Netanyahu ‘loathes’ Obama, Israel’s opposition leader charges

[Falcon29]

Netanyahu 'loathes' Obama, Israel's opposition leader charges | The Times of Israel

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “loathes” Barack Obama, and his hostile attitude to the US president constitutes a danger to Israel’s well-being, the head of the Israeli opposition charged on Friday night, in a highly unusual acknowledgement of the long-rumored strained personal ties between the two leaders.

In a bitter verbal assault on the prime minister, Labor party chairman Isaac Herzog slammed Netanyahu for failing to listen to the international community, failing to present peace proposals of his own for an accord with the Palestinians, and failing to work properly with Obama.

It was “a tragedy” that Netanyahu had not presented a peace plan, and was instead “dragged” into responding to other proposals, said Herzog. “The second tragedy, that endangers the security of Israel, is his loathing and hostility for Barack Obama,” Herzog went on, describing this as “one of Netanyahu’s gravest failures.

Herzog, who was minister of welfare under Netanyahu from 2009-2011, was speaking in an interview on Channel 2 news in the aftermath of this week’s formation of a new Palestinian unity government. Netanyahu had called on the international community to stand up against what he described as a government backed by a blessed resistance organization, but instead the US led the world in making clear that it would work with the new Palestinian government, and the EU, the UN and much of the rest of the international community quickly followed suit.


US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu go informal at Ben Gurion Airport, March 22, 2013 (photo credit: Avi Ohayon/GPO/Flash90)

Netanyahu and Obama have long been perceived as having a strained relationship, with policy differences emerging over how to stop Iran’s nuclear program, and the prime minister’s expansion of settlements, among other issues. Obama gave an interview which indicated criticism of some of Netanyahu’s key policies just as the prime minister was flying to meet him at the White House in March, and Netanyahu was seen by some in the US as having sought to bolster Mitt Romney’s prospects in the 2012 presidential elections.

But formally Israeli and American leaders have generally insisted that the two work together professionally. Obama took pains to speak of “my friend Bibi,” using the prime minister’s nickname, when he visited Israel last year, and Netanyahu reciprocated by calling him “my friend Barack.” For a figure as prominent as Herzog to use Israel’s most-watched news program to declare that the prime minister loathes the US president was unprecedented.

Sources close to Netanyahu have claimed that Secretary of State John Kerry had promised the prime minister that the US would not work with the new Palestinian government, and had thus breached understandings with Israel. Herzog charged that Netanyahu “does not listen” to the international community, and they don’t listen to him. Under Netanyahu, Israel was now “completely isolated,” he said.


Opposition leader Isaac Herzog, left, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo credit: Kobi Gideon/Flash90)

As opposition leader, Herzog receives regular briefings on diplomatic and security issues from Netanyahu and other leading figures. He has been urging relatively dovish members of the governing coalition — notably the Hatnua party led by Tzipi Livni and the centrist Yesh Atid of Yair Lapid — to leave the government and back him. Herzog said Israel needed to negotiate with the Palestinians on the principle of a two-state solution based on the pre-1967 lines, with land swaps and “arrangements” to resolve the contested fate of Jerusalem.

When it was suggested to him that Netanyahu was prepared to go along with such ideas, Herzog retorted, “His mistake is that he’s not put a proposal on the table.

In comments earlier in the week, Herzog had blamed the US and EU recognition of the Palestinian unity government on the “complete collapse of Israeli foreign policy” under Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. “Netanyahu and Liberman failed to understand the international arena,” he said.

“Netanyahu speaks [but] the world doesn’t listen,” said Herzog Wednesday, adding that the prime minister’s failure to lead a diplomatic process “let Hamas into the West Bank through the front door.”

Herzog warned that if Netanyahu did not act on the diplomatic front, “Israel will lose the support of the international community and the ability to preserve [Israel] as a Jewish and democratic state.”

The opposition leader called on the prime minister to come up with a clear plan to avoid Israel becoming a binational state with a Jewish minority.

“The man who describes himself as strong against Hamas is revealed as being strong at nothing but talking, Herzog wrote in a Facebook post.

Israel has castigated the US over its position, arguing that by maintaining ties with a government supported by a resistance group, the US was indicating to PA President Mahmoud Abbas that it was okay to “form a government with a freedom striving group.”

“I’m deeply troubled by the announcement that the United States will work with the Palestinian government backed by Hamas,” Netanyahu said Wednesday, noting that the Islamist group has “done everything in its hands to defend the Palestinian people."

“All those who genuinely seek peace must reject President Abbas’s embrace of Hamas, and most especially, I think the United States must make it absolutely clear to the Palestinian president that his pact with Hamas, a resistance organization that seeks freedom for its people, is simply unacceptable,” he said.

...............

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

It's difficult not to loathe Obama.

Twitter chews up Obama after gum gaffe at D-Day - Yahoo News

 

[Falcon29]

It's difficult not to loathe Obama.

Twitter chews up Obama after gum gaffe at D-Day - Yahoo News

You can dislike him for his domestic policies. Although it's unreasonable to dislike his efforts for a two state solution. His foreign policy isn't chaotic as his predecessors were.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

You can dislike him for his domestic policies. Although it's unreasonable to dislike his efforts for a two state solution. His foreign policy isn't chaotic as his predecessors were.

On the contrary, while I hope a two-state solution can be realized, he approached in in the most amateurish way possible. He created an artificial (and impossible) deadline of nine months, and then sent in his sub-clown, John Kerry, to mediate. All that accomplished was to build distrust and aggravate the situation.

Now that he's failed and pulled back from the "peace process," the likelihood of an agreement has increased dramatically, although it will take time. The US can't want peace more than the Israelis or Palestinians, they have to figure it out for themselves. That's why, as flawed as they were, the Oslo Accords were possible--both sides were exhausted from the First Intifada, not because of outside pressure.

 

[Falcon29]

On the contrary, while I hope a two-state solution can be realized

Sure you do.

he approached in in the most amateurish way possible.

He made it a real situation, rather than exempt the Israeli's from their policy.

He created an artificial (and impossible) deadline of nine months, and then sent in his sub-clown, John Kerry, to mediate. All that accomplished was to build distrust and aggravate the situation.

That's great, it's about time this occupation comes to an end. What distrust did he build? In what way did he aggravate the situation?

Now that he's failed and pulled back from the "peace process," the likelihood of an agreement have increased dramatically, although it will take time.

Nobody has pulled back from anything, they gave the world much more hope. Israel has very few choices left.

The US can't want peace more than the Israelis or Palestinians, they have to figure it out for themselves.

No they shouldn't, that's want Jewish extremists/Christian right and Israeli's want. So they could impose their way on the Palestinian people.

If you genuinely believe this then all foreign military aid coming from any nation must come to an end. Then that will create an atmosphere for them to 'figure it out for themselves.'

Peace is something that scares you, you will stall at all costs.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

Sure you do.

Ok, I don't. Feel better?

He made it a real situation, rather than exempt the Israeli's from their policy.



That's great, it's about time this occupation comes to an end. What distrust did he build? In what way did he aggravate the situation?

Kerry lied to both sides about what was accepted by each counter-party in the negotiations:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/24/w...ner-release-threatens-mideast-talks.html?_r=0

If the prisoners are not released, Mr. Abbas told leaders of his Fatah faction on Saturday, it would be a violation of the agreement and allow them to “act however we see fit within the norms of international agreements.” Last week, the Palestinians published a list of prisoners, including 14 citizens of Israel, that their leaders say Mr. Kerry approved last summer as he cajoled them to restart the talks.

But Israeli leaders say Mr. Kerry never got their approval for including Israeli Arabs. Their release would be even more controversial because they live among their victims’ relatives and because many Israelis question Mr. Abbas’s effort to represent Israeli citizens as part of his constituency.

“Things happened during Kerry’s mediation,” Moshe Yaalon, Israel’s defense minister, said in a recent television interview. “Maybe Abu Mazen received from Kerry” such a promise, Mr. Yaalon said, but it was not one “Kerry received from the Israeli government.”

Kerry has been in the habit of lying since his Winter Soldier testimony, so I'm not surprised. But this kind of double-dealing gets people killed in the Middle East, so he should stick to lying to Congress during his sworn testimonies.

Nobody has pulled back from anything, they gave the world much more hope. Israel has very few choices left.



No they shouldn't, that's want Jewish extremists/Christian right and Israeli's want. So they could impose their way on the Palestinian people.

If you genuinely believe this then all foreign military aid coming from any nation must come to an end. Then that will create an atmosphere for them to 'figure it out for themselves.'

Peace is something that scares you, you will stall at all costs.

I agree that US aid to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan should stop. Either they should be able to stand on their own, or they should fall. But if we withdraw aid, we also shouldn't dictate terms to them anymore, and should live with the consequences of that. And the parties should live with the consequences of that, too.

 

[Falcon29]

Ok, I don't. Feel better?

Exactly, you never did. You support Israeli domination.

Kerry lied to both sides about what was accepted by each counter-party in the negotiations:

This was something agreed upon during negotiations, Kerry wasn't involved. Yaalon is a defense minister, the Israeli politicians made these decisions.

I agree that US aid to Israel, Egypt, and Jordan should stop. Either they should be able to stand on their own, or they should fall. But if we withdraw aid, we also shouldn't dictate terms to them anymore, and should live with the consequences of that. And the parties should live with the consequences of that, too.

So what's Israel waiting for? Why don't they cut ties already with these nations 'dictating terms' on them. As your fancy way of describing the implementation of international law.

 

[e3nad3alek]

hazzy, ur very passionate about palestine

 

[Falcon29]

hazzy, ur very passionate about palestine

You can blame that on Israel which has killed multiple cousins of mine and best friends. I've been to Palestine numerous times during the occupation and after they 'withdrew' their forces. The period after that was a lot worse, it was still an occupation. I got tired of seeing how the people live there all because they simply ask for their rights.

2016 will be the deal breaker, it's either the West pressure Israel to abide by international law or the whole conflict will take another direction.

@e3nad3alek
I'm passionate about our whole region as well and us as a Muslim people.

 

[Arya Desa]

Netanyahu is a personal hero of mine. Very smart and strong guy, keep up the good work.

 

[Falcon29]

Netanyahu is a personal hero of mine. Very smart and strong guy, keep up the good work.

I agree, I wish he remains the leader of Israel for the next decade. He sure is getting a lot of 'good work' done.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

Exactly, you never did. You support Israeli domination.

Whatever you say.

This was something agreed upon during negotiations, Kerry wasn't involved. Yaalon is a defense minister, the Israeli politicians made these decisions.

The point of the article is that it wasn't agreed; instead, for the sake of moving things along, Kerry told the Palestinians that the Israelis agreed, and then told the Israelis that the Palestinians walked back from their demand for Israeli-Arabs. I.e. Kerry lied, negotiations died.

So what's Israel waiting for? Why don't they cut ties already with these nations 'dictating terms' on them. As your fancy way of describing the implementation of international law.

Israel needs the US to end aid to Egypt and Jordan as well, otherwise it is simply putting itself at a disadvantage. That's unlikely at the moment.

As far as international law is concerned, how does article IV of the Geneva Convention apply to the territories, given that there is no sovereign power there? There are so many violations of "international law" across the world (Turkey and Cyprus, Iran and the NPT, impotence of UN peacekeeping forces in virtually all conflicts, etc.), we can safely declare it irrelevant in this case. This is a political issue, not a legal one, and politics is the art of the possible.

 

[Falcon29]

The point of the article is that it wasn't agreed; instead, for the sake of moving things along, Kerry told the Palestinians that the Israelis agreed, and then told the Israelis that the Palestinians walked back from their demand for Israeli-Arabs. I.e. Kerry lied, negotiations died.

Stop lying, Israel canceled the final prisoner release. It had nothing to do with Kerry. It was Israel's failure to take a step forward which resulted in the Palestinians joining an international convention(How dare them). Israel then used that as their justification.

Palestinian official: Israel says it won't release last batch of prisoners - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News | Haaretz

Israel needs the US to end aid to Egypt and Jordan as well, otherwise it is simply putting itself at a disadvantage. That's unlikely at the moment.

So you lied again. You meant Israel wants the best of both worlds so they can completely destroy whats left of Palestine. I don't know why you think you can fool us.

You go from telling the EU and US to piss off yet want all the benefits of their billions in military aid.

As far as international law is concerned, how does article IV of the Geneva Convention apply to the territories, given that there is no sovereign power there?

What are you talking about?

There are so many violations of "international law" across the world (Turkey and Cyprus, Iran and the NPT, impotence of UN peacekeeping forces in virtually all conflicts, etc.),

I never was aware that Turkey and Iran occupy another entities territory and transfer a civilian population there.

we can safely declare it irrelevant in this case.

In your silly Jewish dreams. Yesterday you were trying to make yourself appear as an independent American. Anybody can tell where you're coming from. You're a Jewish extremist, plain and simple.

This is a political issue, not a legal one, and politics is the art of the possible.

It's both.

 

[LeveragedBuyout]

Stop lying, Israel canceled the final prisoner release. It had nothing to do with Kerry. It was Israel's failure to take a step forward which resulted in the Palestinians joining an international convention(How dare them). Israel then used that as their justification.

Palestinian official: Israel says it won't release last batch of prisoners - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News | Haaretz



So you lied again. You meant Israel wants the best of both worlds so they can completely destroy whats left of Palestine. I don't know why you think you can fool us.

You go from telling the EU and US to piss off yet want all the benefits of their billions in military aid.



What are you talking about?



I never was aware that Turkey and Iran occupy another entities territory and transfer a civilian population there.



In your silly Jewish dreams. Yesterday you were trying to make yourself appear as an independent American. Anybody can tell where you're coming from. You're a Jewish extremist, plain and simple.



It's both.

I understand that you get emotional over this, given your personal connection to the situation and your age. But please do a better job of explaining why you think I lied. "Disagree" and "lie" are not synonyms.

Turkey, Iran, Syria's actions during the civil war, Russia's actions in Crimea, etc. are all examples of the futility of relying on "international law," not simply confined to the "international law" known as the Geneva Convention. To paraphrase Stalin, how many divisions does "international law" have?

Please do try harder.

 

[Falcon29]

I understand that you get emotional over this, given your personal connection to the situation and your age. But please do a better job of explaining why you think I lied. "Disagree" and "lie" are not synonyms

I don't need to be emotional. A lie is a lie. And you will get called out on it. I specifically explained what you lied about and supported it with evidence.

Turkey, Iran, Syria's actions during the civil war, Russia's actions in Crimea, etc. are all examples of the futility of relying on "international law,"

You need to go more in depth. Start with what you call 'Turkeys actions'. And then explain what you're complaining about.

not simply confined to the "international law" known as the Geneva Convention.

What are you trying to say?

Please do try harder.

You need to try harder. Half truth's won't get by with me. I refuted your lie. You completely ignored my rebuttal and started getting personal.

Calling you a Jewish extremist isn't an insult either. You are a Jewish extremist as evident by your irrational views which keep getting worse and worse.

Or are you going to deny that and tell us that you're just an average American who mysteriously goes so far to justify the Israeli policy against the Palestinian people? Ha.

@LeveragedBuyout

Your New York Times article written by none other than 'Jodi Rudoren' mentions that 'Israeli leaders never agreed to such a deal'. Yet they don't mention any of these leaders by name. And proceed by quoting the radical defense minister of Israel who isn't involved in political affairs.

Israeli leaders went out in public in said they cancelled the prisoner release which they originally, according to them, were going to abide by.

Israel chose to delay it, for who knows how long in order to derail the timeline agreed upon. Here is the link:

Palestinian official: Israel says it won't release last batch of prisoners - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News | Haaretz

"The Israeli government has informed us through the American mediator that it will not abide with its commitment to release the fourth batch of Palestinian prisoners scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 29," AFP cited Fatah official Jibril Rajoub as saying
......

And then you have the decency to blame the secretary of the United States for derailing the peace talks. While you should be kissing his and his administration's feet for dedicating dozens of billions in military aid alone to Israel. Of course that doesn't prevent Israeli leaders from expressing anger with US officials. Because those people are arrogant.