JPost.com
By GIL HOFFMAN
07/07/2010 04:52
'Obama's attempts to portray himself as pro-Israeli failed.'
US President Barack Obama’s attempts to portray himself as pro-Israel in his press conference with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday failed to persuade right-wing MKs, who warned that Obama is “still evil.”
The MKs questioned the president’s motives and suggested that he was putting on a show for American Jews ahead of the crucial November mid-term elections, in which the Democrats may lose control of Congress.
“He doesn’t sound evil now because he needs Jewish votes and money,” said Deputy Negev and Galilee Development Minister Ayoub Kara.
“But I won’t forget the pressure he put on Netanyahu and the stress I saw in the prime minister the last time he came back from Washington. He is acting the way he is for political reasons.
I hope he will stay this way but I doubt it, because he hasn’t changed.”
Likud MK Danny Danon said he believes Obama learned his lesson that pressuring Israel does not work. He said he hopes Obama will also learn that the Likud would not allow Netanyahu to continue the 10- month construction moratorium in Judea and Samaria beyond September.
“Obama restrained himself and didn’t attack our prime minister this time, but he still set unrealistic expectations for the peace process,” Danon said.
“He is wrong if he thinks the freeze must continue for direct talks to begin. He instead must pressure the Palestinians to come to the negotiating table, regardless of the freeze. He sounds nice now but after November, I am worried that he will sound different.”
National Union MK Arye Eldad, who heads the Knesset’s Land of Israel caucus, said Obama was delaying pressure on Israel for tactical reasons. He said Obama realized that Netanyahu would not agree now to extend the freeze, so the president will instead try to initiate direct talks with the Palestinians in order to put Netanyahu in a position in September where he would not be able to resume construction.
“Obama doesn’t sound wicked now, but he was merely buying time,” Eldad said.
“Obama is betting on getting the entire pot. Our job in the [caucus] will be to put pressure on Netanyahu so he won’t make concessions that threaten Israel’s future.”
Meretz leader Haim Oron said he was not impressed by the gestures made by either leader. He expressed hope that Obama would not stop pressuring Netanyahu.
“Bibi is trying to escape the peace process,” Oron said. “If he succeeds, it is bad for Israel.
I hope they put advancing peace above the goal of just getting along.”
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Here are some comments from J Post readers from around the world--
Steve
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11. In praise of Muslims
Author: Gilad
Country: Israel
07/07/2010 10:08
Obama has taken a policy of both appeasing and praising Muslims. The naivety of the thought that comforting words to the Muslim and showering them with praise for acts and deeds they simply have not been involved in, in the belief that this will turn them from attacking the West, is pathetic and will backfire on Obama and the US. The gaps are so large that they simply cannot be closed soon. The Muslims should acknowledge this and reject using the Arab-Israeli conflict to hide their deficiencies. It's as if to say that if peace broke out there will be more Muslim Nobel price winners.
10. still same ole Hussein
Author: Mark
Country: United States
07/07/2010 09:36
For all of those people out there who believe that Obama has had a change of heart I pose just two points: One: Obama spent 20 yrs listening to the racist, Jew-hating rants of the Rev. Wright and never thought something was wrong? Two: Obama's numbers in the polls are consistently going down, and he needs to keep the Jewish vote and the Jewish money.
9. Fool me once ...
Author: Frank
Country: U.S.A.
07/07/2010 09:18
American Jews must join to vote Obama out of office in 2012, and leftist anti-Israel Democrats in 2010. Obama has proven himself to be an enemy of the Jewish State of Israel and the Jewish people. To paraphrase Forrest Gump: "Evil is as evil does". ... "Fool me once ...."
8. obama vs ISRAEL
Author: raffy1956
Country: united States
07/07/2010 09:03
while grasping at straws to retain power obama is showing his kinder gentler side to ISRAEL! but the world has already seen the other side of his face and it faces mecca, this poseur sat at reverend wrights side for twenty years while he spewed anti semitic hate, he has not changed
7. Not saying anything nasty
Author: tiki
Country: belgium
07/07/2010 08:32
He didn't have to, his BODY LANGUAGE said it all! It was ooozing...."when is this thing going to be over, I'm struggling here". One 'heard him think: "the November elections, the November elections". NOT the 'financial crises, NOT the 'oil spill made him look so 'uncomfortable and tense, as this press meeting with Natanyahu.
6. Obama Shuffle
Author: AJ
Country: USA
07/07/2010 08:16
Listen to Eldad...he is right. This is nothing more then political manuevering on the part of the Obama administration.
5. Not in his heart
Author: Caleb
Country: USA
07/07/2010 07:03
We can be grateful if President Obama takes a friendlier position to Israel, but we can't forget the unwarranted bullying he imposed on the Netanyahu government just a couple of months ago. This incident showed that, unlike Presidents Clinton and George W. Bush, Israel is not in his heart. With Obama, we must follow the adage that President Reagan repeated again and again in his dealings with Russian Prime Minister Gorbachev: "trust, but verify".
4. When Evil stares at Truth
Author: Thighbone
Country: USA
07/07/2010 06:11
(Baruch Haba, B'Shem Adonai~ Israel) The politics of evil is fearful of a few Holy Words. When the Jews of Israel finally see what evil will bring against Jerusalem, no Israeli nuke will overpower the forces coming against Jerusalem & Israel. But these simple words of humility will begin the completion & final restoration of the Apple of God's eye and destroys all those who follow evil. And when your Right in Israel recognizing the wiles of evil,you never agree to work with it. Or believe the promises that which evil cannot ever deliver.Shalom my Brothers & Sisters,Shalom.
3. Great Work, Bibi
Author: Isaac
Country: Canada
07/07/2010 05:58
I agree with Minister Ayoub Kara. Obama is playing for time as he needs votes in November; Netanyahu's stature & sense of diplomacy is always refreshing. He's an amazing speaker, a multi-linguist and has an astuteness that stands him well in such encounters. He did not really give anything away. We must also thank Christian Friends of Israel (CUFI) and Rev Hagee for the 20,000 emails sent to The White House just a few days ago. What's with these Meretz guys? Somehow they never have a good word to say about Netanyahu. If they were in power, they would have given away the kitchen sink as well!!
2. Obama is all honey till the elections
Author: dovid
Country: us
07/07/2010 05:
An election for President and Commander in Chief of the Military must strive to be above reproach. Our public institutions must give the public confidence that a presidential candidate has complied with the election process that is prescribed by our Constitution and laws. It is only after a presidential candidate satisfies the rules of such a process that he/she can expect members of the public, regardless of their party affiliations, to give him/her the respect that the Office of President so much deserves.
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