World News
More World NewsHow Barack Beat Bibi
Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, is now available from HarperCollins. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
)
AP Photo; Reuters
President Obama himself will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu next week. Peter Beinart on the fallout for Netanyahu in the Mideast.
Israel’s diplomatic war with the United States will likely end the same way its real war ended last year in Gaza: ambiguously. There will be no white flags or mission accomplished signs, just a slight tilt in the balance of power, a modest moving of the trench lines. Those lines aren’t fully demarcated yet, but in important ways the outcome is already clear: Barack Obama has won.
He’s won because he’s hurt Benjamin Netanyahu more than Netanyahu has hurt him. For decades, the relationship between an American president and an Israeli prime minister has resembled two guys with revolvers pointed at each other’s heads. For an Israeli prime minister, alienating your biggest patron is an excellent way to lose power—as Yitzhak Shamir learned after his showdown with George H.W. Bush and James Baker in the early 1990s. But for an American president, fighting with Israel almost always guarantees a fight with Congress, which tolerates little criticism of the Jewish state.
If round one went to Netanyahu, things are looking very different in round two.
Obama’s first confrontation with Netanyahu—when the White House demanded a halt to the growth of settlements in the West Bank early last year—didn’t go particularly well. Prodded by groups like AIPAC, many in Congress criticized Obama for bashing an ally. And even as Netanyahu’s U.S. allies peppered the White House with political buckshot, in Israel, Obama’s gun fired blanks. Perhaps overly impressed by the Shamir analogy, Obama administration officials confidently predicted that Netanyahu would suffer immense political pain for having scuffled with the White House. In fact, it wasn’t Netanyahu’s approval ratings that nose-dived; it was Obama’s. The White House was forced to swallow a merely partial and temporary halt to settlement growth, and polls appeared suggesting that Obama was wildly unpopular in the Jewish state.
But if round one went to Netanyahu, things are looking very different in round two. After Israel announced new building in east Jerusalem during Joe Biden’s visit there, thus imperiling proximity talks that the Obama administration had been laboring mightily to arrange, the White House reacted with fury. Alarmed, AIPAC soon urged members of Congress to begin lobbing grenades over the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue fence. Republicans, and a few hard-line Jewish Democrats, complied. Interestingly, however, most Jewish congressmen refused to join in. To the contrary, Howard Berman, the influential chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, declared that “the administration had real justification for being upset.” California’s Dianne Feinstein announced that “the chronic expansion of settlements is a serious obstacle.” Even the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (we Jews have so many “major” organizations that the organizations themselves need an organization)—not a group known for its even-handedness when it comes to Israel and its neighbors—called on “all parties” to “act in a manner that does not undercut” peace talks.
• Martin Indyk: Solving the Israel Problem
• Lloyd Grove: Jewish Anger at Obama If that wasn’t enough, Obama got political backup from an unlikely quarter: Centcom Commander and red-state heartthrob David Petraeus, who told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the “perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel” foments anti-Americanism and strengthens al Qaeda and Iran.
Meanwhile, in Israel, Netanyahu has been having a rougher time. Early polling is contradictory: Some surveys show him losing support while others show his approval numbers holding steady. But political elites have been treating him like a piñata. Shimon Peres, who as Israel’s ceremonial president usually remains above political spats, warned that “we cannot afford to unravel the delicate fabric of friendship with the United States.” Netanyahu’s defense minister, Ehud Barak, who also leads the Labor Party, noted that a peace process with the Palestinians is “one of the things that anchors us in the government”—implying that if Netanyahu keeps sabotaging peace talks, Labor could pull out. Nahum Barnea, one of Israel’s most revered journalists—and no knee-jerk lefty—urged Netanyahu not to attend this Monday’s AIPAC conference so as not to further alienate liberal American Jews.
There’s no point in exaggerating Obama’s victory. It’s unlikely that the East Jerusalem housing expansion that began this row will be formally reversed. Nor does Israel’s right-wing coalition government seem likely to fall any time soon. But Netanyahu will find it harder to torpedo upcoming talks with the Palestinians or to ensure that nothing of substance gets discussed. More importantly, Obama has shown that he can take on Netanyahu and inflict more political damage than he incurs. Both sides will remember that the next time.
Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, will be published by HarperCollins in June. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
For more of The Daily Beast, become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com.
YOUR FRIENDS
Hillary's Home Run of a Speech
Tunku Varadarajan is a national affairs correspondent and writer at large for The Daily Beast. He is also the Virginia Hobbs Carpenter Fellow in Journalism at Stanford's Hoover Institution and a professor at NYU's Stern Business School. He is a former assistant managing editor at The Wall Street Journal. (Follow him on Twitter here.)
Is a White House Shakeup Ahead?
Richard Wolffe is Daily Beast columnist and an award-winning journalist. He covered the entire length of Barack Obama's presidential campaign for Newsweek magazine. His book, Renegade: The Making of a President, was published by Crown in June.
Elin's New Life in Sweden
Katarina Andersson is a New York-based freelance reporter for Swedish Broadcasting. She previously hosted a popular radio talk show in Sweden and covered politics, economy, and arts for numerous Scandinavian media outlets in the U.S. She lives in Brooklyn with her son.
Obama's Foreign Policy Has Failed
Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, is now available from HarperCollins. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
Grow a Pair, Democrats
Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, is now available from HarperCollins. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
America Has Disgraced Itself
Peter Beinart, senior political writer for The Daily Beast, is associate professor of journalism and political science at City University of New York and a senior fellow at the New America Foundation. His new book, The Icarus Syndrome: A History of American Hubris, is now available from HarperCollins. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
HollyK64
Everytime Obama sneezes you declare that a victory. When push comes to shove the most powerful American Jews don't trust Obama and when they choose to assert their power, Obama will obey.
toomanynotes
You nail it.
Glenda1976
Obama will not receive 78% of the Jewish vote in FL again!
JohnConnughton
Then he'll have to win without it. I live in Tampa. I helped elect him last time. And I know what country I belong to. If you are a citizen of Israel before you are a citizen of the United States, why don't you just move there?
RevPettibone
to JohnConnughton.......
Figures a damn fool from Tampa would not only make a comment like that but you voted for Obama too......Pull your head outta your butt man....... with out Israel watching out for our interests in the Middle East, the Arabs partied with Russia will have our economy bent over a barrel within a matter of weeks...... whereby threatening the national security of the United States which will force our hand.
sangha774
Glenda1976: Are American Jew's first loyalty to America or to Israel? Don't be afraid to be truthful.
RevPettibone
sangha774...
You could ask the same question of American Catholics and the Vatican... You know darn well, depending on who you ask, the chances are great you will get conflicting answers.... The same holds true for the question you put to Glenda1976.
This comment has been removed by The Daily Beast's editors.
awb2921
as a florida jew I can answer
Yes he will - running against
Sarah Palin?
Mitt Romney?
Mike Huckabee?
yes he will
liberatorquest
In case you forgot, the most powerful man right now is Obama, he's the chosen one here, not the American Jews!!! By the way, the only persons Obama obeys are Michelle and his daughters!!!!
jcb222
You're kidding right. BHO (and crew) are the biggest amateurs in foreign policy evah. Bibi does his own thing. He knows BHO is a lightweight and cant trust him. This entire administration is a joke and will be held in check this fall.
Warburg
This whole idea that there is a unified American "Jewish Community" or that American Jews have some kind of divided loyalty is just another aspect of the latest form of anti-Semitism. Most American Jews couldn't find Israel on a map; they don't belong to Jewish social action groups like the ADL; and they have never heard of AIPAC. The majority of American Jews will continue to vote for whatever presidential candidate the Democratic party nominates.
nkwecho82
Wow just an amazing statement. American Jews imposing their will on the President? For your info, the POTUS's coalition runs deeper than that. I wonder what your issue really is. I respect the history we share with Isreal but we cannot betray ourselves and appear weak just to appease Mr. Bibi.
sangha774
nkwecho82. It is not an "amazing statement". It is an old fact.
steve-annie
sangha774: It is not an "old fact." It is an old racist canard. The big bad Jews control all the money and the government. It was rubbish before and it's rubbish now. Pres. Obama has made it very clear, including during his campaign, that he won't be rubberstamping Israel's every outrageous act and that he believes Palestinians have rights too. Plenty of American Jews voted for him, because they aren't all Zionist whackos.
Cymatic
steve-annie - Well stated. Many Jewish Americans don't like the rabid right wing hawks whose solution for any problem is to poke at it with a sharp stick.
flyoverland
My $$ is on Bibi
RevPettibone
I'll take part of that bet too !!!!!!!
marty96
This guy must be dreaming Obama is @ 48% approval rating and Bibi is @ 75% approval rating. Bibi actually fought his entire life fo his country in uniform and out. Obama spent his life fighting against his country in church and out. NO WAY BARRY WILL EVER WIN BIBI!
RevPettibone
to marty96.....
you have to understand this guy Beinhart and the way most of them think at TDB........ Bienhart has his head so far up the presidential keister it doesn't matter what POTUS says or does... cause Beinhart is always gonna extol the virtues of Obama. Do you remember that old song, "Michael Row the Boat Ashore"????? People like Beinhart are singing about Obama rowing that same boat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M58eoKaI2g0&feature=related
wakeupamerica911
Beware ! Obama is writing a new script in the US history with a pro-Muslim and pro-Arab white house ready to show the world that it will scarify its most valuable allied in the Middle East to appease the anti-American and anti-western feeling across the Muslim world. This is a doomed script for the USA as it is the same script that has bankrupt all of the European nations which have sold off Israel, since the 1960's for the Arab oil and eventually gave away their independence, their national pride, their way of life, the fabric of their demographics, which opened up the doors for the largest growing Muslim populations in the world happening right now throughout Europe, with spreading nests of Muslim fundamentalism who reign by fear and intimidation of European people.
Israel better realize that it's continued dependency and reliance on a flip flop president and it's WH advisors, which are ready to bargain Israel independence and scarify today the right to build homes in its capital Jerusalem, will be soon asking them to give away the key to their country to the Arabs, but nothing less would appease Israel enemies,,
sangha774
HollyK64: WRONG! It is not Obama that "will obey". It is America that will obey. Such is the power and control of the Jewish lobby in Washington.
MTinMO
So you think it is wise to declare that the Jewish community can get what it wants and the Americans and the president will do their bidding? As if their are no interests in America but the Jewish interests? With Iran and most other Arab nations hating the Jews, with our own country's white supremacists and separatists who hate the Jews and believe "they run everything" and therefore a. the Holocaust was right and just, (think Holocaust Museum) or b. the Holocaust didn't happen, added to the fact that many "regular Americans" are getting rather fed up with the constant and ongoing lack of peace progress between the Israeli's and the Palestinians and see Israel as the instigator of much of the violence, along with the constant stream of American tax dollars going to Israel, you think you are doing Israel the most good by getting on here and declaring that? And you should care, because while there are those who claim Israel helps us, Israel wouldn't exist without the backing and support of America. I seem to recall some Israeli Prime Ministers acknowledging that.
baptox
It's this very antiquated viewpoint that keeps American-Israeli and Palestinian relations mired in quicksand.
"The most powerful American Jews"?... "When they assert their power Obama will obey?'
You sound like your writing some retro Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer version of current political realities. Have you been watching too many "Ben Hur" and
"Ten Commandments" reruns?
Your comments are so unintentionally humorous and yet so painfully disconnected from reality...
baptox
Israel is currently being perceived as an albatross around our collective American political neck, yet the Israelis- and their increasingly toothless countererpart American Zionist robot teams- do not seem to get that our past relationship with Israel is no more.
The divorce was solidified around the last war after Israel's horrific human rights abuses were scoffed at by the Israeli government. A recent well documented Israeli Mafioso type murder in Dubai followed by a calculated embarrassment of Vice President Joe Biden were the final blows in this rocky marriage of convenience.
Israelis-like the bullies they are-seem clueless in grasping this reality.
Let me be clear here, Mr. Bibi. We Americans do not like you, we will no longer be paying your bills and fighting your wars and we don't want to share custody with your type of democracy.
iamone3
baptox, let me be very clear, you speak for yourself. I and many Americans love Israel. Israel is a sovereign nation and must act in its own self interests. Obama is letting Iran develop nuclear power & is showing very little concern for the continued threat to Israels existence. I do hope this problem can be worked out with the Obama administration. You and others need to remember it was not Israeli terrorist that took down the twin towers & we have not forgotten who was responsible.
xlntcat
I have nothing particularly for or against Israel, but they have made it clear that they have no interest in living in peace and are determined to continue Empire building at out expense. This isn't new stuff. They have been becoming bolder by the decade in bullying not only their neighbors but the U S, also. Enough is enough. Their defiant, adolescent behavior state that it is time for them to leave the nest and go it alone among the billions of muslims they have abused over the years.
toomanynotes
Let's take a poll shall we to see if your ridiculous statement is backed up by the truth.
I'll bet that 90% of americans, not of jewish extraction, were to be asked if Israel should be cut loose, their foreign aid stopped, and a demand made for repayment of the multihundred billions they have already received plus the money and the blood of our chilcren shed for those shlmozels, they would vote that you are so wrong as to be delusional and put in a padded cell.
What do you say?
And if they were aware that jews were the primary cause of their reduced 401ks, that they were paying for the trillions of dollars of bonuses for these shmendricks out of their own money, they would likely want some heads of them on pikes.
How about it? Just for openers count the number of supporters you have on this board, if you can stand to be made to look like a fool openly.
amanda07070
iamone3 - You do not speak for ME, that's for sure. I agree 100% with xlntcat.
sangha774
iamone3: Loving Israel is good but loving injustice is not. Yes, Israel has acted in "its own self interest" by illegally occupying Palestinian land, deliberately strangling the Palestinian economy through blockades and other means and selectively killing Palestinians at will.
We remember who took down the twin towers. We also remember that the root of the provocation was the above.
thedarkdevice
What is the last thing Israel EVER did for us that was not also beneficial to themselves? I'm tired of paying taxes to these warmongers across the ocean so they can take more land from Palestinians and thus create more war still.
P.S. You believe the official story of 9/11? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Never mind. Forget anything I said.
bcamran
Zionist robot teams? That just speaks volumes. If Mr. Beinart thinks that alienating jews in foreign policy and senior citziens with heath care reform, then November is going to be nasty.
friendlyskies
Well, like iamone3 said, you only speak for yourself. Me - and I'm an American speaking for myself - I tend to agree with you. I like a lot of things about Israel, but the economic/military support has got to end.
I don't really care about the Dubai murder, except that I had to pay for it. Why did they need ten assassins getting paychecks from me? Couldn't five of those murderers have gotten jobs in the free market, and given their own taxes to the govt of Israel, and paid the other five to kill that guy?
And now they want me to buy them a naval blockade against Iran, since the sanctions (which I'm paying for as higher gas prices) aren't enough? You all are seriously telling me that there isn't enough money in the Israeli community to hire Xe/Blackwater or whoever, themselves?
And iamone3, no, it was not an Israeli terrorist who took down the twin towers, it was a Saudi terrorist, working with other Saudis and a few Yemenis. Saudi Arabia is a completely different country from Iran, different govt, different religion, moreover the KSA and Iran historically hate each other. Why are you trying to link Iran to 9/11?
But whatever. There's so much going on behind the scenes vis-a-vis the Israel-US relationship that it seems silly to comment on what's probably a ruse on top of a ruse.
Warburg
Israel receives approximately 3 billion dollars annually in economic aid from the United States, with which it purchases American armaments; or do you think they build their own F16s.? The Arab states receive a total of 7 billion dollars annually in aid from the US, 2 billion going to Egypt alone. This is largely given to preserve their neutrality in the general Moslem hatred of America. It's apparent that on this forum, only the aid to Israel, the sole reliable ally the US has in the Middle East, is resented. There is really no need to wonder why, is there?
Jakeson
Foolish statement by baptox and terribly wrong in his views. Israel remains the buffer between the radical Muslim hoards and the west. DON"T you ever forget that. Just as President Bush bottled up the radical Muslim terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan, they had no way they could attack America and keep our troops busy in those two states. Israel is much the same at this time and if baptox lives in America (which I doubt), he better hope Bibi keeps the "east" wondering when they will attack that fool in Tehran.
sangha774
Jakeson: "Israel remains the buffer between the radical Muslim hoards and the west" is false. The radical Muslim hoards was given birth by Israeli greed and intransigence.
RevPettibone
to sangha774.......
you're wrong...... the Islamic hoards have been the scourge of the middle east and beyond for centuries.. and Israel had nothing to do with it...... If you don't believe me just ask the Greeks about the way they were treated under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.....
baptox
That your first assumption is that I am a male speaks more about your narrow perspective than any of the propaganda you quoted in the rest of your post...
thedarkdevice
Israel is as much an aggressor as Palestine. If you're gonna call out the evils for what they are, don't ignore Israel's hostile takeover of land that was not theirs. Palestine has their violent militants as much as Israel has their Zionist assassins killing innocent women and children.
marty96
Blowing up buses filled with children in the cities of Israel is not a war crime, firing rockets into israeli schools is not a war crime, kidnapping soldiers and not allowing red cross entry to visit soldier is not a war crime, dancing in the streets after the WTC was blown to bits and pieces and 3000 americans lost their life is not a war crime, putting suicide vests around woman is not a war crime. Only Israel protecing it's citizens against terror is a war crime. Pull out the huge rock you have in your head so you can let in some brains.
thedarkdevice
"Only Israel protecing it's citizens against terror is a war crime."
You mean by stifling their economy and shooting innocent women and children? Protecting against THOSE terrorists? I didn't know a four year old girl was so adept in military strategy!
Cymatic
Most would agree that the above things, with the exception of dancing" are war crimes. And with that agreement, comes the list of war crimes by Israel. There are two sides to this story. While Israel does have the right to defend itself, there are many cases where great injustices were suffered by civilians, and their ability to raise a family made impossible.
DakLak
Just whose interests are these bastards in Congress supposed to represent? America's or Israel?
America should have the guts to tell Israel the time for games is over; no more money - America is bankrupt and Israel is not.
Warburg
Why not cut the 7 billion dollars the US annually gives to Arab countries as well? Do we get more advantages from te 3 billion dollars a year in aid to Israel or the 2 billion dollars a year in aid to Egypt? What do you think the reaction of the American left-wing, so ably respresented on this forum, would be if the United Staes suspended aid to Israel, Egypt and Jordan?
This user is no longer registered.
Jakeson
I agree wholeheartedly. Beinart was just parroting the wishes of the democrat party lean toward the Muslims.
mudbrick
There is absolutely no evidence that Netanhayu is hurt more.If at all ,it is the ineptitude of the American administration that is exposed to a worldwide audience.It is underlined that America is ineffective and clueless.Only the MSM cannot see this because of its blinkers.
JohnConnughton
Here is one evidence. I am a goyem who used to support Israel. Not rabidly, but because Israel seemed a better idea than its enemies. But my support has been deteriorating, and now I'd be willing to cast them off to their own fate.
reader3
Peres and Barak's statements show that he's at least being hurt a bit. His polling numbers as well show his stock falling again. Bibi's been PM before, and this always happens to him. He's a just a little too far right, and he always ends up hurting himself, and losing his job. He's a man of his convictions though; a tough politican and a solid patriot, and he's not going anywhere any time soon. He just tends to shoot himself in the foot every once in a while.
I don't think it show the US as inneffective and clueless, either. Thtas just more of your neo-con extremeism ("Obama wants to destroy America, and HC reform is the first step to Socialism!")
And I doubt that the main stream media is blinded by it's turn signals ("blinkers"??) I guess you meant to say blinders, but even that's silly. You'll find a wide variety of articles and reports from the MSM showing very different perspectives and different summarizations of this very complicated issue. You guys just like to paint everything starkly RED vs BLUE.
sangha774
mudbrick: Try (if you can) to understand the difference between the "American administration" and the power of the Israeli lobby in Congress. Remember that the constitution was set up for there to be an Executive, a Judiciary and Congress. This allows for balance. The Presidency has power but not complete power. It cannot make all decisions. It was designed this way to prevent a dictatorship.
refiguy
Changed World Opinion
If there is one thing I notice here and in what I read and hear as I travel..the tide seems to be turning in favor of the Palestinians. I hear it in the coffee shops etc.where a few years ago it was lets blow them all up (Palestinians) to hey maybe they deserve better. Can you feel it out there? Hey and my wife is Jewish!!
sangha774
refiguy: "The tide seems to be turning in favor of the Palestinians" ......in America. The rest of the world have long recognized the injustices against the Palestinians. It is only America (who navel gazes too much) that the Israelis have managed to con for so long.
Martyz42
What people think about Israel has been & will always be tainted by a few thousand years of "The Jews Killed Our Savior" being brainwashed into the heads of all non Jews world wide & the constant lets kill the Jews by the Arabs & non Arab Muslims...
As for Obama & Israel, he made a calculated move to ignore Israel himself & play up to the Arabs & it backfired on him... Obama screwed up the Middle East just as he screwed up Insurance Reform & Cap & Trade, Bank Reform & so on...
Obama is a very smart guy but so far he has shown me nothing but an empty suit when it comes to getting anything done. He has shown no backbone & has also shown the lack of any conviction on anything really important...
If you take bank reform alone the banks & Wall Street are now doing the same thing they did before & Obama has & is not doing anything to stop them.. On Health care just to name one single thing that would have helped every single American, the ability to buy the exact same drugs from Canada was given awway by some vague promise from big pharma not to rally against any health care reform...
In closing I need to say my wife & I sent in the maximum amount of money & were really excited about him running & winning, sadly for ALL Americans he has displayed nothing more then being a great public speaker with absolutely nothing really to show for it... Even his so called jobs bill turned into a Republican lower tax's plan & instead of spending $100,000,000,000. on infrastructure that create immediate jobs he backed down to the Republicans & did more or less NOTHING....
Israel is an Obama failure because his plan to kiss up to the Arabs backfired on him... Whatever is done with Israel is minor compared with Iran getting the BOMB.... The death of millions of Jews & non Jews will be on his back when that happens & it looks like it will based on his performance in the Middle East...Mr. Obama, you are a really nice man but as a president you are an EMPTY SUIT.....
sangha774
Martyz42: Go read some books. You understand very little and you sound very foolish. That's what anger does to the mind. It distorts perceptions and evaluations.
RevPettibone
Oh really...look who's sounding foolish ...after reading your posts on TDB today you're beginning to sound a lot like like Obama's mentor ...In fact you sound almost verbatim to how Wright relates to and speaks about Israel??? Wright is always talking against Israel... and after 20 years of being in Wright's church Obama heard him on at least one occasion... there can be no denying of that. Is it any wonder how people can believe Obama is of the same opinion as Wright when it comes to Israel???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-EBc2xaz44&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnI431s1r6s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ5c6hxqXq4&feature=fvw
Obadiah
The idolatry of American Jews is stunning.
American Jews have willingly placed their faith in liberalism. Political liberalism has now clearly become their object of worship as evidenced by their greater desire to see Obama "win" than in their support for the land Providentially given to them.
American Jews have sold their birthright for a mere bowl of lentils.
baptox
The "idolatry of American Jews" ? Historically, if anything, both American Jews and Christians have overwhelmingly supported (and some would say idolized -or more correctly- "idealized") Israel and the Israeli government.
Not anymore. Israel is controlled by a small segment of right wing Zionists who have submerged their humanity and replaced it with a narrow, dangerous identity as " Jews at all costs...the world be damned. Jews". Even the majority of Israeli citizens don't support these leaders and their policies.
American Jewish numbers are quickly dwindling. American Jews supporting Israel's current policies probably constitute less than one tenth of one percent of American Jews. Given that the Jewish population in America is very small, probably a lot less than the 2-3% of the total population, support among American Jews for the perceived intransigent, violent and out of control Israeli government is understandably at an all time low.
Support among Christian evangelicals has also declined precipitously, along with their political influence in Washington.
Things change a lot quicker in today's world and the current crop of recycled macho Israeli political actors have no ability to adapt to these changes. Perhaps they will listen to the Obama/Biden/Clinton team about the nature of these new realities. Probably not.
wareagle82
Peter,
do you even read your own writing before hitting 'submit'? How in the hell does an American president "beating" his counterpart with a long-time ally become a good thing? All that Israel has gotten from this administration is being consistently cast as the bad guy; not a single mention of Palestinians being complicit on this ongoing issue.
The idea of the US or Israelis president "hurting" the other, as this article puts it, should alarm anyone. This isn't some modern-day Cold War; this isn't a dispute between perennial belligerents; this is a nation that's been an ally since its formation. Frankly, I'm not sure what is more disturbing - that the president can, as Peter writes, inflict "political damage" against his Israeli counterpart or that Beinart would see that as a good thing.
nkwecho82
If my am insolent and the contrarian to my older brother, he will surely rebuke and even discipline me. I may not like it, but b/c he cares, he does what he must. If a fight were to break out, I pity the fool who would raise a hand against me in his presence. Donnot be alarmed that Obama spends time curbing Isreals ambitions, no one dare raise a hand at her and we all know why.
sangha774
wareagle82: Stay out of it. You are confused.
wareagle82
to that contrary, I am crystal clear. This president, like most on the left, has problem being mad at Israel but tip-toes around the Arabs. I guess building a few apartment buildings is worse than blowing up civilians.
thedarkdevice
@wareagle82: "I guess building a few apartment buildings is worse than blowing up civilians."
Oh you're just a freakin' putz. Because the Jews NEEEEEEEEVER killed any innocent Palestinians... or took their goods... or kicked them out of their homes... sniping them as they ran to higher ground. Get a clue.
Jakeson
Peter Beinart is acting as a DNC shill in this piece. I believe he is wrong on all counts. Maybe the liberal press can "spin" this into a perceived victory for Obama, it REMAINS a loss for America. Why dear MR. Beinart has Obama traveled to several Muslim nations and HAS NOT visited Israel. Is Mr. Barack Hussein Obama anti-semitic? With the evidence at hand I can only conclude that to be a fact.
nkwecho82
Dear Mr. Jakeson, your thinly veiled racism is appaling and also innacurate. Obama has been to Jerusalem, I remember this b/c CNN made a big deal of his reception. Focusing on his middle name says enough about you and not him. Trying to appear as a fair broker helps the U.S and Isreal long term. YES I support the Potus over Mr. Bibi, does that make me anything other than patriotic? I'm sure only a GOP schill or someone with reservations about Obama's name and pigmentation would think so. Yes sir I think you are atleast a closet bigot.
tarryh
So, Jakeson, are you anti moslem. You are a self described conservative. So you think YOU can spin current events into a good case that Obama is anti semitic......if putting pressure on Israel to stop building illegal (UN) settlements thereby causing a rift between Washington and TelAviv is your justification, then I guess George H W Bush and George Bush are anti semites also. Worse rifts happened during their administrations. It is an easy accusation to throw around, but like putting black face on a pic of our president it does little to advance the discussion.
wareagle82
how typical...the Obama acolytes default response to anyone who disagrees is that the person must racist, bigoted, or motivated by sinister motives. Please. If Israel is building settlements in Jerusalem - which a quick check of the map shows to be inside Israeli borders - on what planet is that illegal? Because of the UN? Please. That outfit has long since revealed its colors re: Israel. I just wonder why it is that onus with this WH is always on Israel, never the Palestinians.
RevPettibone
to wareagle82..
This should answer your question:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ5c6hxqXq4&feature=fvw
nmhite
JAKEASS
THE MUSLIM NATIONS ARE SEMITIC PEOPLE JUST AS THE ISRAELIS ARE IF NOT MORE .YOU ARE ANTI-SEMITIC TOWARDS THE ARABS AND MUSLIMS.
YOU AND SOME IN THIS WORLD NEED TO STOP THIS SMALL MINDEDNESS,THAT EVERY TIME YOU SPEAK AGAINST THE ISRAELIS OR JEWS THAT YOU ARE AN ANTI-SEMITE.THIS NONE SENSE MOST STOP.TRUTH CRUSHED TO THE EARTH WILL RAISE AGAIN!!!!!!!!
Morrisminor
Anti-semitic, as it is defined, means Jew hatred.
thedarkdevice
"Why dear MR. Beinart has Obama traveled to several Muslim nations and HAS NOT visited Israel." Maybe because it's about time we stopped defending the warmongering of Israel? -GASP- Not promoting land battles!?! WHY THAT'S PREPOSTEROUS! WE MUST ASSIST OUR WARMONGERING JEWISH BRETHEREN! After all, they are the closest thing to American government in the middle east! ... Oppressive to other people, cold blooded killers and always willing to sacrifice others for their own benefit.
nkwecho82
I disagree with plenty the POTUS does policy wise but this is not one of them. If we are not atleast perceived as fair brokers, we will not acheive our national goals long or short term. Our Jewish allies must trust that it's in their long term interest that we do what we do. If they choose to bite the hands that feed them, then expect the back of said hands on their mugs. Just saying...
tarryh
Thanks. Good points. Netanyahu and his ultra right buddies think Obama is a one termer. Just get get thru to 2012. He will be defeated, the Republicans will return, and things will get better. The Israeli press..... easily available in English on-line...... has reported this several times recently. I think you are quite right about the change in the U.S among American Jews.... especially the 18 to 29 year old demographic. This factor dilutes the political penalty so many politicians worry about. Gaza was a real eye opener. The fact that the almost medieval siege of the Gazans continues simply adds to the growing negative perception.
Beware of smoke screens. All this talk of wanting peace talks is baloney. The Benjamin'iskis work hard to sabotage real forward movement, the current slap in the face to the US is just the latest sucker punch, because they do not want a two state solution. They want the whole enchilada. Read the Jersusalem Post! The strategy for decades has been to create facts on the ground.... called settlements..... one by one. The more there are the more land you can claim. Of course Benjamin'istas have not exactly figured out how they will run a new state with an Arab majority population. Something Ehud Barak worried about recently when he expressed concerns about the possibility of an "apartheid government" in the future. But it worked for P W Botha for a long time so Benjamin may well be able to make it work for him and his for a while. But sooner or later time will run out and the majority will take control just as they did in South Africa.
sangha774
tarryh: It is so refreshing to read something from an intelligent balanced person. Thank you.
Fima Tal
what bunch of b**lsh*t...
"the fact that the almost medieval siege of the Gazans"
Israel doesn't have any soldier/settler In Gaza ..
it full Israel right to close it border with enemy entity who shoots thousand of rockets (including at Ashkelon power plant that supplies electricity to Gaza)....
but Israel fully didn't closed it border, Israel supplies to Gazans suplies as food/gas/medicine even it doesn't have to by any measures...
why Gazan don't go to Egypt to these supplies?because even their Arab brothers hate them and keep Rafah border cross point closed since Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005 and now they even building underground barrier so Gazans can't even pass underground supplies thru Egypt border...
"they will run a new state with an Arab majority population"
if even take inside Israel Arabs West Bank Arabs there is no Arab majority.
Here the facts :at the end of 2009 in israel there was
5.664k jews 1.526k arabs 319k other(primary by father jews/mother non jewish)
in West Bank 2,407,681 Arabs
in East Jerusalem 177,000 Arabs
so in Total including west bank:
Arabs - 4110K
Jews other - 5980K
so it Jews are majority even if you count west bank Arabs.
Check your facts.....
Fair solution to middle east is one state to 4110k Palestinians(including inside Israel Palestinians so called Israeli Arabs)
and one state to Jews
and not one state to arabs -> west bank
and another half state to arabs (inside israel)
and for jews half state...
arabs already have 23 states.
nkwecho82
Isreal must bend to the U.S's will. They need us and not the other way around, enough with the disrespect and childishness.
sangha774
Yes nkwecho82 you are right. But, it is too late. America is now Israel's bitch.
baptox
We know you like to think of yourself as a grown-up person, using naughty words on a public forum...the thrill of it!. What you reveal yourself to be is a sad adolescent stuck in the world of hatred toward women. You've used the term "America's bitch" repeatedly. Isn't it time to move on?
Grow-up, my friend, and people might take some of your posts seriously.
thedarkdevice
@Baptox: "You've used the term "America's bitch" repeatedly. Isn't it time to move on?"
The truth hurts. Get over it. We're sick of catering to Israel's damn land war.
JohnConnughton
Just an update, the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States are all agreed that Israel should "...freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001; and to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem." And further,
"...condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35944997/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa
I say it's about time Israel started listening. Numbers do not make a thing right, but when they're right, they're right.
sonofloud
What exactly has Obama done?
Israel is still building those houses on Palestinian land.
You may think Obama won the pissing contest but the Palestinians continue to suffer.
RevPettibone
The Palestinians continue to suffer because to this day the Palestinians chose to be led by Palestinians.
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary defines Palestinian as "liar and theif".
sonofloud
No, that is the definition of reverend.
JohnConnughton
Talk about a liar. Pettibone might define Palestinians that way, but no-one else does. You are a liar, Pettibone, but then, we all already knew that.
Below is what Miriam-Webster DOES say (note, Palestinian is not a direct entry):
Main Entry: Pal·es·tine
Pronunciation: \%u02C8pa-l%u0259-%u02CCst%u012Bn\
Variant(s): or Latin Pal·aes·ti·na \%u02CCpa-l%u0259-%u02C8st%u0113-n%u0259, -%u02C8st%u012B-\
Function: geographical name
1 ancient region SW Asia bordering on E coast of the Mediterranean & extending E of Jordan River
2 region bordering on the Mediterranean on W & Dead Sea on E; a part of the Ottoman Empire 1516-1917, a British mandate 1923-48; now approx. coextensive with Israel and the West Bank
- Pal·es·tin·ian \%u02CCpa-l%u0259-%u02C8sti-n%u0113-%u0259n, -ny%u0259n\ adjective or noun
RevPettibone
to sonofloud and Connughton....
Not that that two of you are off the reservation and don't know jack.... but tell me how wrong I am, when there's no denying what a mudering and thieving SOB Yasser Arafat and his Fatah Party were, and still the Palestinians kept them in charge for 30plus years..... Am I wrong about Hamas and how they never want peace, but yet were elected by the Palestinians... Hell Hamas can't even get along with Fatah,,,,, they started killing each other the day after the election. Oh and lets not forget Abbas, what a great PM he is.... so great he walked away from a fantastic deal recently offered to the Palestinians .
However, what I do find humorous.... is how easy it was to punk Connughton with my definition of Palestinian........ I wonder what other bait he'll bite at. Toooooooooo Funny.
sonofloud
Sorry Rev but I don't have the time to list all the things you are wrong about.
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.