"For almost 25 years as an analyst, adviser and negotiator in Republican and Democratic administrations, I observed the U.S.-Israel relationship up close. And it’s been clear from the beginning that Obama and Netanyahu were doomed to dysfunction. Netanyahu is preternaturally suspicious of America’s role in the peace process, and particularly of someone like Obama, who aspires to do big things. And Obama’s naive push for a settlement freeze and apparent lack of an emotional connection to Israel have contributed to the tension.
One presidential visit won’t forge a reconciliation. But increasing pressures to manage the Iranian nuclear issue, the peace process and Netanyahu’s need to remain relevant in his new government just might.
. . . .
What is required, though, is respect, understanding and reciprocity that create trust, or at least the ability to work together on things that are important to both countries. And despite the dysfunction at the top, the institutional relationship between the United States and Israel is probably closer than ever, through security cooperation, intelligence-sharing and joint military exercises."
Ah, yes, "understanding and reciprocity that create trust." In recent weeks, Obama appointed Chuck Hagel, an anti-Semite, as his secretary of defense, and appointed John Kerry, an idiot (Syria's Bashar al-Assad was - or perhaps still is - his "dear friend") as his secretary of state.
In his latest display of naivete, Kerry, who recently declared that "Americans have a right to be stupid," turned to Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu to assist in mediating between Israel and the Palestinians (see: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=306619) immediately after Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan labeled Zionism a "crime against humanity." At a subsequent press conference with Kerry, Davutoglu defended Erdogan's racist allegation, and needless to say, Turkey refused Kerry's request.
Trust Obama? No way. Obama is Rashid Khalidi's friend, and The Los Angeles Times still refuses to allow us to see the video of Obama toasting Khalidi at a Chicago dinner party after Khalidi received his appointment as Professor of Modern Arab Studies at Columbia and director of that university’s Middle East Institute.
Yes, I can personally attest to "security cooperation, intelligence-sharing and joint military exercises" involving the US and Israel; however, Obama is a foreign relations naif and much of his first term as president was devoted to goodwill gestures toward Iran, Syria and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
The US Embassy held a contest to select up to 20 "lucky" persons who will be given the opportunity to watch Obama recite a speech in Israel using his beloved teleprompters. However, Obama will not address the Israeli parliament and will not be visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem so as not to antagonize Israel's Muslim neighbors.
This is a man who has Israel's back at a time when Iran is threatening Israel with a nuclear holocaust? Sorry if I have my doubts.
