God Bless America

We are told again and again by "experts" and "talking heads" that Islam is the religion of peace, and that the vast majority of Muslims just want to live in peace. Although this unqualified assertion may be true, it is entirely irrelevant. It is meaningless fluff, meant to make us feel better, and meant to somehow diminish the specter of fanatics rampaging across the globe in the name of Islam. The fact is that the fanatics rule Islam at this moment in history. It is the fanatics who march. It is the fanatics who wageany one of 50 shooting wars worldwide. It is the fanatics who systematically slaughter Christian or tribal groups throughout Africa and are gradually taking over the entire continent in an Islamic wave. It is the fanatics who bomb, behead, murder, or honor kill. It is the fanatics who take over mosque after mosque. It is the fanatics who zealously spread the stoning and hanging of rape victims and homosexuals. The hard quantifiable fact is that the "peaceful majority" is the "silent majority" and it is cowed and extraneous as described at : http://tinyurl.com/4svgto

Israel is a man with just one friend.

Given the choice, it's clear the US is a more reliable friend and ally than Europe as a whole. But US support is weakening, and Israel itself is partly responsible for that. Israel became a "strategic asset" of the US following the Six Day War, a lynch-pin of the US interest in a reasonably stable Middle East and a check on Soviet mischief. But an Israel in full appeasement mode, unable or unwilling to achieve a victory over its enemies, is of little value to the US. Israel earned no points by standing aside while Lebanon was lost to Iran's proxy Hizbullah. Christian Zionists, who must often ask themselves if Israelis have lost their minds, will hardly forgive Israel if it surrenders Christian holy sites to the Palestinians. It's now politically acceptable for Israel to be slammed on elite college campuses, and scholars and former presidents get book deals for such slamming. And Jews are often among Israel's detractors. Israel must, in the end, stand up for itself. It would help if it reminded itself what it is fighting for.

Europe will be Muslim in another generation or two.

So why should we? Europe is a place where we do business, no more. We import, we export. To think that our relationship goes much further is delusional.

If Obama wins the presidency then Isarel will no longer be able to count on the U.S. The amazing thing about the election is that almost all U.S.Jews are Democrats and will vote for Obama to show how liberal they are. Shameful!

A good article? From a former Washington ambassador? How's about relying on Israel's G-d for once and sense the full taste of Jewish indipendence?

Dont count on Europe or America because if it suited their national interests both would sell out Israel in an instant without thinking twice. The only country Israel can count on is Israel something we seem to have forgoton. We have allowed ourselves to become totaly dependent on the US for our defense needs at the expense of our local defense industry. Lavi was canceled in the 80s because the US worried about competition to F16 as Lavi was a superior jet dangled F16 in front of our eyes at a very attractive price & as the economy was not in great shape at the time we accepted putting thousands of Israelis out of work, loss of a potential future export, loss of knowladge on how to build jet fighters and dependence on America for planes and spare parts. The big winner from Lebanon was the merkava tank which got a stay of execution because the politicians decided lets kill off the merkava program buy American with aid money. Israel has signed a deal with India and this deal says that India will be responsible for launching all our sattalites in future. We are destroying our own sattalite launch abilities which could be used as a source of income building & launching sattlites for others in future if we continued to invest in the industry but we have decided from now on India will be responsible for launching our sattalites. It of course also means we have let the local industry die so in future if India isnt going to put our sattalites up then we are going to have to find somebody else who will because we dont have the ability to do it ourselves anymore. There are those in this current government who would like to see Israel sign a mutual defense pact with the US so rather than spending alot of money on our own defensive needs we sign a deal where the Americans will come to our rescue if we are attacked this also of course allows the Americans decide who we go to war with and when. America virtualy dictates foreign and even some domestic policies in Israel because we have allowed ourselves to become so dependednt on them and we know upset the US they dont give us anymore goodies and we are screwed. This has gone against everything Israel was built on. Israel was supposed to be a jewish state and jews would no longer have to rely on others to look after us but for short term rewards we have sold soverignty and we sell more and more of it every year or everytime the US offers us a new toy for a political price. the joke about Israel being the 51st state is true because we have sold so much soverignty over the years that Israeli policies are made in Washington not Jerusalem. We trusted Europe in the 50s & 60s France and England were our best friends when America wanted nothing to do with us but as soon as we upset their interests by upseting the arabs in 1967 they turned on us. In 1973 the US didnt want to resupply us with weapons to go on the offensive to make up for early losses and it wasnt untill Golda started talking nukes that the US finaly agreed to send fresh supplies. Israel can rely on only Israel everybody else we can do deals with when it suits us but we cannot allow ourselves to become so totaly dependent on them for our own survival.

Israel would have been long gone and vanished if it was not for America and europe...you should thank them for that.

He will end "special" relashionship with israel. I pray to Jesus for that day

America's material support did not come about until after 1967, prior to that it was France who aided Israel. Would Israel have survived without western support. More than likely as it would have received support from the communist East, and who knows the Arab world may not have fought so much to get rid of Israel?

or on the american left--they are soft on the defense of their own country--iarael will miss the end of reagan-bush conservatism and needs to unify to secure its interests.

No matter who is elected (Clinton, McCain, Obama), you can't expect that relations will stay at the present level. Clinton has hugged Suha before (does anyone still remember this?). McCain will be looking out for the US interests (and they don't always coincide with Israel's) since he is a Republican and will have to show something (with Congress probably turning more Democratic). Obama... well no one knows what he will actually do. So, either way, Israel shouldn't expect that Hillary or John will be much better than Barak.

are a bunch of incompetent amateurs. Please book us that racist zionist Jackie Mason for a repeat performance for Israel 61; even the eternally supine Jewish Chronicle was upset over his performance, and it takes a lot to do that. We Want Mason; We Want Mason ... all together please: We Want Mason

... had the Communist block delivered weapons for defending Israel. While it is true that Chechoslovakia delivered weapons for Israels "War of Independence" (with Moscow's approval), it is true as well that Moscow turned it's back to Israel in the 1950s, because the Russians decided that the Arabs with their oil would be strategically more important than small Israel that had not much to give (other than a lot of problems) at these times. Don't forget the Cold War was very intense and the Russians were striving for Communist world dominance, and having the choice between Israel OR oil and Arabs, they finally in fact decided for the latter. Furthermore, however the Russian position would be – the Arabs would have fought against Israel with same anger and hate. The Arabs fight particularly out of religious reasons, means: No Jewish independent statehood in Islamic "dar-al islam" as it is ordered by their prophet Mohammed (at least the muslims believe it, if it is really written this way is another story). Don't underestimate the amount of irrationalism in Arab political positions...

While I agree that the U.S. are the most important player for Israel (and Europe, too)... I think Mr Shoval could have mentioned that German chancellor Angela Merkel came for honoring Israel some weeks ago – instead of complaining that nobody came. For honoring Israel Merkel stayed several days and finally delivered a speech in German before the Knesset. Furthermore, the question should not be "United States OR Europe" but "United States AND Europe". The American interest in Israel will become weaker out of American global strategic interests. As Israel needs support it is only intelligent to build up a second pillar... – and the upgrading of the German-Israeli relationship to a "strategic partnership" is one aspect of this and reflects this insight, I guess...

Obviously, Israeli governments should not count on Europe to systematically support their decisions... Europe has long been more critical of Israel than the US, for various reasons, sometimes for principles (the rights of the Palestinians), sometimes purely out of its own interests (ties with the Arab world). Also, there are strong anti-Israel sentiments among parts of the population in Europe, which are not necessarily a reflection of an inherent anti-semitism as you assume, but are rather the result of biased media reports and ignorance. Europe can be a useful partner in peace negotiations because, unlike the US, it is not accused by the Arabs of always supporting Israel and it is thus liable to be better trusted by the Arabs. Although I do not support all Israeli policies (continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank,e.g.), I believe Israel is sometimes wrongly and unfairly criticized in Europe and I understand the disappointment of the Israelis at the absence of Western European heads of state during the recent celebrations.

Israel CAN and WILL stand without the assistance of any Nation or people. They are chosen and HIGHLY favored by the CREATOR of all things as promised to Abraham. AMERICA found favor by becoming a friend of the Israeli people (even before 1948) and AMERICA has been allowed to flourish because of that relationship. It IS America who will suffer when she turns her back (and she WILL, soon, just ask Obama) on Israel. Don't care if YOU don't believe THIS as time WILL prove me out. Stay tuned and watch as the end of days plays out before your very eyes. You cannot say that you were not warned. Maranatha

PROUD that you are voting for someone who looks down his nose at the working class people, the very same people that made this Country, GREAT, along with GODS help. I am afraid that you ARE correct about Obama "ending" the relationship and I pray to JESUS, that you are WRONG, but I pray for HIS will, NOT yours OR mine. Obama is a wolf in sheeps clothing and YOU will see this clearly anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 years into his term and you will be one of the ones kicking yourself for casting you "lots" for him. Don't say you weren't warned. P.s. HOW are you going to explain your anti-semite attitude to the one who CHOSE Israel to be HIS people, ie the LIVING GOD? NO, do not think for one second that the "church" has "replaced" their status w/ HIM. MY GOD does NOT LIE or go back on HIS word, don't know about yours, READ the scriptures.

Most American Jews will break tradition and vote for McCain. I don't believe a word that Obama says. The Democrats will sweep most offices except the White House. Ticket splitting will be the norm.

Jews are not comfortable voting for a muslim.

I find it funny that Americans Jews would believe anything that Barak Obama would say. Most politicans and Most Muslims dont have the slightest problem Lying through their teeth. Obama has stated that he has Christain beliefs & he wants an undivided Jerusalem and he supports Israel. I think he only says that so he can get elected. He has been caught too many times swaying back and forth. he changes his mind when the weather changes. Wolf in Sheeps Clothing. I have heard that America will fall from with in and how the Isamic will defeat America. If Barak gets voted in they are half way there.