Obama abroad losing ground
President Obama's speech will take place at the University of Cairo from 1:10 to 2:00 on Thursday afternoon local time (6:10 to 7:00 am US Eastern time). I hope to liveblog it.Israel Radio reports that President Mubarak did not meet Obama at Cairo airport. No one is saying why.
But here's the best part: Israel Radio just reported that a small plurality of Israelis opposes dismantling the 'illegal outposts' in Judea and Samaria (40.1% in favor, 40.4% opposed). Yes, those are the 'outposts' that Netanyahu is willing to dismantle.
A majority oppose stopping 'natural growth' of the Jewish cities and towns in Judea and Samaria.
And here's the best part: The Israel Radio survey shows that a majority of Israelis believe Obama favors the Arab countries over Israel (47% yes, 28% no).
At least in Israel, there are no illusions.
UPDATE 5:43 PM
Here are the full numbers on that poll.
Telephone poll of a representative sample of adult Israelis (including Arab Israelis) carried out by Shvakim Panorama for Israel Radio's Hakol Diburim (It's All Talk) the week of 4 June 2009 and broadcast on 4 June.Hey - maybe there's a silver lining to the cloud of the Obama Presidency after all.
Do you support or oppose the evacuation of unauthorized outposts?
For 40.1% Against 40.4% Don't know 19.5%
Do you support or oppose the American demand for a halt to construction in Judea and Samaria?
Support 29.5% Oppose 55.6% Don't know 17.9%
Does President Obama give preference to the interests of the Arab states over Israel's interests?
Yes 47.1% No 28.9% Don't know 24.0%
Yossi Vadana, who heads Shvakim Panorama, explained on the broadcast that the Americans apparently didn't realizes that Israeli public reacts to American pressure by supporting its own government. This has resulted in a shift on the issue of unauthorized outposts.
Heh.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:05 AM
3 Comments:
NObama is causing a rift in the Democratic Party. He favors the Arabs, Democrats in Congress favors Israel. I wonder who will win that fight?
Just to add to the sense of ominous foreshadowing and dread, after Googling a bit this evening, I discovered that Obama's primary speechwriter (and the man who will have almost certainly penned the Cairo address) is a guy by the name of Ben Rhodes.
What's interesting about Rhodes is that Obama hired him away from none other than Lee Hamilton who Carl has written about on this blog. Hamilton may well be Obama's main advisor on foreign policy matters and particularly so on the Middle East as Hamilton co-chaired the Iraq Study Group. Rhodes incidentally, also authored the report produced by the ISG.
The article I read on Rhodes suggests that he is embraced by Obama as more than a speech-writer, indeed as a policy advisor, and is invited to attend and participate in national security meetings.
All in all, Obama appears to be closely following the blueprint laid out by the ISG, guided by Hamilton, and given voice by Ben Rhodes.
Obama wants Israel to give up the revanants and to withdraw to the 1948 borders for what, exactly? The Palestinians are no more ready to make peace with Israel today than they were over 60 years ago. Yes, unlike Obama in Cairo, Israeli Jews have no illusions about their neighborhoood. Nothing will change just because an American President delivered a beautiful speech about nothing.
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