Why is it pundits have a fetish for binary equations? There is always a third way, or even more. Further, we've said no under strong US pressure before. When Baker threatened to cut off aid until we did what he wanted we went and got a loan from the Russians - and in the end NOTHING HAPPENED. We also got the US aid because bipartisan support for Israel was - and still is - very strong. Already Obama is seeing criticism from his own party on his Israel stance. We can stand firm and weather it without destroying our US relationship. Obama is a talker, but he's not doing anything. Talkers talk, doers do. Its a head-game. The trick is not to get psyched out. Which, Atilla, you have fallen pray to. Quit the doom and gloom. And get a Jewish name while your at it? Atilla? You sound more like chicken little.

the arab mind, the words of this writer, Obama, Livni and all those who reckon Israel should give up untold amounts of land and encourage the creation of a Palestinian state, are just talking hot air. When in 1947 Israel declared its independence and until 1967 Gaza belonged to Egypt and the West Bank to Jordan. Why didn't the Palestinians demand their own state and why didn't other arab states encourage them? Think hard; that is because the target here is and will always be the elimination of the State of Israel. Obama, Livni and all who support a Palestinian state are only fooling themselves because they are defeatist by nature. They forget that on several occasions the Palestinians were offered this on a plate and refused it. Sadly, because the arabs will "never" accept a Jewish State there will always be a Palestinian problem. That is their excuse. If a Palestinian state is created that will only act as a strategic base for the elimination of the Jewish State. Sad but true.

When the Pals do not comply, innocent people get killed. This is irreversable. When Israel stalls, there are folks that get to occupy a hilltop or others that might get to enjoy a new flat/apartment/house. This is hardly symmetry.

Bibi is weak and the other ministers are liars, losers and Hasbeens. Soon, Manhigut Yehudit will take charge and then the real history of this nation will begin

He is the 1st sitting US president to be disliked by a majority of Israelis. No other US president has ever done that. He is distrusted by a vast majority of Israelis. Soon he will have turned the US's only true friend into an enemy. Good for us, bad for America

First, all the Palestinian organizations (each of which purports to be the true representatives of the Palestinian people) drop the core element from their charter which calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and the extermination of the Jews. ALL the Palestinian organizations -- this would include Fatah, Islamic Jihad, PFLP, Hamas, Hizbullah, etc. etc. ad nauseum). Then, we can talk about an independent Palestinian state. Not unless and most definitely not until.

Worse! On collision course with the rest of the world.

(and i diverge from my habit of adding to talkbacks that umber more than 12... none of which i read), the writer didn't take 3 things into account (notice the militaristic 3...): 1. words do not a policy make. even the president of the USA has to work with advisers, his own defense establishment, his own electorate. so many things can happen to spoil the best of plans. i am quite certain the US establishment knows that the words of the palestinian establishment are not its bond. will obama really be prepared to make a fool of himself? is he really prepared to help the islamic republic spread? i know these are the author's last words, but i don't think he quite realizes their implication. he to needs to take into account his own christian fundamentalists (not a small minority). 2. people are not stupid. not even (and i quiver as i say this) politicans... well, not THAT stupid. be sure obama knows of the quandaries he is creating. thus, one needs to ask what are the reasons behind the words? to create further chasm within the arab world, perhaps? i dont think he needs to do much to create them here, and he knows that. 3. not even ISRAELI politicans are that stupid. due to the economic meltdown, it was quite certain who would win the elections and what his policies were going to be. given that, why would bibi create a government with lieberman? why would lieberman place himself there? they've been through the hoop game and both of them know it's quite useless. ok, i lied. it's: 4. give a fool enough rope. bibi doesn't need to do anything. well, actually, yes. give'em the rope. fold a couple of settlements (or whatever), make a coupla concessions. then sit tight and wait. the chances something will come out of it are nil. remember camp david? the 2nd one, the one before the second intifada, where arafat was offered everything he wanted and "just said no". the palestinians are just as hooped as bibi ever was or will be. i say: give 'em the rope.

Sigh .... but hasn't that always been the case?

Gee said: "He is the 1st sitting US president to be disliked by a majority of Israelis. No other US president has ever done that. He is distrusted by a vast majority of Israelis. Soon he will have turned the US's only true friend into an enemy. " This is the most hilarious thing ever Gee! First off, Israelis in talkbacks have made clear that they think Obama and Americans should **** off. Believe me, your anti-Obama sentiment has not been unnoticed by Americans who voted for him. Fortunately, not many care if Israelis hate the US President--we elected him, not you. Second, do naively think Israel is the US's only true friend? Please count the number of true friends Israel has. If you want to tell everyone to go to hell, that's fine, but don't you DARE ask for money or military aid anymore.

I do not understand an argument of "collision course" and desire to get along with everyone at any cost. The bottom line is that its not (at least right away) going to be US and the rest of the civilized world suffering from consequences of giving in to terrorist regimes. Its going to be Israel. Interest (aka safety) of Israeli's citizens (and jews world wide) is what matters - not acceptance from the rest of the world. Sometimes the majority is wrong. I mean really, think about it. WHY IS THERE SO MUCH ATTENTION ON A PEICE OF LAND THATS SMALLER THAN NEW JERSEY? Is the rest of the world really objective here? Screw that kind of "rest of the world"....

okthanksbye.

you could not be more arrogant if you tried. why don't you explain exactly what "AID" you are talking about? The US *OPPOSES* Israel nearly every time, especially when it comes to self defense. Do you mean the F-35's you agreed to sell? Oh, wait... Do you mean combat systems? Oh, wait... (btw Tavor > M16, by far.) Maybe you mean the help you give us in securing the return of Gilad Shalit? Oh, wait... How about Stopping rockets and bombs, and Hamas? Oh, wait... I'm sure you enjoyed watching us unload TWO BOXES the hez'b sent us. Oh, maybe you are talking about financial "aid" LOL@U stupid washington liberals. THAT IS MONEY YOU GIVE ISRAEL TO SPEND ON BENEFITING YOURSELVES, which by the way, we don't need, and pay back in full anyway. This "AID" is nothing more than diplomatic dialog, you simpleton. Unfortunately, the insular society you live in supports your cultural relativism is DC, where Imam Obama demands your obeisance, and you willingly give. I think it's ironic that for all your secularity and removing every spot of religion anywhere it appears in your entire country that the millions of you bow to this Muslim liar every night and day. ... and his prophet Darwin.

To John: We activists for a safe and secure US, AND Israel, must flex our muscles..and now. It's called damage control. Obama is worthless, a fool and naive besides. I voted for McCain and am an Independent, Conservative, Jew (both parents). I support less gov't and more US security..both lacking in the Obama view of how our country works. His advisers are great PR men (and women) and fooled the youth, blacks and Jews into a vote for him. Like the current S.C. nominee, his color should NEVER have mattered..but it did. He is considered a messiah by some. Talk about being two -faced. He has flip-flopped on everything..(where is my 1,000 credit?). Where does he stand I wonder? He appeases our enemies (see Korean, Syrian and Iranian nukes). He endorces Cuban Communism, and Chavez's socialism. He goes to dictatorships while forgetting WHY Israel is in the W. Bk. (Hear "The mother of all battles", "Jihad", "Throw the Jews into the sea". "Take back Jerusalem", "On to Tel Aviv" (from the 67 War). Jordan attacked Jerusalem. Israel DID NOT attack Jordan first. This was a war to exterminate every Jew in Israel (and elsewhere). We don't need more Buchenwalds, Obama. Your pity doesn't move me.

To Eddie: I spoke to a black Muslim, from Africa., by chance. He is employed at a major US business. He DIDN't know I was a US born American Jew (both parents) and an ardent Zionist. I support my country first (US) and little democratic Israel. As Israel goes, so shall the US and world Jewry. It's that simple. He applauded killing GIs in Somalia. He favored Saddam in both wars..and is proud that the Iraqi people withstood the US Holocaust. He believes all Africa's problems are caused by, guess whom? The "Jew". The Palis are saints. He questioned the Holocaust? He believes the Jews stole Palis land..that they, attacked the Arabs in 1948. I'm thinking about reporting him to the FBI, or Homeland Security.

should stop being subsidized by the US. With money comes control. I think that this would be a good time to turn down the money.

Barack Obama tells Israel's supporters he's on their side. But he's using the playbook of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian terrorist who said one thing to the West and another to the radicals who supported him. You can judge a man by the company he keeps : This is the sort of company that Obama keeps. It's no surprise, though, because Obama has surrounded himself with racist, anti-American ministers (Jeremiah Wright, Michael Pfleger), an unrepentant terrorist (Bill Ayers, who has links to Khalidi through a foundation he and Obama worked on together), radical groups (ACORN, the New Party) and a convicted felon (Tony Rezko).

Bibi be strong you have ourhistorical/Jewish rights on your side. Where in the Torah does it say that Pharoah Hussein Obama has told the Israelis to give up their birth heritage? Where in the Torah does it state that Jerusalem belongs to anyone other than the Jews? Judea and Samaria (the Shomron) are Jewish names they are part of the Land of Israel where Hashem decreed that we Jews settle.This is OUR land be STRONG BIBI

The reality is the special relationship with the US is over. Israel will now lose its edge daily as it is denied requests for weapons updates and stratigic information from the US. The longer it waits for Iran to complete its avowed aim to destroy Israel and come to fruition of its nuclear ambition the weaker it will be against Iran. time is not on Israels side. tick, tick, tick