Solomon and DavidR #s 6/17
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (10.22.12)
True but those groups influence more than just our own government. Our president is a puppet with the power to write executive orders and bypass congress. I don't think either of you is really wrong. The powers that are higher than our presidents are pushing the world towards one world government.
23. 300 Jewish zaida (is it true???)
Moshino ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (10.23.12)
This must be a really silly question, but is the tale really true? What exactly happened? :)(
24. #17 david
solomon ,   bklyn   (10.23.12)
A president got us into a war with Iraq, then in Afghanistan; previously it was Vietnam. Some 'puppet'!
25. Questions to # 15
Stan ,   Israel   (10.30.12)
Does that include the Billions in aid Israel receives every year (including from Obama)? As well as the US vetos at the Security Council of the UN (also continued during Obama's tenure)
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