Appointment of Hagel (and Brennan) has nothing to do with Israel, and should worry Americans more than Israelis. This team is perfectly suited to implement Obama's master plan to reduce the size of the US military while increasingly militarizing the CIA. Although this sounds like a good idea: smaller but better forces to save money and be more effective, it is a nightmare scenario for liberty. A militarized CIA is not accountable to any one, certainly not to the American people through congress. Instead, the President will have a personal force to kidnap, torture and kill whoever he likes whenever he likes.

Eitan Haber doesn't KNOW why President Obana chose Hagel anymore than any other interested reader of the news. In fact it is STILL not clear what Obama, and Hagel intend to do about Iran. While the USA is not in immediate danger and can sfford to wait ...Israel is in danger of an Iran, that thinks it must prove it is a power in the Middle East! moshe

And Hagel will almost certainly win confirmation as he is exactly what the US needs at this moment in history. What Isarelis need to realize (at least those who post here) is the US is joining the rest of the world in no longer tolerating the BS of the Israeli far-right. For too long the US has enabled the very worse in the Israeli government, allowing it to shun peace with the Palestinians and to continue to act as if it were a 19th century colonial power. Hagel's nomination is the first sign that America has finally woke up to what it has been supporting for the last several decades. The next step for the US will be to abstain from UNSC resolutions that condemn Israel (followed by resolutions that sanction Israel.) This will probably play out for about a decade or so, with Israel being increasingly more isolated. Eventually Israel will capitulate and make peace with the Palestinians and its neighbors (instead of always blaming its neighbors and the occupied Palestinians for the lack of peace.) And when Israel changes and makes this peace, it will find the world a safer and better place. It will rejoin the international community and its citizens can focus on the day to day joy of living instead of the constant worry of having a rocket land on their houses. In other words, Hagel is the harbinger of Israel's comeuppance and his nomination will begin the process that brings Israel into the 21st century.

How will Hagel stop Iran getting the Bomb and then the Saudis and terror and crime cartels.the Jews need the option they are outnumbered one thousand to one if fifty nations get nukes the USA Russia China the Uk and France will not be able to control it without retaliation and mass deaths in the next many decades.

Do you enjoy writing articles such as these in order to aggrivate and anger rightists? Do you write articles such as these to show how much you detest Israel and are pro Obama? Are you competing with the N.Y. Times? Because your assumption and conclusion has been sucked out of your thumb.

The State of Israel will do whatever it needs to do, to prevent Iran from completing its nuclear weapon program. Do not rely upon, do not feel threatened, and do not accept everything that is spinning out from Washington. Rather, rely upon G-d, be confident in His Eternal protection and presence, and accept all blessing by His hand. Keep G-d's Word of the Eternal Jewish Home that is the Eretz Y'srael

Please YNet: replace Haber with someone worth reading. Who needs more of Haber's infantile appeasement crap? American has never been Israel's insurance policy. Israel won all her wars on her own. Moreover, Obama is no friend of America; let alone Israel. Destroy Iran's nukes NOW! Israel has no need of Obama's approval.

There is only one country Americans respect and fear, that's Russia. Israel exists only because of Stalin: he saved the nascent nation from the savages of Sir John Glubb Arab Legion in '48. America imposed an arms embargo against Israel so Stalin supplied the arms to the Jews. Everybody in this forum agreed that Obama's America has changed and there is nothing of positive can be expected from the current rulers, Obama-Jews included. Putin's Russia is not Brezhnevs's...it changed too....think about it....

The $3 billion in US aid is about 1% of Israel's GDP. Israel could basically buy what it does now even after it weans itself off aid. Despite the other ramifications of ending US aid, Israel would actually be able to function quite effectively without aid. Israel can still buy what it cannot make from foreign supplies, and as Moshe Arens suggested, jointly develop its own fighter jet with a country like France, Russia, or India.

I agree with you, whilst the Israelis who were not incinerated are suffering from radiation sickness Obama can happily play a round of golf without a care in the world. Unfortunately we have listened to Obama for so long now that Iran has improved both their offensive and defensive systems to such an extent now that Israel just doesn't have the capability anymore with the hardware it posses. We have now reached the point where only the US has the capability. Since George Bushes second term we have been playing the diplomatic game with Iran and gone round and round in circles whilst Iran enriched uranium and improved its weapons. Obama wants to play that game some more because the man still thinks diplomacy is the answer to everything and if we just keep talking long enough it will win the day ( Americas Meretz ). Right now I am not sure there is a solution if Israel doesn't have the capability but the US that can do it won't

The USA and Russia will decide the time to strike Iran if it crosses their red line not Netanyahu the egomaniacal bungler.I just hope they don't get it wrong .Thats what the Jews have to prepare for they bungle and the Jews are obligated to maximise their Defense and Offense Capacity.

obama wants to reduce the us military while increasing the unchecked power of the cia. this move will further increase obama's power, as has been the case for the last four years. at the end of the next for years, americans will be living in a police state.

obama has betrayed nearly every ally that the us has ever had. obama does not have core world views. indeed, obama's narcissism is his worldview. israel cannot count on this man in any way. israel must find a way to be more independent, especially with the newly discovered gas fields.

as far as i know, america has NEVER WON A SINGLE WAR IT HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN. AND IF IT WANS'T FOR RUSSIANS STOPPING THE NAZI ARMY, AMERICA WOULD HAVE LOST THAT ONE TOO. the usa has never won any wars in korea, in vietnam, in afghanistan, in iraq and anywhere else. israel, on the other hand won all its wars. all. talk about loosers, mr. haber????

you are quite right. it is not hagel that holds the purse strings. IT IS CONGRESS. AND BOTH SENATE AND HOUSE ARE 100% BEHIND ISRAEL MILITARILY.

Haber is correct in saying that Obama remembers who did and didn't support him. I'm told that in the 2012 Democratic nominating convention, delegates who had supported his opponent in 2008 (Hillary Clinton) were seated in the bleachers, as far from the action as possible.

Whoever wrote that is misinformed. America beat Japan while Russia was beating Germany in WW2. More recently, the first Iraq war was a win for America. There have been more stalemates than outright losses, such as Korea. Please get your facts straight.

There is one way, though. Continued Mossad sabotage of Iran's nuclear program and assassination of its scientists, together with endless computer virus attacks. Regardless of what Obama says.

I think that Israel should do, what Israel thinks is best for Israel. USA or no USA. Obama's win is America's loss of freedom.

Think embarassing his vice-president by announcing settlement expansion while the VP was visiting Israel was a good idea? Consescendingly talking to Obama in the oval office in front of the cameras? Showing him up in front of congress?

Can you tell us what makes him qualified to lead the largest US employment group? Has he ever run a company - no. Has he ever run any sort of government agency - again no. Does he know anything about the military except for 2 years of service - again no. In short he has absolutely no experience, no knowledge and doesn't know the first thing about the Middle East where a large number of military serve, he is homophobic, pro-Iranian and a racist. And this is his good points. Exactly how is he qualified?

Moshe, #50, I have the same comment Re #47. Is it possible that one has never heard of Pearl Harbor and the atomic bombs. Ask the Japs who was the kingfish for years after their collapse. Moshe, perhaps #47 is too young to know any history before 1950 or so.

You are right: no experience and no knowledge, but he hates Israel. For some people, that is reason enough

While i agree with you to a point does it not go deeper than just the 3 Billion Dollars? There are joint projects funded outside of the aid given, the likes of which are the missile defense project. Of course we wouldnt want to offend our closest ally as the likes of Europe and others are far less reliable and in even greater financial trouble then the good old US of A! rather the enemy you know my friend!

OBama has ripped up Bush's letter to Sharon promising not to force Israel back to 67 lines. Obama has encouraged EU to increase threats and possible economic boycott of Israel over West Bank policies. Obama will NEVER attack Iran. Ever. Time to wean yourself off the American 'bottle', rely only on yourselves. Or die.

We can argue about emotion but let's state the facts clearly....... Since Barack Obama was elected President aid to Israel has INCREASED. Obama has protected Israel at the United Nations every single time. Military and intelligence cooperation between the United States and Israel is at its highest level in history. The Obama administration helped enact more severe sanctions against Iran than had ever been enacted before. Is it Obama's fault that the dictators in Russia and China try and thwart progress in Iran and Syria? Obama sold Israel bunker busting bombs that can penetrate the buildings Iran is using to develop nuclear weapons. Bill Clinton and George Bush both refused to sell Israel these specialized bombs. Obama gave Israel an extra $300 million to develop the Iron Dome system which was effective against the rockets launched by Hamas. Obama greatly accelerated the cyberwar started in the Bush administration against Iran. These are facts that are beyond dispute. What is also beyond dispute is the fact that the minute Obama called for a settlement freeze he was branded an enemy of Israel by the right wing in Israel and among right wing American Jews. When he called for diplomacy in trying to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons he was called the enemy. Have any of you ever considered the fact that a nation that lost 5,000 men in Iraq and Afghanistan with 50,000 badly wounded and the armed forces strained to capacity and a cost of more than two trillion dollars that the American public does not want any more wars in the Mideast? Why are almost all of those wanting America to bomb Iran and take out Syria men who never served in the military? These same neocons got us into a war with Iraq - a war that should never happened. The vitriol and vile poison that appears on Israeli Internet sites every single day against Obama and American Jews who support him is sickening. These sites are in English and all you need to do is read some of thousands of comments posted every week. Enemies of Israel don't increase aid to Israel at a time our economy is suffering. They don't protect Israel at the U.N. every time. They don't do whatever they can to put in place the most severe sanctions ever against Iran, and they don't work with Israel to disrupt the centrifuges with the latest cyberwarfare. Obama is a friend to Israel but because he had the strength to tell Israel that a two State solution was best for the people of Israel and the people of Palestine and because he refuses to bow down to Netanyahu and do whatever he demands Obama is called an enemy and an anti semite. 70% of American Jews voted for Obama this past November and a growing number of us are getting fed up with the far right government of Israel. We support, without any reservation, a strong, safe, and secure Israel but we also support a two State solution and we reject the vile hatred that spews forth daily on Israeli media sites against our President.

What a sarcastic article!!.., if ever there was one shooting blanks and missing the whole body parts (political, I meant to say), it ought to be this one. Empty in rethorics, in substance and in personal interrelations; though mind you we are talking of National Interests, not personal vindictive attitude that only some segment of the Israel politicos can lower themselves to use in their provincial environment.