The recent comments made by U.S. Government officials have aroused anger and suspicion in Israel. During the last week, three high ranking members of the Obama Administration have given speeches that have made many Israelis wonder if the United States has any respect for the fact that Israel is a sovereign nation. The speeches by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman have caused concerns in Israel that the United States is trying to force the Israeli Government to enact policies that would benefit the United States while doing serious harm to the security of Israel. Once again, the issue of whether the fact that the United States gives aid and support to Israel allows the United States to directly influence the leadership and politics of Israel, has been raised front and center.
The uproar began on December 1, 2011 when U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Howard Gutman, outraged his audience when he said, “A distinction should be made between traditional anti-Semitism, which should be condemned and Muslim hatred for Jews, which stems from the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.” Gutman, a former high dollar fundraiser for the Obama campaign, went on to say that if Israel were to make peace with the Palestinians, the Muslim sentiments against Jews would be “significantly diminished.” Gutman’s remarks were made at a Jewish conference on anti-Semitism organized by the European Jewish Union. Israeli news service, YNet, said “legal experts in the audience were “visibly stunned” by Gutman’s comments, and the next speaker gave a “scathing rebuttal” to his remarks.”
On December 2, 2011 Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, added fuel to the fire during a speech at the Sabin Forum, an annual gathering of American and Israeli policymakers. Panetta said, “that Israel needs to “get to the damn table” to negotiate with the Palestinians and “mend fences” with its neighbors.” The Anti-Defamation League expressed “surprise and dismay” at a speech that it said “disproportionately put the onus on Israel to overcome its isolation.” The reaction in Israel was even stronger with many posters to mainstream newspapers expressing deep anger and mistrust towards the Obama Administration’s continuous policy of blaming Israel for the lack of a peace deal while putting no pressure on the Palestinians to compromise or negotiate. The majority of Israelis feel strongly that it takes two to tango and that only Israel has pulled a chair up to the peace table.
The next day the pressure on Israel from the Obama Administration went on unabated, as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton continued the orgy of Israel bashing at a closed session of the Saban Conference. In typical fashion, the “most transparent administration in U.S. history” once again refused to release a transcript of Clinton’s statements but “a senior U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Clinton’s remarks were considered off the record, confirmed that she expressed concerns about developments in Israel, including the NGO law and recent comments from ultraconservative politicians.” Clinton also commented on internal Israeli issues such as the attempts by the ultra Orthodox to segregate women on certain Israeli bus lines.
The reaction to Secretary of State Clinton’s remarks elicited a flurry of rebuttals by Israeli Officials. Israeli Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Clinton’s remarks were “absolutely exaggerated. Israeli democracy is alive, breathing, kicking and liberal.” Many in Israel think that the U.S. officials should be focusing on the fact that for several years now the Palestinians have constantly refused to sit down with Israel for face to face negotiations on the peace process. There is particular concern in Israel that even when Israel took the unprecedented step of a 10 month building freeze in the Settlements, the Palestinians refused to negotiate.
Israel has stated many times that it is willing to sit down and negotiate face to face with the Palestinians. Israel has expressed the principals of its parameters for peace. These principals state that Israel is the nation of the Jewish people with its historical, eternal capital in an undivided Jerusalem. Israel has also clearly said that the refugees are the responsibility of the Arab states and it will not allow 5 million Arab refugees to flood into Israel and change Israel from the Jewish state to another Islamic state. There are already 56 Islamic nations and Israel demands the right to be the one national homeland of the Jewish people.
How do you feel? Is it fair for Israel to be the nation of the Jewish people; especially considering that there are already 56 Islamic nations in the U.N.? Do you think Israel should be accepted as the one nation of the Jewish people?
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I agree with Panetta — "get to the damned table".
It is so very sad that Israel's, so called friend, shows so little respect, as friends should have for friends and understanding for Israel. But then, as claimed from the start, Mr.Obama IS a Moslem so why be surprised? Once the Prime Minister of Israel, Mrs Gola Meyr said: " With such friends who needs enemies?" How very far sighted!
Israel is loved and supported by most Americans. The current Israeli government seems to love eating up the West Bank, all the while offering lip service to the Palestinians. And, Anny Matar, even though our President is a Christian, suppose he is a Moslem. Why would that matter? Israel has a large Moslem minority. Do you see them as your enemies, too? If so, what are you doing about it?
After all these years as secretary of state hillary is finally doing something. Making everybody mad. Where is she off to next?
I think there is plenty of respect for Israel as a sovereign nation. The distinction that wasn't made in the article was that the government of Israel isn't necessarily the voice of the world Jewish diaspora. If I'm against a particular policy of the Israeli government, does that make me anti-Jewish? NO! The same same twisted rhetoric is played out over here. If I don't want our troops sent to Iraq, I'm anti-American. Israel does need to get to the table and stay there. If they don't want to stop settlement building, then they need to tell the settlers, this neighborhood may end up being in Palestine when the final agreement is reached. Certainly any final map drawn of Palestine will include Jews within its borders just as there are now Palestinian citizens of Israel and even Palestinian members of the knesset.
Israel keeps lying about the building of settlements in Palestinian land, they keep building. Is that the way to make an equitable peace?
Why repeat unfounded rumors such as Obama being a muslim? He is clearly a christian.
Both sides antagonize each other. Israel is the more powerful and in control of the 2 so there is going to be more attention given to them. If they think that Israel should only be governed by Jewish people, that they can't share E Jerusalem, that criticism means anti-semiticism, that the Palestinians should have to go live in other parts of the Middle East because they are Muslims, their government is very racist and hardly a democracy for anybody who lacks that birthright elite status.
Joop Kaashoek Obama said himself that "we are not a Christian Nation".
Probably heading for the Presidency in 2012.
Jew and Muslim don't care two shyts about each other and haven't for thousands of years. It has always made me sick how the US has always backed the Jewish play no matter how wrong they are. The US is so deeply Christian that they fear God will come down and personally kick their ass if they hurt Isreal's feelings. Israel speaks the words of peace but shows little action NEITHER side does. That building freeze only went out a propaganda, in the mean time raids and killing went on.. while boys throw rocks Israel’s army shoot real bullets and use real bombs taking anyone with an opposing voice or opinion into the hills to assassinate them. Silence is golden!
US has ALWAYS backed Israel, and to say now they are no longer a friend because they decide to speak out stronger for peace is a sad statment. Fearing Gods anger for hurting the feelings of the 'Chosen people of God' the US has backed and helped at every turn even when Israel was dead WRONG. Now you want to cry like childrennd get huff.. May be we chose the wrong people in this stuggle to back.. If we are the enemy maybe we should switch our aide and support to the other side. hummmm
We have backed Israel for way too long, supported them even while they have raped and abused palistine, this is why we should not be involved in the middle east, we take sides and are hated for it.
palestine sorry
I don't give this too much credence, we're always pissing someone off, I have confidence that Hilary is doing everything she needs to do, she is a smart cookie. And had I not been in the middle of a hysterectomy issue at the time, I would have voted for her as president.
The unfortunate side of a lot of this type of media coverage is that it trickles down from the 1% and stirs a shitpot amongst Americans. This is why I NEVER listen to Fox News, nor do I pay much attention to the crap we have our fingers into across the globe.
Yes, we hear rumors of impending third world war, however if it was meant to be, it WILL BE, I just hope the people of this planet have better sense than that, and can defuse the bullshit before the first button is pushed, otherwise, we are all in fact going to be part of a mass genocide of our species.
This is why it is so important to support the peaceful protests and spread the word to keep them fueled and to try to KEEP the peace, because it is the love of humanity that keeps us strong and quite possibly the one single thing that can save our scrawny necks. Meantime, the masses sit and watch, just be careful and do not fall prey to the medias gross twisting and manipulating of facts. STAY STRONG and give the same message to your loved ones!
Edna Utter we're not supposed to have any national religion in the US. Obama was correct when he said that, but its just the type of thing that gets christians hopping mad when they hear it.
Edna Utter NO we are NOT a Christian Nation… History shows a long ugly blood trail left by Christians… and we are NOT then we were founded on the CONSTITUTION not the christian bible and we have a unified
faith in God, but we are NOT all christian… not by a long shot.
[correction "We are not THEM"]
aaww did the big bad lady offent the world by standing for Peace? sowweeee
taking sides in the middle East is stupid… there are not TWO countried over there that even LIKE each other.. they want nothing but hate and death to eachother and many wish death to all who are not them.
But we should never confuse The will of Governments with the will of people the People!!
My Uncle wants his friends back that Died on the USS Liberty.
Joop Kaashoek You obviously never watch the news or even know anything about obama, he is a muslim, and is a liar, so shut the hell up unless you know what you are talking about. You people who defend him don't even know who he is, study more before you make judgement.
Oh, and one more thing, Obama is the only president who has broken more laws than Nixon and should have been impeached a long time ago. He is also the only president who has continually insulted Israel, and sent our soldiers to fight muslim wars and ordered them to kill christians. So all you so called christians who back him need to do your homework before the next election, instead of voting for him because you think he is cleaning up Bush's mess. He has passed so many ungodly, unconstitutional laws he should be in jail, not the president of the United States, and thanks to his crooked administration, we have over one hundered million people here in the US that are homeless and senior citizens being put out on the streets because medicare no longer pays all of nursing homes. So screw all you idiots who support him you will suffer and everyone else, do your homework!
Frances Marie Hickman , Obama may be the damned tooth fairy, but what's your point? Telling someone to "shut the hell up" is not an argument. What news are you watching?
I think it is a double standard. The consensus of the international community to protect human rights suggests that to segregate or to favour one group of people over another is contrary to internationally accepted principles of human rights. The international community has agreed that all people have the right to be treated equally in their natural rights. This is enumerated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Everyone has the choice of religion, and the document emphasizes that in any nation, or any territory in the world, all people have the right not to be discriminated against for their beliefs. Thus to create a state that is focused on one religion over another, discriminates against those that are not of that group and is therefore intrinsically against the consensus of the international community. Whether it be a Muslim state, Jewish state, Catholic state, or any other religion based system, discriminating against those not belonging to your group flies in the face of the principles of human rights protection and the natural rights of all men and women that those principles protect. Thus to have a state that is Catholic, Muslim, Jewish or any other religion discriminates against the natural rights of all people. Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights states…."Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance" and Article 7 states "all are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination." Therefore no state has the right to discriminate based on religion. To base a nation on a religion discriminates against everyone in the world that does not belong to that religion and therefore such an act is inherently against the consensus of the international community. Over 190 nations in the world, more than 90% of the world's nations, have agreed to observe the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a requisite to becoming a member of the United Nations. This majority leads credence to the importance of accepting the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in international affairs today and suggests that creating or sustaining a state based on religion is contrary to the consensus and the rights of all people.