Sharon prefers Bush over Kerry

[Semsem]

Sharon prefers Bush and rightly so. How can Jews vote for Kerry who lied that he had no clue that his grandfather and grandmother on his paternal side were Jews who converted to Christianity and changed their name from Kohn to Kerry?


http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1091072353170

Kerry's aides complain: Sharon prefers Bush
By JPOST.COM STAFF


Presidential candidate John Kerry makes his way to Boston's Fenway Park field to throw out the first pitch before a game between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the night before the Democratic National Convention in the city
Photo: AP

Advertisement




Prime Minister Ariel Sharon treats US President George W. Bush warmly, while his attitude toward Democratic candidate Senator John Kerry can be described as "cold", officials from Kerry's headquarters said.

Sharon's attitude toward the two may have an effect on the vote of US Jews in the coming November elections, officials told Army Radio Thursday morning.

Kerrry's people said that one example illustrating Sharon's "preference" is his avoiding meeting Kerry in the past. They added that vice premier Ehud Olmert, Sharon's right-hand man, had been quoted recently as saying, "Jews in America prefer Bush to Kerry."

An official at the Prime Minister's Office denied the allegations, saying that Kerry is welcome in Israel at any time and Sharon has not yet met him due to "technical reasons."

The Democratic Party on Wednesday nominated Kerry as their candidate in the presidential election scheduled for November 2.

Kerry won the primaries held earlier this year by a wide margin. The endorsement by the 4,500 delegates assembled in Boston for the party's convention was a mere formality.





SECURITY-DIPLOMACY [ more » ]


Panel starts talks on revised fence route
Beduin soldiers arrested in drug sting
Kerry's aides complain: Sharon prefers Bush
Erez to be 'trial balloon' for withdrawal
Ministers face off on disengagement

[Oh Jerusalem]

As someone who lives in Israel, reads the local papers, listens to the local radio shows and watches the local TV, I would have to say that there has been nothing but impartiality shown on the part of Sharon and company.

Sounds like a lot of whining to me. Not meeting Kerry's brother?! Ridiculous!

[Mediocrates]

If it's true it's stupid and bad politics to snub the man who has a 50-50 chance of being the next US Prez. It's a clear indication that Israel needs a strategy to disentangle itself from US 'policy' whatever that is.

And let me tell you something. I just spent the morning reviewing declassified CIA briefings and publications on strategic relationships and threats to the US extending out to the year 2015. Not once did the name "Israel" appear. Not once. Israel is a convenient foil to the US in the short run. That's it. The US has a close relationship with Israel for the same reason the US still has missiles aimed at Moscow; legacy, process, history and a lack of any coherent plan to do anything else. Israel better damn well wake up and realize that the US will probably disengage from Israel no matter who is President in the next 5 years. Aid will still flow but since both parties agreed that aid had to slowly decrease over time that is in the works already. At that point the main US benefit to Israel will be its automatic UNSC veto. And given the laughably poor state of credibility in the UN it's not clear that even losing that would have much effect.

[Semsem]

It is important not to show favouritism. I personally will vote Bush, though I don't agree with a lot of domestic policies. I cannot believe Kerry was not aware his paternal grandparents were Jews who converted to Christianity and changed their name from Kohn to Kerry!

[Binyamin]

It is important not to show favouritism. I personally will vote Bush, though I don't agree with a lot of domestic policies. I cannot believe Kerry was not aware his paternal grandparents were Jews who converted to Christianity and changed their name from Kohn to Kerry!
Who cares about Kerry's grandparents? Sharon definately doesn't.

Sharon should not be actively trying to help Bush, and he isn't. But he can have preferences, and there is no reason he should keep them secret.

A while ago Kerry announced that a number of world leaders told him that they want him to win. But now its a problem for someone to give tacit support to Bush?

[Alfred]

If it's true it's stupid and bad politics to snub the man who has a 50-50 chance of being the next US Prez. It's a clear indication that Israel needs a strategy to disentangle itself from US 'policy' whatever that is.

And let me tell you something. I just spent the morning reviewing declassified CIA briefings and publications on strategic relationships and threats to the US extending out to the year 2015. Not once did the name "Israel" appear. Not once. Israel is a convenient foil to the US in the short run. That's it. The US has a close relationship with Israel for the same reason the US still has missiles aimed at Moscow; legacy, process, history and a lack of any coherent plan to do anything else. Israel better damn well wake up and realize that the US will probably disengage from Israel no matter who is President in the next 5 years. Aid will still flow but since both parties agreed that aid had to slowly decrease over time that is in the works already. At that point the main US benefit to Israel will be its automatic UNSC veto. And given the laughably poor state of credibility in the UN it's not clear that even losing that would have much effect.


When we drop Taiwan we will eventualy drop Israel. So far, nothing in the works.

[Boblight]

Sharon is the Prime Minister, not the Israeli people. Sooner or latter he will be out of office.. He is entitled to his opinion, but that's all it is! Sharon and Bush are Conservatives, sooner or latter, a more moderate government will replce them both! Bob

[TheyAre]

One could view the invasion of Iraq, in part, as an attempt by the United States to decrease the importance (to the US) of its alliance with Israel, but...

Israel and America have ties that go far deeper than "legacy, process, history and a lack of any coherent plan to do anything else." The power of America's Jewish community and the power that the Religious Right still holds here in America aren't going to be broken in the next five years. The American military and the IDF are tight. The CIA, DIA, NSA, etc., and the Mossad likewise. DARPA loves Israel.

[Gilgamesh]

Sharon is the Prime Minister, not the Israeli people. Sooner or latter he will be out of office.. He is entitled to his opinion, but that's all it is! Sharon and Bush are Conservatives, sooner or latter, a more moderate government will replce them both! Bob

You seem to be a little out dated about Israeli politics.
It is true that Sharon is not Isael, that he is conservative ect...

But, you forget that since the outbreak of the war with the Arabs, we have no more left. Likud is the left party de facto. The people have no trust in the labour, the social democrates are considered pupets of foreign hostile ragimes. The Arab and communist party are always weak and getting weaker, their electoral power rests on Arabs, and Arabs largely boycott the elections. The rest of the parties in Israel are right. (religious, economical-right Shinui ect..., Likud ).

In the labour, there is no leadership and no agenda at all. There is not single idea all members of the party are willing to stand behind.

Sharon is not likely to hold another term. Thats forsure. Sharon's replacement is going to be some member of Likud. Either Binyamin Natanyahu or Silvan Shalom. Less likely for now, but possible still is Limor Livnat (the highest ranking woman in Israeli politics today).

Israel already had a situation when a single party and natural allies occupay more then 2/3 of the Knesset. We are in a similar period again, only this time, it'll be the Likud.

[Gilgamesh]

One could view the invasion of Iraq, in part, as an attempt by the United States to decrease the importance (to the US) of its alliance with Israel, but...

Israel and America have ties that go far deeper than "legacy, process, history and a lack of any coherent plan to do anything else." The power of America's Jewish community and the power that the Religious Right still holds here in America aren't going to be broken in the next five years. The American military and the IDF are tight. The CIA, DIA, NSA, etc., and the Mossad likewise. DARPA loves Israel.

Now, Israel is the only country with the proven technology to intercept long range balistic missiles. Through Israel, the USA can defend all its essates in the ME and far east Asia from balistic missiles.

[KSO]

Sharon is not likely to hold another term. Thats forsure. Sharon's replacement is going to be some member of Likud. Either Binyamin Natanyahu or Silvan Shalom. Less likely for now, but possible still is Limor Livnat (the highest ranking woman in Israeli politics today).

.

It sounds so scary... But once thing for sure the day PM Shalom wil meet American President Ahnult Scharznegger I'll pray for a meteor hiting earth...

[Gilgamesh]

It sounds so scary... But once thing for sure the day PM Shalom wil meet American President Ahnult Scharznegger I'll pray for a meteor hiting earth...

It seems most unlikely that old Ahnult will become president. However, I'd like him to become a US ambassador to Iraq. He and the Arabs both speak the same language.

[scattergood]

Guys,

Unless they change the Constitution of the United States, Arnold Schwartzenegger won't EVER become President. It is forbidden for a foreign born person to attain the office of President.

This is a left over clause from the Revolutionary times when we didn't want a British or French (or any other country) citizen becoming President and warping and morphing America into that other country.

ScatterGood