Like getting involved in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, supporting a two-state solution, thinking that Abbas was at all relevent, believing that democracy was possible in Arab countries, thinking that diplomacy would stop Iran, listening to incompetents like Condi Rice - these are all mistakes Bush should have avoided.

Now that America has a leader that the arabs support, perhaps they will listen to him and move forward with the peace process. Bush was at war with the arabs so of course he couldn't help Israel move forward. It is heartwarming to see how even the most extreme arab leaders are reacting positively to a modern, non-moslem western leader like Obama. This is the beginning of a new era.

Just in case anyone thinks Obama is not pro-Israel, look at the picture of Obama with Olmert. Just like Obama is friends with the arabs, he is also a warm supported of our prime minister Olmert.

Hilarious. And what, pray tell, would Olmert know about leadership? Olmert's areas of expertise include corruption, appeasement, political manipulation, & self-interest. Of course, Olmert probably thinks leadership means lying to the electorate, making deceptive speeches, spin, & vague & misleading rhetoric.

Think now it is time for a PM who is a Sefaradi instead of the elitist ashkenazim? I wonder if what is good for America will be good here for Pines, Olmert, Livni etc.Or only in America is a minority kosher?

Ron, have you ever heard of Photoshop and photo and video manipulation? Remember, we are talking about Olmert, the "Envelope Man"! Good combination though. Obama the Flip Flop on Israel Man and Olmert the Flimflam Man! The ridiculous thing is that Olmert will be PM even after Bush goes on pension. Now there's democracy!

Several changes would have to be made to the US electoral system before it could be called a democracy. http://usdemocracy.notlong.com/ If the US economy worsens over the next four years then Obama would most likely be a one term president and he knows it so his attention will first and foremost be on attempting to fix it. It is therefore unlikely that he will act against Israel in any overt manner in the near future. However it would be foolish to imagine that his strong ties to Jihad and the Muslim Brotherhood will simply disappear following his inauguration. http://jihadconnection.notlong.com/ Fortunately the Democrats failed to reach the magic 60 in the Senate so Obama will not be able to implement his extreme left wing policies as he would liked to have done. It is unclear why Obama is continually called 'black' when his mother was 'white' and explanations would be welcome. Mike

uh, English please . .

Israel did not want anything to do with Obama. In fact Israel and its US based media fought hard against him. And I doubt that Obama is dumb enough to fall for Ulmert's congrads.! It's ok guys, get over it. This time the US presidency got away from you guys. Let's wait and see what NATIONALITY of staff Obama will pick for the Whitehouse. Merry Christmas.. Ho Ho Ho Hooooooo

First disaster was Lebanon 2000. Second disaster was Lebanon 2006. Third is electing Obama. Whats next? Re electing Olmert will be the final straw.

The best news is that Olmert won't be around to"hug ,paw, pat and hug" in his sickly manner the new President.

But it's too much for a talk back.

Now we have problems...obama is going to to help much to Arabs than to us...

He just sits in a concrete building imagining he's some kind of prime minister.

How ridiculous to claim that skin colour is not important! Of course it is; the reason why he won is because most of the black and polonesian(Hawie) population of the US voted for him!

What on Earth is Olmert talking about.,Proved leadership? Obama is not even President yet.More B.S. from olmert.

I am sorry Israel. I did not vote for Obama. He will not help you. He will not be supporting you. He is a Muslim. I am sorry to say that you will be on your own from now on. I wish McCain were elected and he could have brought victory to Israel. Too bad, we will be ineffective for the future.

Never thought I would live to see the day when a Presidential candidate simply had to run a good campaign to qualify himself for president. He hasn't done a damn thing passed that. Name one.

I am EXTREMELY WORRIED about what is going to happen in the US NOW!!! All the Jews living there should be smart and make EMERGENCY ALIYAH!!!!!!!!!!

and just exactly what did George B. do? He was sticking rich, had an ex president father? Big deal- I guess in America this is a big deal! Better to start with a clean slate-

Now Israel need Bibi Netanyahu to stand up to Obama

The world has changed. Once we had blackboards and white presidents. Now we have whiteboards and a black president. All indications are that America forget the lessons of 9/11 and is returning to close its eyes on the world at large. It will surrender to the terrorists in Afghanistan and Iraq pulling back its troops and throwing all that was accomplished down the toilet. Obama with meet with Ahmadinejad and again legitimize the worst regime on the face of the world. His inexperience will be tested with the financial and other challenges ahead. The rhetoric of the campaign tried to appease everyone and enough hints were dropped that we may not have the support of America in years to come. We are facing historic but very troubling times with an inexperienced but eloquent president elect. I for one am very worried.

Obama is going to withdraw our forces and support from Iraq leaving that nation to the Iranian's. -Israel will face a solidified enemy with secure supply lines from Iran through Iraq into Syria and down to Palestine & Lebanon. (imagine the summer Lebanon war but this time Hezbollah was resupplied and reinforced in full and all those turned away air craft and ships were instead just convoys of trucks driven straight in allowing the barrage to be held indefinitely) A weak US president will embolden our enemies and I am not so sure if I was Israel I would bet on an Obama presidency making a air bridge to resupply Israel in a crunch like past US presidents. I expect in the first 4yrs to see -Iraq go to the Iranian Shia radicals -Syria retake N Lebanon and -reinforce Hezbollah's hold on S Lebanon -demanding MAJOR Israeli unilateral concessions and even siding with UN punishments for Israeli refusal -Current US allies realigning away from the US which will allow much much more open aggressive anti-Israeli actions. We are going to suffer economiclly and be humiliated around the world but it will not be anything that cannot be repaired or should be a death blow for US. Israel however I fear just may. I feel sorry for Israel the canary in the mine and hope to be wrong.

DUMB and still breathe????????

get ready for WWIII: O'Bomber vs. Bibi, Benny, and Boogie!

Very interesting question. That also really really bothers me. Unfortunately the answer is not a good one. In America it doesn't matter what you really are. If you have one ounce of black blood, you are black. Is that racist? Absolutely! But true none the less. What is he really? He has a Jewish first name, an Islamic middle name and an African last name. He is both black and white, Moslem and Christian. Wonderful orator and a promised peace maker. You figure it out.

Whether Obama deserts our Israeli friends or not depends on who gets closest to Obama's ear as President. Be assured the jockeying for influence has already begun. I don;t hold much hope for moderation. The rabid ideologues on the left have been frustrated for years. They will not take a second fiddle position without a vicious fight. I expect blood to run inside the high echelons of the Democrat party. Judging by the friends he keeps, don't expect an Obama friendly to Jews.