Opinion
Obama’s pressure to backfire
Eytan Gilboa
Published: 25.03.10, 16:42
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1. Eidan Chadash, Prof. Gilboa
Yes He Can and Will ,   Washington DC   (03.25.10)
Professor Gilboa, your argument may have made sense at one point but being understanding and not criticizing has just led Israel to feel it has a green light to build and build and build in the territories. What's missing from your analysis is the current composition of the Israeli government, which is more extreme than ever (Shas, once moderate, is competing to be as right wing as possible. Yisrael Beitenu is a disaster for Israel). It's these factors, not some wish to curry favor with the Arabs, that's led to a more confrontational stance. Israel needs to understand that the days of a free lunch are over. There is absolutely no trust in Bibi and his promises, especially in light of his current coalition. As an American Jew who speaks fluent Hebrew and has lots of friends in Israel, it's painful to see Israel changing into a state that Americans, and even the Jewish community, are going to have a hard time supporting unless Israel reverts to a moderate path.
2. "Peace settlement with Palestinians" disastrous for Israel.
Chaim ,   Israel   (03.25.10)
It is impossible to come up with a single benefit for Israel in a "peace treaty with Palestinians". In fact, Israel would be far worse off with such a treaty. Today we have Jerusalem. A treaty would rob us of our Eternal Capital. Today we have Judea & Samaria. A treaty would rob us of our heartland. Today we have some strategic depth. A treaty would reduce our waist to 8 miles - a liesurely three hour hike! Today our cities and towns are secure. A treaty would mean constant rocket attacks. Today Jews are a growing majority in our land, including Judea and Samaria. A treaty would flood us with hostile Arabs. Anyway you look at it, a "peace treaty with Palestinians" would be disastrous for Israel. We MUST end the false, dangerous "peace process".
3. Netanyahu's real problem.
Brad ,   USA   (03.25.10)
The real problem Netanyahu had was that he was stuck talking to morons. The U.S. leadership is laughable at best. As for the U.S. leadership partnering with other Arab states, against Iran's nuclear ambitions, forget it. First, Iran already has the nukes. Second, when the osama obama administration cozies up with Arab states, that means they are on the same side with the Arabs, or they are being taken for a ride by the Arabs. And, no matter how loud Hillary gets when she tries to talk like a man, her assertions of "unwavering" alliance with Israel are bullcrap.
4. Israel is the biggest threat to America's security
Max ,   US   (03.25.10)
5. sure ...
mark ,   ca   (03.25.10)
obama will enter the history as the worst president ever.He will overshadow jimmy carter by very large margin.
6. Time will do the job
Rudolph ,   Collombey CH   (03.25.10)
Israel and the love stories have the same enemy, named "Time" a mercliless, implacable one.
7. Obama is our worst enemy
Leah ,   israel   (03.25.10)
He is by far much worse than our Arab enemies at least they dont beat about the bush. Then Obama does have one thing in common with our Aran enemies, he is a Muslim and educated in Islamic establishments, so his goal is the same as theirs only he fooled the American people and now very temporary lives in the White House. He will go the same way as all our enemies, in dread!
8. Obowmao is not black and there is no such thing as "palestin
Behrens   (03.25.10)
...ians". He is a mulatto mixed-breed muslim born in Kenya, raised in Indonesia, and frequent flyer to Pakistan, on a passport unknown to the public. Bower to tyrants and having as principal objective the destruction of the American Republic, this Hitlerite seeks to destroy all of America's alliances - and has been eminently successful during the first year - the former UK, Turkey, Israel, all gone from the USA, while Russia has been granted full nuclear hegemony over Europe and Western Asia. Iran has been mollycoddled as if she were America's Great Friend. Obowmao has been successful in strengthening Mohammedan intransigence, he is working for a fully Mohammedanized Egypt now... Stay tuned for more destruction and disaster...
9. B. Hussein Obama doesn't represent us
Keith ,   Cascade, Idaho, USA   (03.25.10)
This president has made a policy of going against the will of the American people. You can see this with his ramming through of socialized health care and you can see it with his Israel stance. I and a huge majority of Americans want to see the US do everything in its power to assist Israel, unconditionally. Liberal Jewish Americans need to wake up and learn that the guy they voted for, overwhelmingly, is a closet anti-Semite. If the day came, I'd pledge to give my American life in supporting Israel and I know many like me. Israel, stay strong and know we will turn around this disaster in the next election cycle! We love you!
10. Obama is such a fool, he's dangerous !
Mike M. ,   Seattle, Wa.   (03.25.10)
11. #5
Genuine Tosefta ,   Tveria   (03.25.10)
Hey Mark you forgot about Bush jr! It will be a loooog time before any prez beats Bush for the award of the worst prez ever.Obama may have his faults but he is no idiot and he is not going to be lead by the nose by Israel.
12. To #6 Rudolph
Jose Cunha ,   Sao Paulo - Brasil   (03.25.10)
After your country have gone, Israel will be lasting. Time is our friend.
13. #1 Yes he will be the worst president in modern U.S. history
Chaim ,   Israel   (03.25.10)
Obama is known for his mantra, "Yes we can". Indeed America is capable of great things as it has proven many times throughout history. However, the election of Obama was an error a great many Americans would love to reverse. That is why he sporst some of the lowest approval ratings Gallup has seen for a president entering his second year in office. That is why American unemployment, taxes and deficits are skyrocketing simultaneously. That is why dozens of states are filing lawsuits against Obamacare, which was imposed on Americans without their consent. Obama won't succeed in pressing Israel to suit his destructive agenda. Yes he will be known as the worst president in modern U.S. history.
14. #1, 4 and 6
Ben ,   Chutz Laaretz   (03.25.10)
#1 , I really don't care that you speak Hebrew fluently and claim to have friends in Israel. Your defeatest self hate speaks volume. Our president is a Disaster to us and Israel. The majority of Americans get it. Apparently you don't. Israel has given, and given, and given only to get more crap in return. Enough arleady. Bibi should have made it plain and clear that Jerusalem is not on the negotiation table period! #4, yes of course.. if Israel didn't exist all those mean radical Muslims wouldn't hate us. Keep smoking that stuff, it is doing you a lot of good. #6. The love story will last longer than the hate in #4. We share a common ideology, love of life, freedom and a common start with Israel. Americans don't always love Jews, but they respect Israel when it acts strong and independent. For my fellow Americans who voted Obama into office. You will have Jewish and American blood on your hands!
15. #1 you and "left overs"
tanya ,   tel aviv israel   (03.25.10)
Please stay away from Israel! Yes, We CAN and WILL manage without your advices.
16. Talking "Peace" brings war
Chaim ,   Canada   (03.25.10)
The West does not understand Arab mentality at all. Since Oslo, every time Israel made Peace gestures (94-95, 2000, 2005), it was followed by escalation of hostilities on the Arab side. And after every major Israeli counter offensive (1996, 2002, 2006, 2009), a relative calm returned. The solution is not to talk "Peace" but to threaten "War". That will bring initially calm, and in the long term – if the Arabs fear of losing it all - Peace.
17. #1 you and your ilk will never be there to protect Israel.
Al   (03.25.10)
Your fathers and grandfathers were silent like mice when Jews were burning in Europe. So as a son of one who survived Auschwitz...I have this to tell you..."Piss off and goodnite". I couldnt care less what you think or feel. Just make sure you get someone to wipe your ass when you get old..Your kids, if you have any wont be there for you.
18. Obamas animus towars Israel is now dejure
Al   (03.25.10)
Witness the Fact that Rep Cantor, the highest ranking Jewish Politician in the American Congress just had his office shot at. What is that if not a result of an incitement to violence by Obamas vile, disgusting treatment of the PM of Israel these past several days. Shame on the American Jews who voted for this carpetbagger from Chicago. The Jews in America are in mortal danger only they are too stupid to see it.
19. This does play into the Arabs hands
StevieT ,   USA   (03.25.10)
But it is the Israeli side that has to end this deleterious cycle by offering up the tokens America is asking for. IF this occurs and the Arabs show no positive movement towards a meaningful peace, all bets would be off and a unilateral solution would have to be employed. This is the sensible and pragmatic approach, one that seems difficult to follow for the more extreme factions that are controlling the coalition.
20. Obama: lame duck
Mordechai ,   Manchester UK   (03.25.10)
Obama is on his way to becoming a lame duck president. His popularity has dipped to an all time low. He will not get a second term. Israel must not bow to pressure from such an ephemeral presidency. Obama will be forgotten and Isreal will still be there.
21. he is setting Israel up to take the fall
Randi ,   Jerusalem   (03.25.10)
This analysis is so obvious to me, that it is hard for me to believe Obama does not understand it as well. I believe that he does understand that his one-sided pressure has served to harden palestinian positions, and push talks further away. why is he doing it? he knows the talks will fail, and is setting Israel up to take the fall, so that he can impose his own solution.
22. to will #1
PW ,   Virginia USA   (03.25.10)
typical of leftists blame the victim if it conflicts with idealogy ...not one concession to peace has been made by your "friends" the Arabs...In the leftist mindset strong defenders of Israel are to be vilified as extremists...where are your comments about calls to genocide by the Arabs that have been repeated continually since the beginning of the 20th century...what is moderate? Abbas? Dalan? do you close your ears when these "moderates call for the murder of Jews...And what is this "free lunch" nonsense...You think Israel wasn't a great help to the USA during the cold war...you think even today Israel is not still a great help in the war against "extreme" Islam...you trot out your bonifides about being fluent in Hebrew and having "Jewish" friends ...bunkus...so in conclusion you would rather support Genocide against Jews in order to feel good about yourself within the leftist orbit, which cares nothing for truth, justice or the American way
23. # 9
Birdi ,   Israel   (03.25.10)
Your love & support for Israel is appreciated Keith.
24. pressure??
juan solana ,   san diego   (03.25.10)
Ok, you mean that if no pressure, there will be 1600 houses built... and if he pressure it will backfire, and there will be 1600 houses built....
25. great analysis!
OZ   (03.25.10)
prof. gilboa is on the mnoey. nobam is dong all the work for his brethen, the arabs. by pressuring israel , and being soft on the arabs and iran, it immediatly skews the pla lying field. #1-- the arabs were offred TWICE ,by 2 modrate govts , incerdible compromises and yet rejected them fully. get it thru your liberal, stoned head-- the arabs do not want peace with israel , they want a peice of all of israel. and lo, hu lo yachol! can you dig this?
26. The difference with #1
Yossef ,   Rehovot, Israel   (03.25.10)
- You are jewish, we are jewish. - You speak hebrew, we speak hebrew. -You have friends in Israel, we have friends in Israel. - You live in Amerika, we live in ... ISRAEL. That is the difference. Think about.
27. #11...
OZ   (03.25.10)
IT TAKE A GREAT DEAL MORE THEN JUST NOT BEING BUSH TO BE A PRESIDENT OF THE USA THIS SHNOBAMA, GURNISHT DEFENITELY A'INT IT! BUSH KEPT THIS COUNTRY PROUD OF ITSELF ,SAFE , AND SOUND. THIS TROJAN HORSE OF YOURS , HAS WEAKEN AMERICA IN EVERY POSSIBLE FRONT, WITH HIS ATTEMTS(GOD FORBID) TO ""TRANSFORM""" AMERICA INTO A SOCALIST,THIRD- WORLD NOTHING.
28. Misperception
Moshe ,   New York, USA   (03.25.10)
To understand the crisis in US-Israel relations re: Jerusalem, and as difficult as it is for us as Jews, we must examine the arguments each side uses to support its position. To Israel, the US is being unfair because it demands very little if anything from the PA. To the US, Israel is the "occupying authority," must adhere to international law and should not predetermine the outcome of negotiations - US demands made of Israel are therefore not demands for "concessions" but the logical and necessary basis for real peace negotiations.
29. It's just a wish
Stevens Evans ,   London, UK   (03.25.10)
I'm writing regarding the comments by Mordechai, Manchester. What you wrote about Obama to be forgotten, to me it sounds as just a wish rather than a rational thinking. I'm not surprised by it anyway (you're a jew). How can the first African American president be forgoten. Secondly, about his popularity being low it's just how politics work. By the way did you hear about Health Care bill? A good politician takes risk and just like he won to pass the Health Care bill he is going to have his way in the Middle East too!
30. Security Threat to America and Israel
Gary ,   Fresno, USA   (03.25.10)
Israel is not the biggest threat to US security. Obama is - and I believe to Israel's as well - with his socialist, anti-capitalist, pro-Islamic positions. Israel must not trust him or his administration. Many of us here have seen first hand how his word is worthless.
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