Obama team readying for confrontation with Netanyahu

[takeo]

In an unprecedented move, the Obama administration is readying for a possible confrontation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by briefing Democratic congressmen on the peace process and the positions of the new government in Israel regarding a two-state solution.

The Obama administration is expecting a clash with Netanyahu over his refusal to support the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

In recent weeks, American officials have briefed senior Democratic congressmen and prepared the ground for the possibility of disagreements with Israel over the peace process, according to information recently received. The administration's efforts are focused on President Barack Obama's Democratic Party, which now holds a majority in both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
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The preemptive briefing is meant to foil the possibility that Netanyahu may try to bypass the administration by rallying support in Congress.

The message that administration officials have relayed to the congressmen is that President Obama is committed to the security of Israel and intends to continue the military assistance agreement that was signed by his predecessor, George W. Bush.

However, Obama considers the two-state solution central to his Middle East policy, as he reiterated during a speech in Turkey on Monday, and he intends to ask that Netanyahu fulfill all the commitments made by previous governments in Israel: accepting the principle of a Palestinian state; freezing settlement activity; evacuating illegal outposts; and providing economic and security assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

Administration officials made it clear to congressmen that the Palestinians will also be required to fulfill their obligations in line with the road map and the Annapolis process.

According to the reports received in Israel, the U.S. administration is not concerned about recent statements by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman calling for a rejection of the Annapolis process or overtures made by Netanyahu during the election campaign.

U.S. officials say they will wait and hear Netanyahu's position from the prime minister himself when he meets Obama in Washington next month.

No hurry to play mediator

The Obama administration is also not opposed to the resumption of negotiations between Israel and Syria but will insist that the Syrian track not be used in Jerusalem as a way of evading obligations undertaken by Israel as part of the Annapolis process.

Obama is in no hurry to bring the U.S. in as lead mediator between Israel and Syria. American involvement, which both Israel and Syria consider essential for substantive progress, will remain conditional on progress in the dialogue between Washington and Damascus.

Regarding Iran, the Obama administration is preparing the ground for a policy distinguishing between Iran's right to have nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment done under international supervision, and the actual building of a nuclear weapon.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1077222.html

[bararallu]

Obama team is also about to attend an outright anti-semitic conference.

[takeo]

Obama team is also about to attend an outright anti-semitic conference.

I knew it: the moment Obama would start criticising Israel you rightwing nuts people would start calling him and his administration antisemitic. It's like a law of nature, you people are so predictable.

[Sharona]

When I find peoples' views beyond the pale, I walk away. But you, Takeo my friend, appear drawn to us like a magnet.

[takeo]

When I find peoples' views beyond the pale, I walk away. But you, Takeo my friend, appear drawn to us like a magnet.

This thread isn't about me or my views, but about the views of Obama and his team, the most popular American president ever, the new leader of the Western world. Do you find the views of Obama and his team beyong the pale?

I don't walk away when I don't like someone's ideas. In some situations it's interest to challenge them and their ideas.

[Mediocrates]

Maybe there will be a pogrom, one can hope eh, tak?

[takeo]

Maybe there will be a pogrom, one can hope eh, tak?

Obama pogrom... if you repeat this combination of words long enough maybe some people will start to make associations...
If you can't win with arguments, why not try different methods, right?

[Sharona]

This thread isn't about me or my views, but about the views of Obama and his team, the most popular American president ever, the new leader of the Western world. Do you find the views of Obama and his team beyong the pale?

I don't walk away when I don't like someone's ideas. In some situations it's interest to challenge them and their ideas.

I can't believe it!! You're still doing it, Takeo!!

How did we get from.."When I find peoples' views beyond the pale, I walk away " to your views of how I see Obama?


I agree - it can be interesting to talk to people with different views. But I think you'll find that what I said is that I don't bother if I find them 'beyond the pale', which is not the same thing as a difference of opinion.

As for Obama - I'm not American and didn't have the same exposure to his campaign here in the UK. As that is the case, and as he's only been in office a matter of months, I feel I have much to learn so will bide my time until I have enough background and insight to offer up a view.

[Yala]

This thread isn't about me or my views, but about the views of Obama and his team, the most popular American president ever, the new leader of the Western world. Do you find the views of Obama and his team beyong the pale?

"Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought?... Has it ever occurred to you, Winston, that by the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human being will be alive who could understand such a conversation as we are having now?... The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact, there will be no thought, as we understand it now. Orthodoxy means not thinking—not needing to think. Orthodoxy is unconsciousness."

[Sharona]

[QUOTE=takeo;298412]... Obama and his team, the most popular American president ever, the new leader of the Western world.
QUOTE]

Isn't it a bit too soon to be saying Obama is the most popular American president ever?

[Darwin]

I do not think it will be much of a confrontation. Obama will continue with his, Arabs will live in peace if you give them everything they want rhetoric. Netanyahu will stand by as long as he can.

Meanwhile Iran will ship weapons and spin centrifuges.

David

[Reffo]

Do you find the views of Obama and his team beyong the pale?

The creature is salivating about what Obama might do ...

He will be disappointed

[Golem of Prague]

I knew it: the moment Obama would start criticising Israel you rightwing nuts people would start calling him and his administration antisemitic. It's like a law of nature, you people are so predictable.

Where did anyone here call Obama anti-Semitic? bararallu's description referred to the Durban II conference, which it fits very neatly.

I am not convinced that Obama will return a US delegation to Durban II. He seems to have realized there was nothing to gain by doing so.

As for him "gearing for confrontation with Netanyahu, it is interesting to see the "peace process" now being referred to as the "Annapolis process".

[NewsGuy]

[B]In an unprecedented move, the Obama administration is readying for a possible confrontation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by briefing Democratic congressmen on the peace process and the positions of the new government in Israel regarding a two-state solution.

[...]

The Obama administration is expecting a clash with Netanyahu over his refusal to support the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

Very good topic, Comrade Takeo. Maybe one of the most important ones we'll be discussing in the coming few years, which is the Obama administration's Mideast foreign policy and how it will affect Israel and America.

Recently, I posted a thread: Advice to Netanyahu on Dealing with Obama.

I'm pretty sure that basically all Israeli politicians realize that, in the end, there will unfortunately be a Palestinian state next to Israel. About half of the world's only Jewish country (like Gaza and the West bank) will be stolen from the Jews and given to the Muslims to establish the 45th(?) Muslim country. That's the unfortunate fact.

But from Israel's point of view, the formation of a Palestinian state is a major concession, and it might as well get what it can get in return for making this concession.

More importantly, Israel will need to determine when the Palestinians will be able to establish their state, considering that as soon as Jewish land is given to the Muslims, it is immediately taken over by radical terror groups backed by Iran, and used as missile and suicide-bomber factories. Gaza is a prime example.

Another issue is that of a population exchange, in which Jews currently living in the West Bank might be moved into other areas of Israel, but only in return for moving Arabs out of Israel and into their own state.

Until these issues are ironed out, there is no reason for Israel to agree even in principle to establish a Palestinian state.

Also - For those who might not realize - Since the Oslo accords in 1993, the Palestinians have been basically running their own country for all intents and purposes. They control a large amount of land and people, they issue passports, tax their citizens, maintain their cities, elect their own parliament, run their own legal system, and set their own laws independently. They are only missing the ability to build an army, and they cannot import and export whatever they want (because they tend to want to import stuff like warplanes, tanks and missiles to be used for exterminating Jews.)

Regarding Iran, the Obama administration is preparing the ground for a policy distinguishing between Iran's right to have nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment done under international supervision, and the actual building of a nuclear weapon.

Yes, and the Obama administration is cooperating with Russia to allow the Russians to supply enriched uranium and other nuclear technology to Iran, even though Iran is currently in an advanced stage of using that material to create nuclear weapons and long-range satellite-guided nuclear warheads. In essence, the Obama administration is now a partner to arming Iran with nuclear weapons to be used against Israel.

[redcake]

I guess this is shocking news if you're stupid enough to believe the AIPAC run America, and the US kowtows to Israel's desires....it's going to be a rough few years for you Takeo....on one hand, everything you ever believed is going to come crashing down, and on the other hand, you're going to see your greatest fantasies come true. Unfortunately I'm going to have to ruin the ending for you... the Jews survive. Like cockroaches. And you? Still dreaming of finding your place in the world back in a toilet paper line, somewhere, in some Socialist country somewhere.