posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:22 AM
I am an Orthodox Jew - some would even call me 'ultra-Orthodox.' Born in Boston, I was a corporate and securities attorney in New York City for seven years before making aliya to Israel in 1991 (I don't look it but I really am that old :-). I have been happily married to the same woman for thirty-five years, and we have eight children (bli ayin hara) ranging in age from 13 to 33 years and nine grandchildren. Four of our children are married! Before I started blogging I was a heavy contributor on a number of email lists and ran an email list called the Matzav from 2000-2004. You can contact me at: IsraelMatzav at gmail dot com
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1 Comments:
I think Bibi hit it out of the park with his answers. I think he's made a point also which Obama would concede and is conceding as we speak: the bond between Israel and the United States goes well beyond what a particular president(Obama, Carter versus Bush II, Nixon). It is a bond between peoples. What anti-semites/anti-zioinists within the United States are frustrated with to no end is the consistently high poll ratings Israel gets(the latest poll from Gallup showed support at an all time high). Being pro-Israel is then good politics(not because of the power of AIPAC or the wealth of Jewish donors)but because of the feelings of the people.
There is a biblical perspective on this as illustrated by the staunch support of the fundamentalist Christian movement which incorporates at least forty million Americans, but also from a moral and secular perspective(a set of common values of good and evil, a sense of humor, treatment of woman, and, I would argue, in the treatment of gays and other minorities). The events of 9/11 have also not been forgotten and serve as a form of uniting element.
Then there is a strong business/technological/biotechnology/military industrial relationship between the two countries allowing for many US jobs.
I believe Obama realizes the facts of this, although is heart is not in sync with these facts... he's a politician so will do/say anything to get re-elected so there can be no transformation of the US Israeli relationship until his second term, and, even then, for the reasons detailed above his stance is a bit moot.
I would not be at all surprised at a trip in the near future of Obama to Israel and, no, I do not believe Bibi's invite was not first vetted somehow since there both politicians.
I think there is another wild card here that has not been discussed. I think Obama feels personally slighted and put down by Edrogan. Keep in mind, he, Obama, visited Turkey quite early after being elected, he wooed him, fetted him with state dinners and the like, and then, he got a cold shoulder in the Iranian sanctions diplomacy from Turkey. I also believe Obama has been given and watched the video evidence Israel has and sees that Turkey is playing a not-so-coy game of slamming the United States. Indeed, the actions of Turkey towards Israel may be, in themselves, the Turks sending a message to Obama that the US is 'over' and Turkey will be a new part of the power structure of the world order. There have been some very undiplomatic statements from US officials about Turkey in recent weeks. And, I note the Turkish press is somewhat confused, annoyed, and agitated about the little Bibi-Obama love fest. Turks are asking there leaders a powerful question: just what the hell are you bozos achieving.
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