(8/6/09) "Israeli Diplomat: Public clashes with US damaging Israel" (Yahoo News/AP)

[StacyinBoston]

This is interesting (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090806/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_israel_us) in that it is a leaked memo from a top Israeli diplomat:

A senior Israeli diplomat has warned that his government's confrontational attitude toward the Obama administration is seriously harming Israel's standing, according to a TV report broadcast Thursday.

The diplomat wrote an internal memo that was leaked to Israel's Channel 10 TV. It said that Israel's public clashes with Washington over the U.S. demand for a settlement construction freeze was causing "strategic damage to Israel."

Channel 10 identified the diplomat as Nadav Tamir, Israel's consul in Boston. The TV news report showed pictures of the leaked memo, which was written in Hebrew. A TV reporter read from it on the air.

"In the distance created between us and the U.S. administration, there are clear implications for Israel's deterrent capabilities," the diplomat said in the memo.

President Barack Obama has demanded a total halt to building in Israel's settlements in the West Bank. Israel has publicly rebuffed the demand in rare public spats. Channel 10 rebroadcast an icy televised news conference exchange on the subject between Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman during Clinton's recent visit to Israel.

The U.S. is Israel's most important ally, traditionally providing it with political backing and large amounts of foreign aid.

In the strongly worded memo, the diplomat wrote, "There have always been differences between the governments, but coordination was always maintained. Now there is the feeling in Washington that Obama has to deal with obstinacy from the governments of Iran, North Korea and Israel."

He added, "The U.S. administration makes efforts to lower the profile of the disagreements, but ironically, we are the source of the public disputes."

[snip]

Israel's ambassador in Washington, Michael Oren, was called in to the State Department on Sunday to hear a protest against the eviction of two Palestinian families from homes in east Jerusalem. It was the second time in as many weeks that Oren has been summoned for complaints against Israeli policy, reflecting a depth of dispute almost unheard of in six decades of U.S.-Israel relations.

[foxyladi]

i hope we are not doing that.to our friends.

[jlynne]

I don't think Israel has a choice. Obama has signaled that he will accept a nuclear Iran and he has signaled that he will not support Jewish settlements in Jerusalem. Israel has to show that it is not the United State's lapdog and it will not give into its enemies just because Obama says too.

[StacyinBoston]

I don't think Israel has a choice. Obama has signaled that he will accept a nuclear Iran and he has signaled that he will not support Jewish settlements in Jerusalem. Israel has to show that it is not the United State's lapdog and it will not give into its enemies just because Obama says too.

I don't think the US has accepted a nuclear Iran at all and the current settlement issue has been established US policy long before Obama came into office. Given that the situation has only worsened over the past 8 years, perhaps this administration thinks it's a good idea to get all sides to re-start complying with the previously-established conditions?

I think one of the problems is people get a very one-sided view of this issue- this is like the new 'third rail' of American politics [it used to be social security] and the MSM does a really shoddy job covering this issue, in my opinion- it's all "he-said-she-said". Haaretz, JPost, and a whole host of international media sources are much better at presenting this issue from different angles and they actually put what is going on currently, in context.

[Suzan]

In the strongly worded memo, the diplomat wrote, "There have always been differences between the governments, but coordination was always maintained. Now there is the feeling in Washington that Obama has to deal with obstinacy from the governments of Iran, North Korea and Israel."

Odd wording? "...has to deal with..." What is he implying?

Israel's ambassador in Washington, Michael Oren, was called in to the State Department on Sunday to hear a protest against the eviction of two Palestinian families from homes in east Jerusalem. It was the second time in as many weeks that Oren has been summoned for complaints against Israeli policy, reflecting a depth of dispute almost unheard of in six decades of U.S.-Israel relations.

None of this is sounding good.

Hillary to the rescue? I hope.

[Wyoming Dem]

Were I Israel..surrounded ON ALL SIDES by more than one, insane, well armed, fatalistic, and hell-bent on annihilating the Jews and denying their very existence, meglomaniacal madman... I would tell Obama to BLOW IT OUT HIS ASS.

And here is just another time that poor, poor, poor Barack has so many nasty people to deal with and he does not like it...NEVER have we had a POTUS who has whined more about the actual "doing" of the job than Obama...never.

[foxyladi]

Were I Israel..surrounded ON ALL SIDES by more than one, insane, well armed, fatalistic, and hell-bent on annihilating the Jews and denying their very existence, meglomaniacal madman... I would tell Obama to BLOW IT OUT HIS ASS.

And here is just another time that poor, poor, poor Barack has so many nasty people to deal with and he does not like it...NEVER have we had a POTUS who has whined more about the actual "doing" of the job than Obama...never.

hillarystamp!

[Ron4Hill]

hillarystamp!
:e5:

The US has no right to tell the Jews in Israel where they can live. It's like saying Whites Only in SE DC.

Bibi needs to stand up to Obama.

[Brooke]

:e5:

The US has no right to tell the Jews in Israel where they can live. It's like saying Whites Only in SE DC.

Bibi needs to stand up to Obama.

I certainly hope you're not holding your breath waiting.

This IS hurting Israel. It was the same thing during Bibi Part I. He completely isolated Israel from EVERYONE, including the United States. He became the first Israeli PM to be refused a meeting with a US President. That had never happened before.

You folks want to point fingers, point them at Netanyahu. He's doing it all over again. And he doesn't give a crap.

I can't preach it enough: It's the same movie, different year. Same old Bibi. And hopefully it will end the same way, with Bibi getting kicked to the curb. And I'm kicked back with a bowl of popcorn and a Gold Star beer in my hand.

[Wyoming Dem]

Personally, I think the Jews have had to answer to enough people over time and I don't think what this country thinks they should do is relevant. As the poster people for persecution, why would they trust ANYONE in matters of their own sovereignty, their own security or decisions that effect the continuation of their country and state?

I think people fail to understand that the majority of the Muslem's in the Middle East, don't want Israel to stop building or give up the Gaza...they want them to all go away...permanently, every last man woman and child and they (the Muslim countries) favor no negotiation but rather, annihilation of all who are Jewish whether in faith or in genetics.

No peace will ever be possible until the Muslim populations tire of seeing their children killed and acknowledge that the people of Israel exist and shall continue to do so. This is absolutely all it really boils down to.

[PA_Voter]

Were I Israel..surrounded ON ALL SIDES by more than one, insane, well armed, fatalistic, and hell-bent on annihilating the Jews and denying their very existence, meglomaniacal madman... I would tell Obama to BLOW IT OUT HIS ASS.

And here is just another time that poor, poor, poor Barack has so many nasty people to deal with and he does not like it...NEVER have we had a POTUS who has whined more about the actual "doing" of the job than Obama...never.

Did Obama tell Israel yet, "Just let me eat my waffles?" :rotfl:

[karate kid x]

Were I Israel..surrounded ON ALL SIDES by more than one, insane, well armed, fatalistic, and hell-bent on annihilating the Jews and denying their very existence, meglomaniacal madman... I would tell Obama to BLOW IT OUT HIS ASS.




The reason they dont do that is because the US kinda sorta helps them... a lot

If Isreal decided they didn't want to be so dependent on the United States then they can go do what they want. The US isn't going to a damn thing to stop them

[StacyinBoston]

I certainly hope you're not holding your breath waiting.

This IS hurting Israel. It was the same thing during Bibi Part I. He completely isolated Israel from EVERYONE, including the United States. He became the first Israeli PM to be refused a meeting with a US President. That had never happened before.

You folks want to point fingers, point them at Netanyahu. He's doing it all over again. And he doesn't give a crap.

I can't preach it enough: It's the same movie, different year. Same old Bibi. And hopefully it will end the same way, with Bibi getting kicked to the curb. And I'm kicked back with a bowl of popcorn and a Gold Star beer in my hand.


:rotfl: That last bit!



Thank you, Brooke, Aalittle context is always important. Everyone wants to act like this is some brand-spankin'-new policy Obama has baked up to try to bring down the Nation of Israel. Not.

[Wyoming Dem]

The reason they dont do that is because the US kinda sorta helps them... a lot

If Isreal decided they didn't want to be so dependent on the United States then they can go do what they want. The US isn't going to a damn thing to stop them
And quid pro quo...we can't manage without them smack dab in the Middle East and acting as our "eyes and ears" for the region. Our country has a tendency to over-exaggerate our importance and to decide that, simply because another country is an Ally, we can call the shots. And Obama has stated PUBLICALLY and in his book that if "push comes to shove" he will side with the Muslems...Was he lying then or is he lying now? And why in the world would Israel EVER trust someone that said that???
Once again, Obama gets a "caveat"..."Well, I have re-evaluated that statement and have changed my mind..."

And let's repeat the most important thing one more time...The Muslims of the Middle East DECLARE, DENY, DISPARAGE Israel's right TO EXIST...No Jews ever...all Jews gone...Jews, both religious and genetic are vermin and should be completely annihilated... So exactly how does one negotiate with an enemy that denies their very right to exist? I just don't get what is so hard to understand here...

[Ikasu]

And let's repeat the most important thing one more time...The Muslims of the Middle East DECLARE, DENY, DISPARAGE Israel's right TO EXIST...No Jews ever...all Jews gone...Jews, both religious and genetic are vermin and should be completely annihilated...

Are you always this oversimplistic and extreme?

[karate kid x]

And quid pro quo...we can't manage without them smack dab in the Middle East and acting as our "eyes and ears" for the region. Our country has a tendency to over-exaggerate our importance and to decide that, simply because another country is an Ally, we can call the shots. And Obama has stated PUBLICALLY and in his book that if "push comes to shove" he will side with the Muslems...Was he lying then or is he lying now? And why in the world would Israel EVER trust someone that said that???
Once again, Obama gets a "caveat"..."Well, I have re-evaluated that statement and have changed my mind..."

And let's repeat the most important thing one more time...The Muslims of the Middle East DECLARE, DENY, DISPARAGE Israel's right TO EXIST...No Jews ever...all Jews gone...Jews, both religious and genetic are vermin and should be completely annihilated... So exactly how does one negotiate with an enemy that denies their very right to exist? I just don't get what is so hard to understand here...

If they weren't smack dab in the middle east, we really wouldn't have much of a problem with the middle east in the first place.

[Wyoming Dem]

If they weren't smack dab in the middle east, we really wouldn't have much of a problem with the middle east in the first place.
I beg to differ...The countries of the Middle East have a whole list of separate grievances and issues with this country that have nothing to do with Israel...our allegiance with Israel just adds fuel to the fire. Were we to TOTALLY and COMPLETELY disavow any allegiance for or with Israel, the Islamic Jihadists of the Middle East would continue to try to destroy each and every Jew in the region and would continue to view us as infidels and purveyors of anti-Islamic sentiment. And who died and made Obama the "Middle East Guru"??? My Brother was in Egypt when Obama was and said the Arabs there found him to be hysterical and laughed at all of the apologizing he did publically on behalf of a country that they feel remains unrepentant privately. Because he somehow got himself elected, Israel is now supposed to trust him and follow his directives? Based on what (???) experience, knowledge, prior endeavors? Because he "visited" Africa and Pakistan in his youth he automatically is presumed to more about Israeli politics than anyone else? Please...I know his followers proscribe "god-like" abilities to his supposedly superior intellect but let's be real...the ONLY perspective (s) Obama had prior to running for POTUS were those of a one-time Muslem (himself) & the 20 years worth of rantings against the Nation of Israel by an insane and bigoted Pastor.
Israel has no reason to trust or give any credence to anything Obama has to say.

[Brooke]

:rotfl: That last bit!



Thank you, Brooke, Aalittle context is always important. Everyone wants to act like this is some brand-spankin'-new policy Obama has baked up to try to bring down the Nation of Israel. Not.

Seriously, it's the best beer ever. I discovered it while I was over there and can never find it here. One year my roommate ordered me a six pack from some website in Brooklyn that sells it. I keep mearning to order more but it's pretty expensive. So worth it though.

And you're welcome. I try to have some fun with it too. And yes, I AM enjoying Bibi's imminent downfall a second time around. It's better than 8 presents on Hannukah. :rotfl: