Whoa... PM Netanyahu just apologized to Turkey over the Mavi Mamara - Relations back to normal?

Well now, the web of Middle East Politics gets even thicker... According to reports out of the Middle East, Prime Minister Netanyahu just apologized to Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan.

Ynet Reports:

In what can be called the first direct result of US President Barack Obama's visit, minutes after his departure, news of a US orchestrated reconciliation between Israel and Turkey breaks.

Reuters reported that Israel apologized to Turkey on Friday for killing nine Turkish citizens in a 2010 naval raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla leading Israel and Turkey, both US allies, to agree to normalize relations.

Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed an apology to the Turkish people for any error that may have led to the loss of life, and agreed to complete the agreement for compensation," an official Israeli statement said. 

Netanyahu and Erdogan "agreed to restore normalization between the two countries, including returning their ambassadors (to their posts)," the statement added.

A US official said "Erdogan accepted the apology on behalf of Turkey."

In addition at the Times of Israel

Erdogan also “withdrew” recent comments calling Zionism a crime against humanity, though he did not apologize for them, an informed source said.

“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two men agreed to restore normalization between Israel and Turkey, including the dispatch of ambassadors and the cancellation of legal steps against IDF soldiers,” Netanyahu’s office said in the statement

.

Netanyahu told Erdogan that he had “good talks” with Obama “on the issue of regional cooperation and the importance of Israeli-Turkish relations. The prime minister expressed regret over the deterioration in bilateral relations [with Turkey] and noted his commitment to working out the disagreements in order to advance peace and regional stability,” the statement added

.

“The prime minister made it clear that the tragic results regarding the Mavi Marmara were unintentional and that Israel expresses regret over injuries and loss of life. In light of the Israeli investigation into the incident, which pointed out several operational errors, Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized to the Turkish people for any errors that could have led to loss of life and agreed to complete the agreement on compensation,” the statement continued.

 So now the guessing game begins... What does this all mean?

My  take is that Iran and Hizbollah just got served a severe notice. You may ask "What does Iran have to do with this?".. Well let me tell you. This is an exercise so far in U.S. diplomatic power. First Kerry to Egypt.. and Egypt then immediately cuts off the tunnels at Rafah, and arrests Seven Palestinians planning a terror strike after stealing some Army uniforms.

Now we have this reconciliation with Turkey. This is starting to look like a regional agreement to stop Iran in it's tracks. With the Assad regime teetering and involved in a brutal Civil War (Syrian forces near the Golan were just recently overrun), Iran is running out of allies. And Israel and Turkey have been taking steps (independently) to control that.

IF Israeli and Turkish reconciliation could hold, this would be a powerful stopgap against both Hizbollah and either the Assad Regime (should it survive) or the Jihadi / Muslim Brotherhood State that seems to be emerging from the wreckage of the Assad Regime.

It is a bit curious that Erdogan would immediately promise full reconciliation though in light of his recent rhetoric (that earned a hearty "FUCK YOU") from this site. For those unfamiliar, Erdogan claimed that that Zionism was as bad as anti-Semitism and other "crimes against humanity".

Given this, I think we can assume that the U.S. either put heavy pressure on both Erdogan and Netanyahu, or he did something behind the scenes that made this all "magically disappear".

Please feel free to discuss. 
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Now the Hard Part begins....

As the President's trip to Israel winds down, and as Secretary Kerry gets ready to return to the area (he is supposed to return within 24 hours) to get serious about both security coordination with Israel with regards to Iran, Syria and Lebanon... the Secretary will also presumably be trying to jump start Peace Negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

This is where it gets difficult because to fulfill the Presidents vision of a viable Two State Solution he will have to work through some very tough forces against him.

From the Palestinian side you have The Salafists (who as a greeting to the President launched five Qassam Rockets) into Southern Israel.and who had this to say:

“The American president came here to divide Palestinians,” Sa’id Qasrawi, the spokesman of the Islamic bloc at Bir Zeit University, said. “He said there can be no peace with Hamas, and that he cannot support the Palestinian Authority while Hamas is present. We say: There can be no peace while the usurper entity Israel is present. We are the true owners of the land, and the Zionists must leave the land to its authentic owners.”

and:

The small Salafi group called Magles Shoura al-Mujahddin said in an Internet statement that it fired the rockets to show that Israeli air defenses could not stop attacks on the Jewish state during the visit.  ...

...."Responding to the bragging of the Roman dog and the war criminals of their so-called Iron Dome, we assert that all their military techniques will not stop God's destiny of tormenting them," the statement, posted on the Ansar al-Mujahideen website, which is used by Islamist terrorists, said.

As well as radicals in the Young radicalized Palestinian population who said:

At eleven o’clock, as a black helicopter began its descent, the demonstrators started marching toward the presidential palace, the Muqata. Now, it was the youth who were leading the chants, which were quickly becoming more fiery.

<em>“The people want RPGs, not [security] coordination and the CIA,” shouted one man. A young woman, unscarved and wearing tight jeans, cried out “no way to peaceful [resistance], only bullets and missiles.”</em>

 But these folks are not the only resistance to the Two State Solution stressed by the President.

Here is Deputy Defense Minister Naftali Bennett and Knesset Member Ayalet Shaked of HaBayit HaYehudi:

Here is Bennett:

<em>"The time has come for a shred of creativity and innovation in solving the conflict in the Middle East," Bennett said, challenging the wide acceptance of the two-state solution.

"Generally," the new minister added, "there is no occupation within one's own land."</em>

and Shaked:

<em>Knesset Member Ayalet Shaked, also from Habayit Hayehudi, said "Obama is a true friend of Israel, on this no one can argue. But at the end of the day, we are the ones who have to deal with the tragic and devastating consequences that are part of the establishment of a Palestinian state. <strong>That is the reason that just this week, the people selected a government that has no place for a two-state solution within its foundation.</strong>And if we are talking about Iron Dome, then the West Bank is our Iron Dome."</em>

There will certainly be more lunacy from both sides, as the various blogospheres collect and analyze the Presidents speech.  

Still, these two points (the Palestinian One State Solution folks and the Israeli One State solution folks) of view will make the Presidents vision that much more difficult to attain. Particularly as Hamas and the Salafist groups gain popularity in the West Bank and within the Palestinian polity as well, AND the Israeli government that is represented across almost all of it's Security or National Security areas by those who directly and outwardly oppose the Two State Solution. 

As I have written elsewhere on this blog that I think The Two State Solution is eventually going to happen, I think it is important we work towards this goal to avoid the bloodshed that will force this situation. 

I am curious to see what our  policies going forward will be but, even while I foresee American reticence to support the Israeli settlement enterprise in the Occupied Territories of the West Bank, I also foresee America's push against Palestinian radicalism and jihadi sympathies. 

"Atem Lo Lavad" - The President in Jerusalem

There are times when one can truly enjoy political speeches and feel that a speech has historic ramifications, that it is not just some stump speech made for press releases. Earlier today in Jerusalem, I think President Obama made one of these speeches. I had the pleasure of listening to President via POTUS and I heard the enthusiasm of the Israeli crowd that greeted his comments.

Of course, what everyone will remember about this speech is when President Obama uttered the words "Atem Lo Lavad" - "You are not alone" to thunderous applause from the crowd.

Once again I have to give credit to the Transcript Editors at Daily Kos for their transcript of the President's Speech in J'Slem.

Here is context and that passage:

For young Israelis, I know that these issues of security are rooted in an experience that is even more fundamental than the pressing threat of the day. You live in a neighborhood where many of your neighbors have rejected your right to exist. Your grandparents had to risk their lives and all they had to make a place for themselves in this world. Your parents lived through war after war to ensure the survival of the Jewish state. Your children grow up knowing that people they have never met hate them because of who they are, in a region that is changing underneath your feet.

So that is what I think about when Israel is faced with these challenges – that sense of an Israel that is surrounded by many in this region who reject it, and many in the world who refuse to accept it. That is why the security of the Jewish people in Israel is so important – because it can never be taken for granted. But make no mistake: those who adhere to the ideology of rejecting Israel’s right to exist might as well reject the earth beneath them and the sky above, because Israel is not going anywhere. Today, I want to tell you – particularly the young people – that so long as there is a United States of America, Ah-tem lo lah-vahd.(vb1 emphasis)

But what struck me as much as this speech was the thunderous applause from the Israeli students particularly when the President spoke of Peace. Remember one difference between these students and students in America. For the most part, these students are Veterans of the Military. In Israel, most people go into the Armed Services right after High School and THEN go to college. So an important distinction was that he was able to talk to people that know what conflict and War are about first hand.

In listening to the speech, there was not silence (no matter what lies the Right Wing tells) regarding his calls for a Two Street Solution. In fact, I heard strong applause for those words. Here are some that I felt spoke to the heart of the matter:

I know Israel has taken risks for peace. Brave leaders – Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin –reached treaties with two of your neighbors. You made credible proposals to the Palestinians at Annapolis. You withdrew from Gaza and Lebanon, and then faced terror and rockets. Across the region, you have extended a hand of friendship, and too often have been confronted with the ugly reality of anti-Semitism. So I believe that the Israeli people do want peace, and you have every right to be skeptical that it can be achieved.

But today, Israel is at a crossroads. It can be tempting to put aside the frustrations and sacrifices that come with the pursuit of peace – particularly when an Iron Dome repels rockets, barriers keep out suicide bombers, and so many other pressing issues demand your attention. And I know that only Israelis can make the fundamental decisions about your country’s future.

I also know that not everyone in this hall will agree with what I have to say about peace. I recognize that there are those who are not simply skeptical about peace, but question its underlying premise, and that’s a part of democracy and the discourse between our two countries. But it is important to be open and honest with one another. Politically, given the strong bipartisan support for Israel in America, the easiest thing for me to do would be to put this issue aside, and express unconditional support for whatever Israel decides to do. But I want you to know that I speak to you as a friend who is deeply concerned and committed to your future, and I ask you to consider three points.

First, peace is necessary. Indeed, it is the only path to true security. You can be the generation that permanently secures the Zionist dream, or you can face a growing challenge to its future. Given the demographics west of the Jordan River, the only way for Israel to endure and thrive as a Jewish and democratic state is through the realization of an independent and viable Palestine. (vb1 emphasis) Given the frustration in the international community, Israel must reverse an undertow of isolation. And given the march of technology, the only way to truly protect the Israeli people is through the absence of war – because no wall is high enough, and no Iron Dome is strong enough, to stop every enemy from inflicting harm.

This was strongly applauded, and rightly so. The President is talking about securing the Zionist dream of David Ben Gurion. A dream that saw Israel as both Jewish AND Democratic. And the President is absolutely 100% right. As the great Abba Eban once said:

1. Israel can be a Democratic State
2. Israel can be a Jewish State
or
3. Israel can be a State from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. 

But Israel can only be two of the three, It cannot be all of them unless it is willing to destroy it's very soul through massive ethnic cleansing, and then honestly... what kind of democracy would it really be then, more than that what kind of Jewish State would it really be?

Of course the President is well aware of what he is dealing with when it comes to asking the Israelis to make Peace with the Palestinians. I am bolding some of the important things I think need to be emphasized.

Only you can determine what kind of democracy you will have. But remember that as you make these decisions, you will define not simply the future of your relationship with the Palestinians – you will define the future of Israel as well. As Ariel Sharon said, “It is impossible to have a Jewish, democratic state and at the same time to control all of Eretz Israel. If we insist on fulfilling the dream in its entirety, we are liable to lose it all.” Or, from a different perspective, think of what David Grossman said shortly after losing his son, as he described the necessity of peace – “a peace of no choice” he said, “must be approached with the same determination and creativity as one approaches a war of no choice.”

"Of course, Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with anyone who is dedicated to its destruction."

A direct reference to understanding that Hamas is certainly no partner for Peace and until they undergo transformative changes, never will be.

...Negotiations will be necessary, but there is little secret about where they must lead – two states for two peoples. There will be differences about how to get there, and hard choices along the way. Arab States must adapt to a world that has changed. The days when they could condemn Israel to distract their people from a lack of opportunity are over. Now is the time for the Arab World to take steps toward normalized relations with Israel. Meanwhile, Palestinians must recognize that Israel will be a Jewish state, and that Israelis have the right to insist upon their security. Israelis must recognize that continued settlement activity is counterproductive to the cause of peace, and that an independent Palestine must be viable– that real borders will have to be drawn. I’ve suggested principles on territory and security that I believe can be the basis for talks. But for the moment, put aside the plans and process. I ask you, instead, to think about what can be done to build trust between people.

Over all, what can I say... I have go with "Kol HaKavod Mr. President". One thing that is interesting is the Times of Israel OP-ED piece that leads on their Front Page:

The Stirring Speech of a Left Wing Zionist

By the end, the students were applauding almost every sentence. They stood and cheered when it was over, roaring their approval. 

Barack Obama, widely perceived by Israelis before this visit as a cold president, a leader dutifully supporting Israel but lacking any real empathy for it, transformed that image in the course of the powerhouse central address of his visit here on Thursday afternoon — for the 1,000 ecstatic young Israelis in Jerusalem’s International Conference Center, and doubtless for many, many Israelis watching on live television nationwide.

He knew, he told the listening Israelis, that you live in a region in which many have rejected your very right to exist. He knew, he said, that the security of the Jewish people in Israel cannot be taken for granted. He knew Israel had seized opportunities for peace with Egypt and Jordan under Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin, and tried hard to make peace with the Palestinians, including under Ehud Olmert at Annapolis. He knew that the 2000 Lebanon pullout and the 2005 Gaza withdrawal had been met with rocket fire, and that “the hand of friendship” had too often been met with rejectionism and terror.

He knew. He understood. He empathized. And yet, he argued, there was no choice but to keep trying. A democratic, Jewish Israel requires a Palestinian state, he said. He quoted Ariel Sharon — seek to maintain the entire Land of Israel and you risk losing it all. The Palestinians deserve a state, he said. Israelis deserve it. It’s the only path to security, to an end to isolation, to that better future.

Being that this is a Center / Center Left Zionist site... this is what we have been saying about the President all along. He IS a Zionist, he just does not define his Zionism by the terms that Rightists and/or Republicans here in the U.S.insist upon. Frankly, he shouldn't either. Just because the Rightists and their cadres insist on something, doesn't mean it has to be and if they are too stupid to realize this... well that's their problem.

Kudos Mr. President. Once again you make America Proud.

We improve our Gene Pool by Marrying Women who are better than we are... Musing by Pres. Obama and PM Netanyahu

One more time I have to thank the transcripts editors at Daily Kos for the complete transcript on the joint press conference with President Obama and PM Netanyahu. Which included this gem:

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Thank you. Well, thank you, Prime Minister Netanyahu, for your kind words and for your wonderful welcome here today.  And I want to express a special thanks to Sara as well as your two sons for their warmth and hospitality.  It was wonderful to see them.  They are -- I did inform the Prime Minister that they are very good-looking young men who clearly got their looks from their mother.  (Laughter.)

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU:  Well, I can say the same of your daughters.  (Laughter.)

PRESIDENT OBAMA:  This is true.  Our goal is to improve our gene pool by marrying women who are better than we are.

Being in one of those marriages (marrying out of my looks class), I can appreciate the sentiment that these men express here and I can appreciate the humor and good will that goes into these comments. 

On a more serious note, it seems like the discussions between the President and Mr. Netanyahu went well.

Some excerpts:

In the opening statements:

From Mr. Netanyahu:

Let me conclude, Mr. President, on a personal note.  I know how valuable the time and the energy is of the American President, of yourself.  This is the 10th time that we have met since you became President and since I became Prime Minister.  You’ve chosen Israel as your first venue in your visit, your foreign visit in your second term.  I want to thank you for the investment you have made in our relationship and in strengthening the friendship and alliance between our two countries.  It is deeply, deeply appreciated.

 From President Obama:

As Bibi mentioned, this is our 10th meeting.  We’ve spent more time together, working together, than I have with any leader.  And this speaks to the closeness of our two nations, the interests and the values that we share, and the depth and breadth of the ties between our two peoples.

As leaders, our most solemn responsibility is the security of our people -- that’s job number one.  My job as President of the United States, first and foremost, is to keep the American people safe.  Bibi, as Prime Minister, your first task is to keep the people of Israel safe.  And Israel’s security needs are truly unique, as I’ve seen myself.  In past trips I visited villages near the Blue Line.  I’ve walked through Israeli homes devastated by Hezbollah rockets.  I’ve stood in Sderot, and met with children who simply want to grow up free from fear.  And flying in today, I saw again how Israel’s security can be measured in mere miles and minutes.

As President, I’ve, therefore, made it clear America’s commitment to the security of the State of Israel is a solemn obligation, and the security of Israel is non-negotiable.

to that end the President made this announcement:

I’m also pleased to announce that we will take steps to ensure that there’s no interruption of funding for Iron Dome. As a result of decisions that I made last year, Israel will receive approximately $200 million this fiscal year and we will continue to work with Congress on future funding of Iron Dome.  These are further reminders that we will help to preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge so that Israel can defend itself, by itself, against any threat.

So with the passage of the Senate Bill on spending today to blunt some of the most egregious aspects of the Republican sequester, I guess the President will be clearing the way for continued funding of Iron Dome. That is important given the instability and advances in the region by Iranian Hegemonistic forces.

On Egypt:

With Egypt going broke, the U.S. has some tough choices to make. It seems that it has made the call to continue to support the Egyptians democratic choice of government, the government of President Morsi, but has hinged aid (which Egypt desperately needs) on that government cutting off the flow of arms to Hamas and for it's adherence to the Peace Treaty with Israel. Egypt so far has done just that. Despite it's crazy rhetoric, it by and large has adhered to the agreements of the treaty and even just last week shut down tunnels going into Gaza. Oh and earlier this week the Egyptians just arrested Seven Palestinians who were stealing uniforms from Egypt to use to plan an attack.

And since the only alternative is to cut off the Egyptian funding which would then lead to Egypt seeking funds from Iran and it's allies, (imagine what the Egyptians would do in that case), the President in my view is doing the right thing here. Adhering to the Democratic wishes of it's neighbor AND ensuring the well being of it's allies.

As the President said:

We also reaffirmed the importance of ensuring Israel’s security given the changes and uncertainty in the region.  As the United States supports the Egyptian people in their historic transition to democracy, we continue to underscore the necessity of Egypt contributing to regional security, preventing Hamas from rearming and upholding its peace treaty with Israel.

 On Syria: 

The President spoke earnestly about Syria particularly in light of reports that there was a chemical weapons attack in Syria by Rebel Forces. He was asked what he planned to do about it, and said... (in short) that he wants to gather more information regarding what happened. A reasonable response as these reports are new. 

With respect to chemical weapons, we intend to investigate thoroughly exactly what happened.  Obviously, in Syria right now you've got a war zone.  You have information that's filtered out, but we have to make sure that we know exactly what happened -- what was the nature of the incident, what can we document, what can we prove.  So I've instructed my teams to work closely with all of the countries in the region and international organizations and institutions to find out precisely whether or not this red line was crossed.

I will note, without at this point having all the facts before me, that we know the Syrian government has the capacity to carry out chemical weapon attacks.  We know that there are those in the Syrian government who have expressed a willingness to use chemical weapons if necessary to protect themselves.  I am deeply skeptical of any claim that, in fact, it was the opposition that used chemical weapons.  Everybody who knows the facts of the chemical weapon stockpiles inside Syria as well as the Syrian government's capabilities I think would question those claims.  But I know that they're floating out there right now.

The broader point is, is that once we establish the facts I have made clear that the use of chemical weapons is a game changer.  And I won't make an announcement today about next steps because I think we have to gather the facts.  But I do think that when you start seeing weapons that can cause potential devastation and mass casualties and you let that genie out of the bottle, then you are looking potentially at even more horrific scenes than we've already seen in Syria.  And the international community has to act on that additional information.

 On Iran and Security

Basically the President and the PM agreed here that Iran is about a year from developing a bomb.

PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU:  I think that there's a misunderstanding about time.  If Iran decides to go for a nuclear weapon -- that is, to actually manufacture the weapon -- then it probably -- then it would take them about a year.  I think that's correct.  They could defer that a long time but still get through the enrichment process -- that is, to make a weapon you need two things; you need enriched uranium of a critical amount and then you need a weapon.  You can't have the weapon without the enriched uranium, but you can have the enriched uranium without the weapon.

Iran right now is enriching uranium.  It’s pursuing it.  It hasn’t yet reached the red line that I had described in my speech at the U.N. -- they're getting closer, though.

And the question of manufacturing the weapon is a different thing.  The President said correctly that we have -- on these issues that are a little arcane, they sound a little detailed to you -- but on these matters we share information and we have a common assessment.  We have a common assessment.

In any case, Iran gets to an immunity zone when they get through the enrichment process, in our view -- in our view -- and whatever time is left, there's not a lot of time.  And every day that passes diminishes it.  But we do have a common assessment.  On the schedules, on intelligence, we share that intelligence and we don't have any argument about it.  I think it's important to state that clearly.

I think that people should get to know President Obama the way I've gotten to know.  And I think you've just heard something that is very meaningful.  It may have escaped you, but it hasn't escaped me.  And that is the President announced that in addition to all the aid that his administration has provided -- including Iron Dome, including defense funding for Israel during very difficult times -- he has announced that we are going to begin talks on another 10-year process arrangement to ensure American military assistance to Israel.  I think this is very significant.

 Please read this whole transcript it is very telling and very important.

The President's Trip - An Opinion

The President is in Israel and I for one think this trip is a very positive reinforcement of the President's Pro-Israel, Pro-Two State agenda. For me, the trip cements some opinions of the President that I have held from the very beginning that President Obama is a great and solid friend to both Israel and the Jewish people.

What does this trip tell me?

1. Well, the President is now in his second term. He is done campaigning. He certainly didn't have to make this trip, he doesn't need the help from Jewish voters in swing states anymore.. YET... he still goes to Israel to re-affirm our friendship and commitments to Israel and it's security. Unlike the screeching of Jennifer Rubin and her usual nonsense (I still can't figure out how anyone who gets everything so wrong manages to have a column at the Washington Post but we'll leave that for another day), the President's words are very important.

In his speeches and discussions today, the President laid his understanding of exactly what the State of Israel means to both the Jewish people and the world. But, not only are his words important for Israelis (who are fed a strict diet of FOX News and U.S. Republican nonsensical garbage) to hear, but they are important that the Palestinians and Arabs hear them as well. Because no matter what he says to them, they have been told in very clear and unequivocal terms that the U.S. understands that Israel IS the National Homeland and State of the Jewish people.

2. His third trip to Israel gives President Obama a chance to directly speak to the Israeli people, side-stepping the machinations of the Right Wing, that are completely distraught and feinting at the possibility that their lies regarding the President be exposed. I think he will be clear that he does not call for "retreat to the 1967 borders", a myth that is spread by the right, despite all the availability of transcripts and documentation that he believes in something more akin to the Olmert plan of 2007-08.

Too much of the President's words and actions have been lost to the machinations of the punditry on the Right, who will stop at nothing, tell any lie and twist any truth just to make sure that people believe the worst in President Obama. BUT his history of support, in the U.N., with increased foreign aid (though the "sequester" does threaten some of that), with strongly enhanced security and intelligence cooperation between the two nations tells the TRUTH regarding his friendship.

Now will the Israeli Right (and their American cohorts) be happy regarding any of the President's trip to Israel. I sincerely doubt it. Up until now, they have been the ones to frame the discussion around Israel with their "Agree with us 1000% or you are no friend to the us", lessons learned from the Republican Teahadists here at home.

But this shouldn't be the case. It's time that those of us in the Center and Left stood up to the Republicans and Rightists and hold them accountable for their nonsense. First of all, all of those fans of Mitt Romney, refused to say what Mitt would have done differently. Further, Mitt himself said there was nothing he would have done differently. For instance when pressed on Egypt. Romney stated:

MR. SCHIEFFER: Governor Romney, I want to hear your response to that, but I would just ask you, would you have stuck with Mubarak?

MR. ROMNEY: No, I believe, as the president indicated and said at the time, that I supported his — his action there. (vb1 emphasis)  I felt that — I wish we'd have had a better vision of the future. I wish that, looking back at the beginning of the president's term and even further back than that, that we'd have recognized that there was a growing energy and passion for freedom in that part of the world and that we would have worked more aggressively with our — our friend and with other friends in the region to have them make the transition towards a more representative form of government such that it didn't explode in the way it did. But once it exploded, I felt the same as the president did, which is these — these freedom voices in the — the streets of Egypt where the people who were speaking of our principles and the — the — President Mubarak had done things which were unimaginable, and the idea of him crushing his people was not something that we could possibly support.

And why should they own up to this? It doesn't fit their meme that President Obama is no friend to Israel. I mean the guy they were voting for ADMITTED he would do the same.

These are the messages that the Israelis need to hear. Not some spinning FOX head who simply makes up the news wholesale.

But more importantly the President (AS EVERY OTHER AMERICAN PRESIDENT SINCE 1967) has re-affirmed the American commitment to the Two State Solution. The Rightists who now are in J'slem, from the Deputy FM Ze'ev Elkin to the Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon, to DM Moshe Ya'alon, to Naftali Bennett and his entire HaBayit HaYehudi Party are firmly AGAINST the two State solution. They have come out with an annexation plan for the Occupied West Bank.

So are we to let these people frame the argument of who is for Israel and who is not? I say no. I stand with our President and the Israeli Center / Center Left in their calls for Two State solution. It is the only way that Israel will remain a vibrant and Jewish Democracy. The President's actions and speeches have stood up to help support Israel in the long run. That is good enough for me, and I as a strong supporter of Israel am glad that Barak Obama is indeed President of the U.S. and is a strong friend to Israel. 

President Obama's trip to Israel Part One

President Obama's much anticipated trip to Israel is on... Courtesy of Transcripts at Daily Kos, here are the President's opening remarks during his arrival ceremony. And here are some excerpts.

I’m so honored to be here as you prepare to celebrate the 65th anniversary of a free and independent State of Israel.  Yet I know that in stepping foot on this land, I walk with you on the historic homeland of the Jewish people.

More than 3,000 years ago, the Jewish people lived here, tended the land here, prayed to God here.  And after centuries of exile and persecution, unparalleled in the history of man, the founding of the Jewish State of Israel was a rebirth, a redemption unlike any in history.

Today, the sons of Abraham and the daughters of Sarah are fulfilling the dream of the ages -- to be “masters of their own fate” in “their own sovereign state.”  And just as we have for these past 65 years, the United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally and your greatest friend.....

....So as I begin this visit, let me say as clearly as I can --the United States of America stands with the State of Israel because it is in our fundamental national security interest to stand with Israel.  It makes us both stronger.  It makes us both more prosperous.  And it makes the world a better place. 

That’s why the United States was the very first nation to recognize the State of Israel 65 years ago.  That’s why the Star of David and the Stars and Stripes fly together today.  And that is why I’m confident in declaring that our alliance is eternal, it is forever – lanetzach.

Powerful words that send a message to both those Israelis and those around the world that the U.S. recognizes the long history of the Jewish people and our connection to the land. Considering the delegitimization efforts on the parts of the new anti-Israel movement, the President's powerful statements send a message that these efforts will not succeed.

Also (again thanks to the Transcripts editors at DKos.. here are the President's remarks with President Obama and President Peres):

In this, President Peres spoke about the terror that is faced from Hamas rockets but also the threat from Syria and having their chemical weapons stock fall into Jihadi hands. And he ended with these words:

"Your visit is a historic step in that direction.  We shall journey with you all the way.  Thank you."

President Obama responded with this:

"Well, thank you, President Peres, for your very generous words and your warm welcome.  It is wonderful to be here once again.  I first visited you when I was still a senator and had the opportunity to visit the lovely garden, and for me to be able to bring a tree from the United States that will find a home in that garden I think is symbolic of not only the friendship between our two nations, but between the two of us personally...

Their (Israeli children's) dreams are much the same as children everywhere.  In another sense, though, their lives reflect the difficult realities that Israelis face every single day.  They want to be safe.  They want to be free from rockets that hit their homes or their schools.  They want a world where science and technology is created to build and not destroy.  They want to live in peace, free from terror and threats that are so often directed at the Israeli people.  That’s the future that they deserve.  That’s the vision that is shared by both our nations.  And that is Shimon Peres's life work....

......This obligation to future generations I think was well symbolized by the tree planting that we started our meeting with. The Talmud recounts the story of Honi, the miracle worker, who saw a man planting a carob tree.  And he asked the man, how long before this tree yields fruit?  To which the man responded, “Seventy years.”  And so Honi asked, “Are you sure you'll be alive in another 70 years to see it?”  And the man replied, “When I came into the world, I found carob trees.  As my forefathers planted for me, so will I plant for my children.”

President Peres I think understands that story well.  And so we want to all thank you for all the seeds you’ve planted -- the seeds of progress, the seeds of security, the seeds of peace --  all the seeds that have helped not only Israel grow but also the relationship between our two nations grow.  And I believe that if we tend to them, if we nurture them, they will yield fruit in every hill and valley of this land, not only for the children we met today but for Israelis, for Palestinians, for Arabs across the region.  That's not only good for the children of this region, but it’s good for my children and the children of America."

Meanwhile the Times of Israel is "liveblogging" talks President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu

So far there is not much up but there is this:

Silvan Shalom, newly installed as a senior cabinet minister, says there isn’t much difference now between Israel and the US “as regards timing on Iran.”

Haaretz has posted a transcript of the Prime Ministers welcome speech to President Obama

On behalf of the government and the people of Israel, I come here today with a simple message for you and the American people: Thank you. Thank you for standing by Israel at this time of historic change in the Middle East.

Thank you for unequivocally affirming Israel’s sovereign right to defend itself by itself against any threat.

Thank you for enhancing Israel’s’ ability to exercise that right through generous military assistance, revolutionary missile defense programs, and unprecedented security and intelligence cooperation. (vb1 emphasis)

Thank you, Mr. President, for upholding the Jewish people’s right to a Jewish state in our historic homeland, and for boldly defending that right at the United Nations. And thank you for strengthening the unbreakable alliance between our two nations during your Presidency.

So far so good, of course there some rumblings from the Hard Right in Israel, rumblings that we have discussed here, with Naftali Bennett's party already "showing teeth" and the makeup of the new coalition already starting to show divides. As the TOI mentions:

Amir Peretz, the new environment minister, says he hopes the Obama visit will give “a start-up” to peace efforts with the Palestinians.

Just six hours into this visit, it’s already exposing the contradictions in Israel’s leadership. Peres calls Abbas a partner; Peretz and Livni, from the center-left Hatnua, speak of peace hopes. But Jewish Home’s Bennett says the talk of a Palestinian state is “surreal” — in a bad way. His colleague Uri Orbach says lots of Israelis aren’t sure Obama really cares about them. Peres says Israel “trusts” Obama on Iran. Is Netanyahu prepared to say that?

Of course Jennifer Rubin and the Republicans are already blathering about how the President really hates Israel and his "pretty words" don't really mean a thing, but, honestly what else are they going to say. After this visit their whole "masterpiece of bullshit" regarding the President will be blown away.

Meanwhile please follow the President's trip at the sources mentioned (except for at Daily Kos, where you can get the same vitriol as you can at MondoFront, or other hate sites). I will try to update as the stories come out.

A Conversation with a Friend - Just What do you stand for?

I was in an email conversation with a wise friend of mine and I was talking with him about what we saw as solutions to the issues in the Middle East. In that conversation he said to me:

"I need to get back to thinking about what I am for, not just what I am against."

Powerful statement regarding this blog, the "intertoobz" and everything that we seem to believe in lately. How much of our thinking is really based due to reactions to the anti-Semites and Israel / Jew Hate on the Left? How much of our thinking is based around the insane and hateful rhetoric on the Right.

For myself, lately a lot. I find myself tossing between being pushed towards relatively Rightist solutions because of the stupidity, hate, and vitriol I see spread towards Jewish people in public forums and in the news by the Palestinians and their supporters. At the same time I then wobble back to the Left when I see the absolute insanity and idiocy of the memes that are spread by the Right, with their own version of their noxious bigotry and brain dead generalizations.

Well, my friend's letter got me thinking and he is absolutely 1000% RIGHT! What is it that I am for? What is it that I expect others to be for given their circumstances and what are creative solutions to the problems that we face.

I have been as guilty as anyone else for participating and allowing these childish games of internet "I know you are but what am I" to be part of this blog. That comes from my own behavior as well. The fact that I would even engage with people who have no serious agenda and only come here to scold, or state their mindless propaganda, all the while offering absolutely content free comments that don't address anything ends today.

From now on, we discuss the issues and ONLY the issues. Enough of the negativity. From now on, the main question is "What are you for", "What do you represent". For posters who can't do this, don't post here. You are not welcome and you add absolutely nothing to the discussion. You don't have to agree with the philosophy of this site but you do have to actually stand for something and you do have to articulate what you stand for. Once you articulate that you have to be able to defend it. If you can't or won't defend the substance of your commentary then your comment will be deleted. No "ifs", "ands" or "buts".

SO... what am I for? I am for a few things:

1. I would like to see a "Liberal / Progressive" agenda in the United States of America, as the normative way that we as a nation conduct politics. I would like to see civil rights for all Americans to be respected. I would like to see an end to the politics of personal destruction that have invaded our system. I would like to see politicians talk about real reform and real solutions to problems. Right now the only people I see coming up with specific balanced approaches are the Democrats, I see nothing from the Republicans but vague talk about slashing "entitlements" AND cutting taxes for the Rich in some Randian theoretical frenzy.

2. Internationally, I stand for a strong yet sensible American presence. I believe that we have a responsibility as the most powerful nation on Earth to lead (but to lead with respect) people into new and better places, however, I also believe as a powerful nation we have a responsibility to our allies and friends to assist in their defense and well being. I think that we do need to be mindful though of our actions. In other words, I think we have to respect people and their beliefs and try to work with other cultures rather than purely against them.

3. Because this blogsite is called "The Progressive Zionist", it follows that I support "Progressive" to Center-Left policies in Israel, (hence the "Zionist" part). For Israel, a country that I love and I lived in (though I remain an American first and foremost), I believe in a Left-Center approach to both foreign and domestic Israeli policy. What does this mean... Well, on the Israeli domestic front I believe strongly in economic and social justice for all Israeli citizens. I believe that all citizens whether Arab or Jewish should have equal access to services and rights in the Israeli system. I do believe the system is unfair, and under the economic and social policies of the Netanyahu Government(s) I believe that the disparity is getting worse for both Jews and Arabs.

As for the Occupation... I believe that it is wrecking Israeli society and forcing the Israelis into a place that will compromise their integrity as a Jewish and Democratic State. I adhere to the formula Abba Eban came up with when he said:

1. Israel can be Democratic
2. Israel can be a Jewish State
3. Israel can be a State from the Med. to the Jordan,

But it can only be two of the three. It cannot be all three things unless the Israelis decide to commit acts of "ethnic cleansing". My feeling on the two of three things is that I think 1&2 are the most important things.

Anyway, that is where I stand. I am for a Liberal / Progressive Israel that is also a strong Social Democracy.

What are you for? What do you stand for?

The GateKeepers and what it has to tell us

Last night my wife decided to go on a "Downtown Abbey" watching binge.. I didn't want to go to bed and I sure didn't want to watch "Downtown Abbey" (I am just not much for those kinds of shows), SO at the last minute, I decided to go watch the late show of the Oscar Nominated Israeli film, "The Gatekeepers". For those who don't know this film here is the trailer:

To those of you who are familiar with the situation in the Israeli Palestinian conflict, I would say this film is a "must see".

In short this film features six heads of the Shin Bet (Israel's internal Security and anti-Terror agency) being interviewed regarding the Palestinians, Settlers and anti-Terror activities that these men oversaw. It is very telling in that all of these men talk about the importance and value of negotiations and how all of these men see their roles as both protectors of the Israeli people AND agents in a tactical war of retribution and security.

The interviewees seem to be honest (though there was evident "playing to the cameras in some questions") in their assessments regarding their jobs and the role in politics that they play. Sometimes brutally so. What struck me about all of these men was that none of them seemed to "enjoy" what they did (both good and bad). There is a sense they did what they felt they had to do, but under direct questioning that there was no sense of "triumph" in the long run. There seemed to be an almost sadness to these men as well as a desperate need to make sure that when history views them, it views them through the lens of those who tried to do the best possible job in very extreme circumstances.

Three things stood out for me. They were:

1. I would like to see a Palestinian version of this film if one could exist (interviews with the heads of Hamas security or Fatah security). One thing I saw from these interviews was that there was a great deal of regret over certain tactics that have been employed and the way these things were managed. Particularly when they talk about the assassination of Salah Shahade in Gaza where his wife and children were killed from a One Ton Bomb dropped on his home, and the regret they feel at this not having been a "clean" operation.

I do have to wonder if any of the Palestinians involved in mass killings of Jewish and American civilians would interview and say the same things. I am not sure that they would. I don't see a lot of self-reflection in the public statements from Palestinian leaders regarding this kind of thing. To me this is telling about the societies we live in. It is something that has always stayed with me from the time I lived in Israel. The Israelis may be good at certain things involving warfare, but, I don't know many of them who outright brag about inflicting civilian casualties, at least not the people who actually have been involved in that.

2. The part regarding Jewish Terrorism absolutely bothered me to no end. I remember when I lived in Israel talking with early people involved in the settlement movement (Geula Cohen in particular - I was doing a project on Tehiya while attending Hebrew University) and the things they said. To actually see that some of the people I was talking too (because I did talk to MK's that were hard Rightists) were involved in freeing those on the Hard Right that planned Terror actions is sobering. I mean planning to blow up 250 Arab civilians on buses or to bomb the Temple Mount... Who does these things, and why were those people allowed to run free? I mean, bombing the Temple Mount and bringing down Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock would literally start WWIII. What insane person does this? More than that, what insane people allow these people to go free.

ALSO, on Yigal Amir. The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin shook me to the core. When Carmi Gillon was talking about what happened, I was dumbfounded. And he was brutally honest as to what the Shin Bet thought the role that PM Netanyahu and PM Sharon played in that. Rabin was a great man, who had a vision and the Right destroyed that vision.

3. There will be a Third Intifada (although I pray to G-d it does not happen). I just don't see how with this new government there won't be. The movie gives tactical and somewhat strategic reasoning behind it... But what now for the Palestinians? They will have Gaza and that is pretty much it, at least IF this new administration gets it's way. If it won't then where are the plans on the table. Where even is the table? Moshe Ya'alon is pro-settlement and who is Deputy Minister of Defense... Naftali Bennett, a man who is outright in favor of the "One State Solution". So exactly what are Palestinians in the West Bank "playing" for. The Prime Minister has made vague noises about the Two State Solution but according to U.S. intelligence he is the only one in his party that actually even talks about it.

The GateKeepers is an intelligent film dealing with serious people talking about things they know. They don't screw around with political rhetoric and after dealing with the nonsense that is the internet, (including commentary on this blog), it was refreshing to see.

Please everyone who reads this (all 10 of you), please go see it, and then come back and let's discuss it. What was your "take away" from it?

The President's Trip to Israel

This week the President heads for a trip to Israel, Palestine and Jordan. Here is the White House' Youtube video on that trip.

I am looking forward to seeing what the President has to say when he gives his speech directly to the Israeli people. It probably won't change anything particularly with regards to the Palestinian situation and based on the new government in place, however, I think it is still excellent that he is talking directly to the Israelis.

I am particularly heartened that the President will be visiting Yad Vashem. As opposed to the nonsense spouted by his political opponents here, the Presidents visit there shows that he is willing to consider Jewish history and understands the impact of the Holocaust on our people.

For this trip, the Palestinians await the President with banners bearing Swastika's over his image (Kind of like a tea-party rally). Already they are gearing up to show the President just how much they don't like him, nor can they stand the fact that the President has been an excellent friend to the State of Israel and the Israeli people.

Palestinian Protestors prepare a "warm welcome" for U.S. President Obama

According to Ynet: 

The protestors some of whom belong to organized Palestinian movements while others are relatives of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel, convened just dozens of meters away from the Church of the Nativity, removed the billboard and then proceeded to drive away with the billboard.

They then spray painted the billboard with swastikas and a large – "X" over Obama's face. Incidentally, at the same time a convoy of American cars passed by. One of the protestors threw a shoe at the convoy and fled.

There has been a major Palestinian outcry against the proposed visit since the US president announced his intentions of including Ramallah and Bethlehem in his trip.

Of course the lunatic fringe in the U.S. can't help but to disparage the President either with this completely disrespectful comment:

My suggestion to the Israelis is to ignore the guy as much as politically possible.  Be nice to him. Feed him a good lunch and dinner.  Pat him on the head.

And then send him on his merry way. 

At least the poster didn't add the phrase "like a good boy". I suppose we should be thankful for small favors (/snark). I guess the sickness that is Obama Derangement Syndrome (ODS) would lead people to completely disrespect their own President even when he is traveling overseas as a representative of the American People.

But I guess these fringers of the Hard Right can take comfort that those on the Hard Left think the same way.
Funny how that works.


 

The Numbers are in... More Americans sympathize with Israel

There is a new Gallup poll out regarding Israel, and the numbers are both interesting and positive for Israel.

Here is the release from Gallup

Despite our Presidents love of the Muslim Brotherhood and Democrats and Liberals / Progressives all thinking that "blaming" Israel for all of their own  problems is the way to go (/snark if people are really too dumb to think I believe this nonsense spread by the RJC, ODS Crowd, and their minions), the American people's support / sympathy for Israel is at it's highest levels since the Gulf War of 1991.

As Gallup sums it up:

Bottom Line

Americans' sympathy for Israel is at a high-water mark as President Obama travels there for what is being described as a "maintenance" visit, not a high-stakes effort to restart the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. Consistent with attitudes in the past decade, Republicans are significantly more supportive of Israel than are Democrats, although the majority of all party groups tilt toward Israel.

Younger Americans show less favoritism toward Israel than middle-aged adults and, in particular, seniors; however, they are no more likely to favor the Palestinians. They are simply less anchored about whom they favor. Palestinians receive the highest sympathy from Democrats, liberals, and postgraduates, but even among these, support tops off at 24%.

While it is true that Republicans and Conservatives do "support' Israel more than Democrats and Liberals - still the levels of support for the Palestinian cause amongst Americans is minimal.

Here is the raw data:

Republicans - 78% Israelis, 5 % Palestinians,  3% both, 6% Neither, 7% No Opinion
Democrats - 55% Israelis, 19% Palestinians, 7% both, 10% Neither, 10% Both
Independents - 63% Israelis, 11% Palestinians, 5% both, 15% Neither, 5% Both

Conservatives - 77%, 5% 3% 9% 6%
Liberals - 54%, 24%, 7%, 9 % 10%
Moderates - 58%, 12%, 15%, 7%, 8%

So really, MAJORITIES of both Democrats and Republicans... Liberals and Conservatives sympathize (or show favor to Israel).

Personally I think it is good to see that as Americans we can across the board support or friends and allies in Israel. We may not always agree with what they do, but, it is comforting to know that the Jewish people have a friend in the American Polity and that we can continue to hope that our polity continues to reflect it's friendship with the Israeli people and their continued fight to maintain their self-determination against those that would see them disappear

The Hamas Collaborators List

RE-PRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM Hey 338Too AT DAILY KOS

According to a variety of news sources, Hamas (the governing entity of the Gaza Strip) has compiled a list of people who are "collaborators" with the Israeli government.  True to their "progressive" nature, Hamas has given people on the list have until April 11 to turn themselves in, or they will be pursued without mercy.
To "sweeten" the deal:

anyone on this list of collaborators who hands themselves in to the authorities by 11 April will not be interrogated or imprisoned. (Author's note: Press TV reports that these cases will be "settled quietly").  It also offered a monthly salary to the informer's families.
...
and we will provide them with information to make sure they can make right their mistakes and thus protect resistance fighters.

So what happens if you don't turn yourself in?

During the fighting in November, Hamas executed seven people in the streets of Gaza, some of them summarily, for collaboration, even though some of them still had appeals of their convictions and death sentences pending in court. Fourteen other people have been convicted of collaboration and executed over the past three years.

According to the family of one of the those accused of collaborating:

ALHELOU: During the eight-day war, six Palestinians who were suspected of spying for Israel were kidnapped from their prison and killed by masked gunmen, who then chained the body of one of the alleged collaborators to a motorcycle and dragged them throughout the main streets of Gaza City. Following the incident, Mousa Abu Marzouq, Hamas's deputy leader, condemned what he described [as] the unlawful killing, adding that punishing collaborators, and especially those involved in the killing of leaders of Palestinian resistance groups, must only be carried out in accordance with the law and through the legal procedures.
...
WIFE OF EXECUTED COLLABORATOR (VOICEOVER TRANSL.): My husband spent three years in prison. The manner in which he was killed and dragged was inhumane. How would his three daughters and two sons feel when they grow up and see the footage? ABU REBHI BADAWI, FATHER OF EXECUTED COLLABORATOR (VOICEOVER TRANSL.): My son was accused of being a collaborator. We were shocked when we saw the footage of our son along five others executed and dragged in the streets by motorcyclists. We are still waiting to hear the results of the committee that was formed to investigate who killed him in that way and who gave the order.

Last week, Hamas' progressive bona fides were burnished even further by forcing the cancellation of an UN Relief and Works Agency marathon.  According to a Hamas spokesman:

Gaza’s Cabinet secretary, Abdul-Salam Siam, said women running in public violated Palestinian customs. “We don’t want women and men mixing in the same race,” Siam said. “We don’t want any woman running uncovered.”
Siam said girls could join the event, just not grown women (Authors note: "Say what?"). The race, scheduled for April 10, would have been the third annual marathon in Gaza. Siam would not say why Hamas did not ban women from the two previous races in 2012 and 2011.

According to Al-Jazeera:

"Hamas claims that women have never been allowed to run, which is not true, then they decided that only local women could run. Then they decided not to let any women participate," a diplomatic source in Gaza told AFP.

The UNRWA ran the marathon:

"The marathon was an annual event to show solidarity with the Palestinian people and to raise funds for summer camps organized by UNRWA which serve at least 250,000 schoolchildren," said Adnan Abu Hasna, the agency's media adviser in Gaza.

This is not the first time that Hamas and the UNRWA have been at odds:

But Hamas has frequently squabbled with UNRWA in a rivalry for the hearts and minds of Gaza’s people. Hamas has pressed the U.N. not to organize mixed folkloric dancing for boys and girls; to keep Holocaust education out of its curriculum and it has used harsh rhetoric against previous senior U.N. officials.

Hamas progressive fun fact:

Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip say safety concerns and social traditions, not Islamic religious values, are the main reason behind a decision to ban women from riding motorbikes and scooters.

Okie, Dokie... There is now a government in place.. What's on the Agenda?

Okie dokie... So now that the Israeli government is in place... What's going to be the agenda going forward particularly with regards to visit from President Obama, just a few short days away?

Well, we know that there is supposed to be a bill on a National Service Law within 45 days presented by Yesh Atid. Presumably this bill was part of the coalition deal that was signed by all of the parties, and that since the Haredi parties were/are not part of this coalition, this deal should most likely go through. However, 45 days in Israeli (or anyones politics) are a lifetime, so this one should pass unless something should unravel.

We also know that the threshold for new parties to enter Knesset (in the next election) will most likely be raised from 2-4%, which would cut out a number of smaller parties and would push voters into larger blocs.

And we also know that the number of ministerial positions will eventually be cut to 18. There are 21 ministers in the present government (down by a 1/3), but this is a change that will streamline the government and is part of Yesh Atid's platform of making the cumbersome Israeli government more efficient.

Here is what we don't know... We don't know what the socio-economic picture of Israel is going to look like as it is tied into a number of factors. PM Netanyahu promised reforms and however he has financial neophyte (by his own admission) Yair Lapid will be running finance. At the same time we have Naftali Bennett serving as head of the Socio-Economic committee of the Knesset. As Ynet reports

Bennett will also serve as chairman of a subcommittee of the Social-Economic Cabinet for standard of living affairs, economic concentration and competitiveness. "The committee will be established within 30 days after the government's establishment," the agreement states.

Bennett will serve as a member of the ministerial committee for privatization affairs and as the acting committee chairman....

Now here is Jewish Home's national economic ideas because from what I have seen they don't really have a "plan"... but they do have something that sounds a lot like the Republican program of "Compassionate Conservatism" (we all know how well that worked out): From the HaBayit HaYehudi website:

Free economy with compassion

---

The State of Israel is a remarkable economic success. However, s large part of the population has missed out on the fruits of this prosperity. We will act to provide equal opportunity that will allow every young person in Israel a chance to succeed. We are committed to improving education, increasing competition, breaking up monopolies and wherever possible, cutting taxes for Israel’s middle classes. Israel must provide a safety net allowing a decent standard of living for those, and only those, who are unable to provide for themselves.

Two things here:

1. As we in the U.S. know cutting taxes without curtailing government spending (BUSH) leads to serious fiscal issues. HaBayit HaYehudi (and their rightist allies in Likud-Betainu) are completely committed to the settling the West Bank. While Likud-Betainu seems to actually have no set position on anything (aside from making their corporate sponsors wealthier), HaBayit HaYehudi is very much interested in not only stepping up the settlement process but in actually annexing the entire West Bank (see their website for details). So the question becomes, IF they are going to CUT taxes, how are they going to pay for their annexation plans.

Keep in mind the U.S. and the European Union (Israel's main financial backers) are very much against this policy and the E.U. has gone so far as to discuss (though not approve) of sanctions. Now Rightist supporters of Israel say they can "go it alone". I would say to them... Really? You think? I don't see that at all. If Europe or the U.S. took economic action, it would severely hurt the nation.

Of course I am not suggesting that Israel should not try to maintain an independent outlook and put sole responsibility for it's security in the hands of others, but, I do think they have to be cognizant of what the economic reality of the nation's actions.

2. The second concerns are energy and water. The Israelis have done a great job in the Water department even in the face of increasing shortages through desalinization effort. But what about energy? Israel right now has two main sources one of which runs through the Sinai, now controlled by the Egyptian fundamentalist group the Muslim Brotherhood. So far, the Egyptians have been abiding by their treaty with Israel (thanks to active U.S. lobbying and assistance), but that could change with annexation, which would surely also re-ignite tension on the Southern Border.

This would leave the Leviathan fields open but those have yet to be developed so energy / revenue from their would be problematic until everything was fully operational. SO... how will this work. Israelis and supporters of Israel need to be asking these questions.

Finally, we come to the situation in the Occupied Territories and governance. Tzipi Livni, who signed onto the coalition over a month ago signed on with the guarantee that she would be Justice Minister AND that she would be in charge of negotiations with the Palestinians answerable only to PM Netanyahu. Everyone who knows anything about Livni knows that she has been an outspoken advocate of the Two State Solution. NOW, in this government it looks like she is going to lose that second part of her position (but, maintaining the Justice Ministry).

The agreement also states that Bennett will be part of a ministerial team established to promote the peace process with the Palestinians, which will be headed by Netanyahu alongside Justice Minister-designate Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister-designate Moshe Yaalon, Finance Minister-designate Yair Lapid and the foreign minister.

Why do I say this? Because, neither Lapid nor Bennett actually agreed to have Livni in that position and now with them in that team they can scuttle any real Two State talks that come up  Remember, Bennett favors annexation, and Ya'alon is not far behind there. SO.. how does the coalition keep it's promise to HaTanuah? My feeling is that they don't. But then again, Livni and HaTanuah were doomed from the start the second they signed that deal. They should have seen this coming and they didn't, so Bibi can chalk another "political kill" (Barak, Mofaz, and Livni) to his belt (I still think Lapid is next).

These are the things that Israelis should be asking about and what the government SHOULD be concerned with, not, with who gets the title of "Deputy Prime Minister" which in reality is the same as being called "Deputy Dog". Personally, I am not so sure exactly how this government will last but one never knows. My bet is that we see elections within 12 months though many people are predicting 18 months..

Shalom.

President Obama Talks to Israel's Channel Two

Ahead of his visit to Israel next week President Obama gave an interview to Israel's channel two

As reported in The Times of Israel and Haaretz the President discussed Iran and the threat that Iranian development of a nuclear bomb meant.

On the eve of his first visit to Israel as U.S. President, Barack Obama told an Israeli television network that "Iran possessing a nuclear weapon is a red line" for his administration....

...."I have been crystal clear about my position on Iran possessing a nuclear weapon - that is a red line for us", Obama said. "It’s something that would not only be dangerous for Israel but would be dangerous for the world [and would] be dangerous for U.S. national security interests". 

..."When I say that all options are on the table, all options are on the table", he said. "The United States obviously has significant capabilities … So when I say that we intend to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, that we’re going to pursue all avenues to make sure that that does not happen."

Kudos to the President for recognizing that steps need to be taken to stop a nuclear weapon BUT that the steps that need to be taken are all options before a major strike. At the current time, I don't think the U.S. (or Israel) should engage in a major military strike against Iran. I think there are other, much more effective ways to handle this and I am sure that the U.S. Government is on task here.

The President was also asked about a number of other things ranging from the Palestinian question to what his relationship with Bibi was, to what would happen to Jonathan Pollard, to what would he "really like to do in Tel-Aviv".

On Pollard the President had this to say:

Spy-for-Israel Jonathan Pollard “committed a very serious crime” and Obama has to follow the rules of review in his case. No plans to release him “immediately.”

But he’ll be “accorded the same kinds of review” open to any other individual. “I recognize the emotions involved in this… My first obligation is to observe the law” and ensure it is applied consistency. Lots of prisoners would like to be released early.

Again I say "Kudos" to the President. Jonathan Pollard was a spy for a foreign country feeding information on his own nation to that country. I don't care if that country was Israel, Pollard violated a trust with regards to the United States of America. As an American, I don't appreciate spies and traitors to our nation. I don't see why we should release Pollard at all. He spied on us, he should pay the price.

As for Israel.... Well, I think the President said it best, so I will simply pass his answer on:

“Some of this is politics… There are conservative views both here in the United States and Israel that may not jive with mine.” And those play out in election seasons. But “I’ve run my last election…” He wants to tell Israelis, he says, of his admiration for Israel’s history, core values, economic success and “the fundamental right of Israel to be secure as a homeland of the Jewish people, and its connection to the land.”

I don't think this could be put any better. And when he talks about the question of the Palestinian people I agree with him 1000%. I think they too need a homeland and to have recognition of their legitimate rights to self-determination. However, that this homeland CANNOT come at the expense of a secure Israel. The President rightly is concerned in this case when it comes to Hamas and their nature as a threat.

According to the TOI, they felt the President "sounded pessimistic" regarding results of talks. If polls of the Palestinians and the make-up of the next Israeli government are indicators... he should. The new Israeli government features a "hawkish" policy both on the International front AND with regards to the Occupation. With HaBayit HaYehudi joining the coalition (and having enough MK's to take down the coalition), they have a party dedicated to eventual annexation of the West Bank. Not too mention that the only person left in Likud who will even talk about a Two State Solution is the Prime Minister and he certainly is not a huge fan of it.

At the same time the Palestinian populace has moved much harder to the right and now is polling in support not only of Hamas, but in Hamas' tactics. See PSR Poll 46 just to see how much this has been the case. In either case, with both polities moving harder to the Right, this does not speak well for the future of any Peace negotiations.

On two lighter questions the President was asked how his relationship with PM Netanyahu was, to which he answered:

He’s met with “Bibi” more than any other world leader and has “a terrific, businesslike relationship.” It’s sometimes “blunt” but “we get stuff done.”

The US has a center-left government and Israel has a more conservative government, he allows.

“The bottom line is that Israel’s security is going to be at the forefront.” It’s not a factor of who’s president or prime minister.

“Any time you read something where the president allegedly said something in as private meting, I think you should … take that with a pinch of salt.”

Differences in policy, he stresses, “end up being bridged and resolved.”

Now, personally I am not sure that I would say that their relationship is "terrific", I can't see any indication of that whatsoever. It seems to me that they can and have worked together effectively in the last couple of years, but, I would not say that they are best buddies. But then again, I don't really care what their relationship is, as long as both American and Israeli interests are supported. They could hate each other with the power of Seven burning suns, but if the President keeps up his support for Israeli security in the manner he has, and the PM keeps up on supporting America the way he has, then whether they like each other is completely irrelevant to me and should be to anyone else.

Finally, the President was asked if there was anything in Tel Aviv that he would like to be able to do.

He says it would be great to wander through Tel Aviv in disguise and go to a university and have some conversations with students in informal settings… but that’s not possible. That really “chafes,” he says. “You can’t just slip out and interact with people without having a bunch of guys with machine-guns” hanging out with you.

Ventures Levy: There must be some compensations?

Obama: Well, there’s “a nice plane.”

All I can say it that I am glad this man is our President (I hope I would be, I voted for him) and that he is going to see Israel and cover off these important issues. I would love it if there was to a direct speech to the Israeli people from Rabin Square - I think that would be fitting. But I will take this visit and be glad.

Shalom.

Let's Make a Deal Israeli Style Part II - The Deal is Done

The other day I posted a story about Israel's impending coalition deal. Apparently, now it is done and Yesh Atid "won" the negotiations (although I still don't trust that Yair Lapid will be able to overcome the "Netanyahu Effect" once he is in office). Still... there is now a government in place. As posted at the Times of Israel:  Israel’s next government agreed: 4 parties, 68 members

The necessary legal documents were to be drawn up and signed Thursday, leaving Netanyahu free to formally inform President Shimon Peres on Saturday night — the final day of the six weeks allocated to him — that he has mustered a Knesset majority. The coalition will comprise four parties: Likud-Beytenu (31 seats), Yesh Atid (19), Jewish Home (12) and Hatnua (6), for a total of 68 members in the 120-seat Knesset.....

..Along with Piron at education, Lapid himself is set to serve as finance minister, and Yesh Atid will likely have three other ministers in a cabinet of 21-22 members. Bennett will be minister of economics and trade, and his Jewish Home party will have two more ministers, one of whom is likely to be Uri Ariel at Housing.

Bennett reportedly told Lapid that if he didn’t accept Netanyahu’s compromise offer, Jewish Home would sign a coalition deal without Yesh Atid

Also according to the TOI, Shas is also talking about joining the coalition. I am not sure how that will work since Shas would have absolutely no influence on anything and would be in constant conflict with Yesh Atid and to a degree with HaBayit HaYehudi, who are both seeking for strong reformation of the countries National Service Laws. But hey, if Eli Yishai thinks he can add to the equation or even effectively blunt what Y.A. and H.H. are saying then "more power to him" (though I don't think he can or frankly should be added).

One surprise for me is that apparently HaTanuah gets to keep their second post, the Environmental Ministry. Of course, Livni won't get a role that she wanted in leading Peace talks but it's hard to see that she even believed that she would given the make up of the ruling coalition.

As the dust settles and a HUGE internal fight within Likud, particularly between the newer, harder Rightist MK's and the old guard more moderate MK's we seem to be looking at this break down of ministries. Jeremy's Knesset Blog has a list of the probable Ministers so far:

Report: Probable look at Netanyahu government and his 21 ministers.

Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) Prime Minister , Minister of Foreign Affairs
Moshe Ya`alon (Likud) Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Defense
Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Finance
Naftali Bennett (Bayit Yehudi) Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy, Industry, Trade, and Labor, Minister of Religious Services, Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Jerusalem
Tzipi Livni (Livni Party) Minister of Justice
Gideon Sa`ar (Likud) Minister of Internal Affairs
Shai Piron (Yesh Atid) Minister of Education
Yitzhak Aharonovitch (Yisrael Beitenu) Minister of Internal Security
Uri Ariel (Bayit Yehudi) Minister of Housing and Construction
Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid) Minister of Health
Uzi Landau (Yisrael Beitenu) Minister of Tourism
Yisrael Katz (Likud) Minister of Transportation, National Infrastructure, and Road Safety
Yair Shamir (Yisrael Beitenu) Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Yael German (Yesh Atid) Minister of Welfare and Social Services
Yaakov Perry (Yesh Atid) Minister of Science and Technology
Uri Orbach (Bayit Yehudi) Minister of Culture and Sport
Amir Peretz (Livni Party) Minister of Environmental Protection
Sofa Landver (Yisrael Beitenu) Minister of Immigrant Absorption

Likud Ministers Erdan, Livnat, Shalom and Steinitz are expected to fight over these 4 portfolios:

Minister of Communications
Minister of Energy and Water
Minister of the Development of the Negev and Galil
Minister of Home Front Defence

Some interesting things here... The Right is fully in fully charge of International Affairs. Starting with the Foreign Ministry which apparently will be overseen by PM Netanyahu who is holding place for Avigdor Lieberman (until his legal troubles settle). Then you have Bennett controlling Diaspora Affairs and Jerusalem NOT to mention trade. You have YB in charge of Tourism and Immigrant Absorption.

At the same time the Center (Yesh Atid, and HaTanuah) have the more socially oriented Ministries

One other interesting thing to me (as a former athlete) is that YB gets Culture and Sports. This is important in the face of on-coming boycotts of Israel that are sure to exacerbated by HaBayit HaYehudi's and Rightist Likud Betainu's continuing push for a One State solution.

In the my last article I mentioned that the big winner was Naftali Bennet. This confirms it. Apparently he was the "lynchpin" in pulling together the Coalition deal. But also, he got the ministries and positions that he wanted. HaBayit Hayehudi and the Right are going to control the culture of Israel at least in this government.

So now I am going to wonder at how the moderates in Yesh Atid are going to play this one. They got what they wanted so they really can't complain, but, what happens when the issues around the Occupation and the budget needs for energy and resources start running into trouble due to Rightist actions.

This will be very interesting going forward.

.

Crazy Rightists of all stripes agree... President Obama should not visit Israel

This would almost like this could be from The Onion but, it's not. It is interesting to see though when the Lunatic Fringe's on the Hard Right and Hard Left totally agree on something (which of course makes those moderates feel that much more that they are right). But as the President gears up for his trip to the Middle East the nutty comments come out of the bag and for the most part, they all agree on one solid principle. They believe that President Obama should not go to Israel.



From the Lunatic Fringe on the Right, we have this:

Until we have a new administration it's best that Kerry and Obama and Hagel stay away from Israel.

These people cannot do any good because they simply do not understand Jewish history in the region and have no honest sympathies for those of us who live there.

They still believe that the reason that so many Arabs want to kill Jews is because the tiny Jewish minority are mean to the overwhelming Arab majority.  This is what "progressives," including "progressive Zionists," tend to believe.

The best that we can hope for is that Barack Obama will not cause even further damage than what he has caused already.  But I would not count on that.

Never mind that "progressive Zionists" think nothing of a sort except in the fevered minds and demented imaginations of the Lunatic Fringe, this is sort of fun to see. Even when this piece is written by an American who strangely talks as if he was Israeli - by saying <em>"Until we have a new administration"</em> (weird because in the U.S. we do have an administration). and that the President has <em>no sympathies for those of us who live there</em>.

It is interesting in that it assumes that the Presidents efforts to re-start the Peace process between Israelis and Palestinians are "damaging".

Of course, Lunatic Fringe on the Left has the same feeling saying:

A Palestinian grassroots group is planning demonstrations against expected American pressure to resume what it called “useless” negotiations.

“You are not welcome in Palestine,” read a meme on the Facebook page of Palestinians for Dignity, designed to resemble an immigration stamp in Obama’s passport.

Another satirical image on the page displays the US president as saying in Arabic, “American support for Israel is sacred and we must help it remain militarily superior.” An angry protester in a photo below responds in English, “this is a Welcome kiss from the Palestinian people, dog,” as he hurls a shoe at Obama, an Arab symbol of disdain

Not to be outdone.. Hamas called for "a day of Battle" where there might have to be "martyrs" 

Rumors that Obama intends to visit the al-Aqsa Mosque on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount persisted on Tuesday. In an op-ed titled “Receive Obama the way Sharon was received,” published Monday on Hamas’s news website Al-Resalah, columnist Mustafa Sawwaf called on Palestinians to confront “Zionists” on a daily basis ahead of Obama’s visit to the city.

“Palestinians everywhere should begin their activities with direct confrontation with the Zionists in preparation for Obama’s visit, even if this entails martyrs and injured [Palestinians] until the ominous day of the visit,” wrote Sawwaf.

“That should be the day of battle, the great day of mobilization worthy of the American president.”

So far though, the White House has resisted the calls from both of the Lunatic Fringes and is heading to Israel and Palestine to talk with both the Israelis and the Palestinians. The issue of whether Israel has a functioning government at that time (six days away) is important, but it is also important for the President to meet with various political leaders in Israel and get a sense for where things are going.

Personally I think it would be great of the President spoke directly to the Israeli people and it would be fitting that it be in no better place than Rabin Square so I hope he would do something like that. But in any case, it's good that he is heading to Israel with Sec. State John Kerry. This kind of engagement will only help a very tricky situation. 
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