Democrats to Obama: Ease pressure on Israel

10 Comments

1. 

   Hurria on June 3, 2009 at 2:37 am

   Would someone please point the way to the vomitorium?

2. 

   Oui on June 3, 2009 at 3:08 am

   .

   Politico: Democrats pressure Barack Obama on Israel

   Rep. Anthony Weiner, for example, said he would have liked to see President Obama pay more attention in his remarks to the Palestinian pledge to fight terrorism.

   “There’s a line between articulating US policy and seeming to be pressuring a democracy on what are their domestic policies, and the president is tiptoeing right up to that line,” Weiner said.

   The issue of the West Bank is … settled?  

   "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

   • 

     Mattes on June 3, 2009 at 9:22 am

     YES….let’s just let Israel get back to business as usual.

3. 

   Oui on June 3, 2009 at 3:36 am

   .

   US president unexpectedly joins meeting between Israeli defense minister, National Security Advisor Jones in Washington; Obama, Barak discuss American demand to halt West Bank settlement construction

   The gesture is meant to bestow honor upon the guest, but also makes it clear that the advisor’s positions reflect the president’s views.

   The president’s presence in the 90-minute meeting between Barak and Jones was not planned in advance. Obama and Barak reportedly discussed, among other things, the issue of a settlement freeze, which at this time is at the heart of the disagreements between US and Israel. However, officials at Barak’s entourage admitted later that the US did not rescinded its demand for a complete halt on settlement construction.

   During the meeting Barak presented Jerusalem’s position, whereby Israel is willing to remove 22 out of the 26 illegal outposts established in the West Bank after March 2001.

   Israel seeks affirmation of agreement between Bush and Sharon

   Catch 22 – does the fine print of the Bush Road Map and exchange of letters with Sharon fall in the same category: null and void at the end of my term in office?

   Barak also pointed out in his letter that when President Clinton presented his ideas, he had said that they would be rendered null and void at the end of his term of office .

   "But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

   • 

     Mattes on June 3, 2009 at 9:24 am

     That’s why there must be the establishment of a Palestinian state. No more happy talk.

4. 

   Knut Wicksell on June 3, 2009 at 5:38 am

   They can holler and sniff all they want, but in the end the pro-Israel Dems have to demonstrate why helping Israel is in the United States’ national interest, and not just Israel’s.  That the bottom line, and being responsible only for the American national interest, Obama is holding to it.  This ship has left the harbor.

5. 

   shergald on June 3, 2009 at 8:34 am

   A few Democrats in Congress, speaking the AIPAC line, is not unexpected. But is this voice representative of the majority of Democrats? I’ll believe it when I see it. Some normally strong proIsrael Jewish Democrats have even come out in support of Obama’s plan, like Ackerman and a few others.

   And what do the polls say about American opinion?

   • 

     Mattes on June 3, 2009 at 9:27 am

     For american’s opinion to change…they have to have access to the true cost of Israel amerca.

     That means unbias coverage of the history of Israel and the day to day news.

   • 

     Mattes on June 3, 2009 at 9:29 am

     Interesting article:

     http://thewildwildleft.soapblox.net/showDiary.do;jsessionid=16955041CEC5BD8E45739BA3090240D0?diaryId
     =2047

6. 

   Mattes on June 3, 2009 at 10:09 am

   Unlike the Bush/neo-con/Zionist Israel cabal, the Obama administration takes a step toward acknowleging their mistakes:

   U.S. Report Finds Airstrike Errors in Afghan Deaths

      

   WASHINGTON — A military investigation has concluded that American personnel made significant errors in carrying out some of the airstrikes in western Afghanistan on May 4 that killed dozens of Afghan civilians, according to a senior American military official.

   Lt. Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, President Obama’s nominee to be commander of American forces in Afghanistan, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee during a confirmation hearing on Tuesday.

   An inquiry looks at the cause of civilian deaths in Granai.

   The official said the civilian death toll would probably have been reduced if American air crews and forces on the ground had followed strict rules devised to prevent civilian casualties. Had the rules been followed, at least some of the strikes by American warplanes against half a dozen targets over seven hours would have been aborted.

   The report represents the clearest American acknowledgment of fault in connection with the attacks. It will give new ammunition to critics, including many Afghans, who complain that American forces too often act indiscriminately in calling in airstrikes, jeopardizing the United States mission by turning the civilian population against American forces and their ally, the Afghan government.

   http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/03/world/asia/03military.html?_r=1