This is an area where Obama has surprised me (4.00 / 1)

in a good way. While the book hasn't been written, not by a longshot, I expected Obama to basically be another Clinton with Israel, meaning you vocally ask for peace and seem active but basically do nothing to really make Israel give substantive concessions. What's worse, you reflexively blame everything on the Palestinians and don't have the guts to publicly give Israel one iota of criticism, while private reports suggested otherwise.

Now Obama may still go down that route, but there have been positive signals that say he may not. First, he has not made it a point to constantly consult with Israel on every action taken, something Clinton did, to the frustration of Palestinians. He hasn't rolled out the red carpet for Israeli dignataries or gone out of his way to make a visit to Israel. Second, his state department, in an unprecedented move, has publicly called for Israel to join nuclear profileration treaties. Lastly, his NSA, Jim Jones, is on the record telling EU officials that they will be more forceful with Israel and will not be like Bush.

Of course these differences so far are not substantive, but its important when you understand the lengths to which Clinton and Bush went to not seem like there was any conflict with the Israeli government. When it came to Israel-American relations, the past 2 administrations basically relayed every decision and intention back to Israel to make sure they were on board. In many ways Clinton was worse than Bush because he convinced the world that he was an honest broker, a laughable proclamation. So when he proclaimed that Arafat killed the Tabba talks (a complete lie), it got traction in the complicit western media. At least with Bush everyone knew america was basically giving unconditional support to every Israeli decision, so there was no delusion.  

---

by: ai002h @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 19:35:59 PM CDT

Israel has become much more reactionary since the Hamas were elected (0.00 / 0)

They have given up all pretense of moderation so Obama really couldn't do what Clinton did.

But yeah this is one area where I have a lot of hope for Obama really making a difference.  Not just in Israel, but in the middleast and western asia.


http://transgendermom.blogspot....

---

by: transgenmom @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 08:55:29 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I wouldn't use the word 'reactionary',, (0.00 / 0)

Israel was and still is outraged at the defiance and show of strength of any Muslim refusing to kow tow to Israel's vile ethnic-cleansing arsenal stuffed with cluster bombs and white phosphorus thanks to the money and support of one-third of Congressional AIPAC-led Democrats, all of the Republicans,  Bill and Hillary Clinton and George W. Bush.

First Palestine.  Then Lebanon -repeatedly. Israel forces those they've oppressed and abused into electing as leaders, their strongest fighters to retaliate. We do the same here.

As a result of the above we also now have a gutless UN held hostage by the US,UK and Israel.

For every violation of humanity and International law committed by Israel the hatred towards America and Israel grows by volumes over and above that already caused Abu Gharib or Guantanamo.

But note this people:

Obama will be seen by the world, in particularly the Muslim world, as having committed the ultimate and more far reaching crime against humanity not just by his continued refusal to seek justice and accountability for any of the heinous acts done by any of the perpetrators - but because of who he is.

Nationalism is not the same thing as terrorism, and an adversary is not the same thing as an enemy.

---

by: worldlymother @ Sun May 17, 2009 at 11:08:59 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Obama peddles "hope" on a new frontier! (0.00 / 0)

Obama has given away $2.93 trillion to criminal bankers, and the economy is still sliding into the toilet.

The news from Iraq is bombs, bombs, bombs!

The Taliban is winning in Afghanistan.

"Where, O where, can I peddle my hope?"

I guess it was a choice between Israel and Guam.

So now we have another load of "change we can believe in"... for about 15 minutes.

How many West-Bank settlements will the wonder-man Obama uproot? And how will he uproot them? Is there a snow-flake's chance in hell that Israel will ever give up its nukes?

None of these questions will ever be answered by Barack Obama, because there's always another sucker somewhere to buy his snake oil...

...and doesn't he have a cute dog!

---

by: Jacob Freeze @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 21:37:19 PM CDT

2 state vision not enough but its a start (0.00 / 0)

The equivalency in the ad is a tad disappointing.  What is exactly meant by "failed leaders on both sides are pushing for deadend talks?"  Abbas is pushing for "dead-end"  talks?  Arabs have a reasonable proposal on the table..with no "dead-end" demands.

We need more than 2 state talks. We need regional talks that also ends Israeli occupation of Lebanon and Syria as well as de-nuclearization of the middle east.

Stage 2-end support for corrupt regimes in the region.

Stage 3 end militarization of the region.

Avaaz is hopeful in getting Obama the Timid moving towards an equivalency direction. I hope they succeed.  Although what is needed is a slightly pro-palestinian bias because of the huge power disparity between the parties.

---

by: amberwaves @ Sat May 16, 2009 at 23:12:36 PM CDT