The U.S. vote against raising the status of Palestine at the United Nations was a deeply cynical move. It was cynical because there is not a chance that President Obama believes that he did the right thing. It is also cynical because, in the name of friendship for Israel, Obama led Israel closer to the cliff.
The last thing a true friend of Israel would have done would be to stand by as Israel demonstrated its almost complete international isolation. Just eight countries backed the Israeli position – the US, Panama, Palau, Canada, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Czech Republic and Micronesia – while 138 voted with the Palestinians. Was this display helpful to Israel?
But Obama was not trying to be helpful. The administration enabled this “disaster” (from Israel’s point of view) because Obama seems to truly not care about Israelis or Palestinians.
Take the two most recent examples. The first was his absolute refusal to express a word of sympathy for the Palestinians killed in the Gaza war. Under previous administrations, certainly under every Democratic administration, sympathy was expressed for the dead and injured on both sides along with a call for an end to the fighting. But Obama would not do that. Even when asked directly his spokesperson at the State Department would only speak of Israel’s pain. (To her credit, Secretary of State Clinton did say that she felt for both sides.)
But not Obama. He is determined not only to demonstrate that there is “no daylight” separating the two countries but that no amount of darkness separates us either.
The argument that he has to behave this way because of the power of the lobby doesn’t hold up. I would be the last person in the world to deny that the lobby is a powerful force in the making of U.S. Middle East policy. But, unless there is some mysterious element to the lobby’s power that I am missing, its ability to intimidate ends when a president is re-elected.
Believing that Obama is worried about Congressional Democrats being punished in 2014 is just as inaccurate. One: that is two years away. Two: Obama has rarely demonstrated (like almost all presidents before him) much concern for the Congressional wing of his party. And, three: the November 6th election demonstrated yet again that Jewish voters do not cast their ballots (or make campaign contributions) based on Israel. Nor do Israel’s fundamentalist Christian backers. Jews are overwhelmingly liberal Democrats and Christian Zionists are conservative Republicans. Those facts seem never to change.
Besides, does Obama really believe that he would lose votes or campaign contributions from Jews and other pro-Israel Americans if he expressed sympathy for dead Palestinian children? Or called on both sides to stop the violence. I hold no brief for the lobby but Obama could have said what he no doubt felt without losing anyone’s support. Even the lobby does not demand that politicians withhold human sympathy.
As for the United Nations vote, Obama could have prevented the huge embarrassment inflicted on both Israel and the United States by telling Israel to “chill.” I am glad he didn’t because I think the vote will be seen by history as a significant step toward Palestinian statehood. But it also delegitimized Israel in the eyes of the world which is a terrible defeat for those of us who care about Israel ultimately achieving peace and security alongside the Palestinians.
And it could easily have been averted if Obama had told Israel that the United States would vote for the resolution and that Israel should, too. In that case, the vote for Palestine’s elevated status would have been unanimous which would have rendered the Palestinian victory meaningless. Unanimous backing for any measure almost always demonstrates the measure’s insignificance. Instead, Israel’s hysteria and America’s arm-twisting against the resolution gave the Palestinians a big victory, a victory that the United States and Israel both elevated to historic proportions.
So why did Obama behave the way he did? I am afraid it is because he does not think Israelis or Palestinians are worth the hassle. If he can avoid dealing with Netanyahu and his vocal backers here, he will. He has more important fish to fry – like the domestic economy and preserving the social safety net.
I understand that but nonetheless ignoring the Israeli-Palestinian issue – by simply parroting the Israeli line – has done terrible damage to America’s standing in the world. Look at the UN vote which was neatly summed up by the front-page New York Times headline: “UN Assembly, In Blow To U.S., Elevates Status of Palestine.” Perhaps it is of no concern of Obama’s that Israel appears utterly isolated, but so does the United States. To put it in crude terms: we look like Israel’s tool.
I will not conclude by expressing the hope that Obama will now do the right thing for Israel, Palestine and, most importantly, the United States by convening negotiations and acting as an “honest broker.” I doubt he can do that anymore both because he has entirely lost the trust of the Arab world and because events have demonstrated, in large part due to this administration, that history can move on without us. But primarily because I do not think President Obama cares enough to invest any time or energy in Middle East peacemaking. He seems not to care that resolving conflict in a vital region of the world is not just some favor we do for people 6000 miles away; it is something we do to defend America’s interests. It’s sad. But above all, it is just cynical.
Postscript: Prime Minister Netanyahu reciprocated President Obama’s misplaced kindness today when he announced that he will build 3000 new settler housing units in the E-1 corridor of the West Bank. This housing, designed to permanently separate the southern West Bank from the northern part and to separate both from Jerusalem would destroy any chance of achieving the two-state solution. It also breaks a specific promise Netanyahu made to Obama.
Additionally, AIPAC is rushing to get Congress to “punish” Palestinians for going to the UN by blocking aid. Netanyahu and his lobby now believe (probably correctly) that Obama will permit them to do whatever they want. This is what the United States gets for its “no daylight” policy and what we taxpayers get for $3.5 billion a year in aid.
41 countries obstained. always half ass truth from Waffen SS of Arabia
RE: “Just eight countries backed the Israeli position – the US, Panama, Palau, Canada, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Czech Republic and Micronesia – while 138 voted with the Palestinians. Was this display helpful to Israel?” ~ M.J.
MY COMMENT: It was not helpful for Israel (quite to the contrary), but it was extremely helpful to the fascistic right-wingers in Israel! ! !
Thought you might find this interesting.
The man of mystery. As far as the money goes, anyone figured out just how much it costs for the U.S. Military to be on station in the M.E. today? Doesn’t the Military stand as a bulwark to any country that might decide to come to the aid of the Palestinians, especially the saber rattling towards Iran? And all on the U.S. taxpayers dime.
I think that Obama really has little passion for anything. He wanted to be POTUS, but had no interest in actually making any difference. His embrace of Israel is not as disgusting as the attitude of Congress and Senate, who have no care about the safety of the world or the hopes of their “electors”. It is good that the world can see how out of reality and compassion for any nonMercan are the US leaders. Perhaps some good will follow, if Palestine actually tries to pursue Israel in the ICC, the Law of the Sea and other forums concerned with international law, which Israel has ignored for 64 years so far!!!
Here’s my take on Obama: The guy is a complete and utter disappointment, even to those of us who never believed his, “hope” and hype, and never voted for him in the first place. Though we were not taken in by his jargon, we did expect A president, and Obama’s fallen short in every way. His hope has turned into hopelessness. His change has become change in “our” White-house to the side of Israel, only. It could be you’re correct that he does not wish to deal with Bibi, but his meetings (at least in public, and writings by those privy to the meetings behind closed-doors) with Netanyahu prove to me that he may be the very first “president of the USA” to place the wishes and demands of Israel first, above the hopes and needs of all Americans.
He is, quite simply, a puppet for the Zionist state.
Why?
I see two reasons for this.
If you would go back to news footage from Obama’s initial meeting with G.W., just after O, “won”, the race in 2008, yet had not been inaugurated, you will see a fresh-faced Obama strut into the White-house. But, when he came out, the man was flushed and pale at the same time. I believe it was in this meeting that he learned he’d be beholden to Israel. Of course, as Junior-Senator, Obama should have known already that he had signed on the dotted-line for Israel. Still, and this is part two; as incoming president, I believe he owed his entire campaign to Israel and particularly to Bibi. So we have a puppet-dictator. We have exactly what we frown upon other nations for allowing to be installed into their capitols. This much should be evident and should have been evident. And Obama should have been voted-out. But, how does America do this? Can we vote-out Obama? We couldn’t eHere’s my take on Obama: The guy is a complete and utter disappointment, even to those of us who never believed his, “hope”, and never voted for him in the first place. Though we were not taken in by his jargon, we did expect A president, and Obama’s fallen short in every way. His hope has turned into hopelessness. His change has become change to the side of Israel, only. It could be you’re correct that he does not wish to deal with Bibi, but his meetings (at least in public, and writings of those privy to those behind closed-doors) with Netanyahu prove to me that he may be the very first “president of the USA” to make the wishes and demands of Israel first, above the hopes and needs of all Americans.
He is, quite simply, a puppet for the Zionist state.
Why?
I see two reasons for this.
If you would go back to news footage from Obama’s initial meeting with G.W., just after O, “won”, the race in 2008, yet had not been inaugurated, you will see a fresh-faced Obama strut into the White-house. When he came out, the man was flushed and pale at the same time. I believe it was in this meeting that he learned he’d be beholden to Israel. Of course, as Junior-Senator, Obama should have known already that he had signed on the dotted-line for Israel. Still, as incoming president, I believe he owed his entire campaign to Israel and particularly to Bibi. So we have a puppet-dictator. We have exactly what we frown upon other nations for allowing to be installed into their capitols. This much should be evident and should have been evident. And Obama should have been voted-out.
However, are Americans actually heard, anymore? Do you believe votes are counted as they are intended? I think.., NOT. I did not believe the film, “Hacking Democracy”, when I first watched it. But, then I worked as an election-judge, this past primary season. I know what people said as they entered the polls. And what was pronounced was disdain for Obama as well as the rest of the Neocons- Dem AND even impeach the guy when just about everything he did was against OUR constitution!
Are Americans actually heard, anymore? Do you believe votes are counted as they are intended? I think.., certainly not. I did not believe the film, “Hacking Democracy”, when I first watched it. But, then I worked as an election-judge, this past primary season. I know what people said as they entered the polls. And what was pronounced was the disdain for Obama as well as the rest of the Neocons- Dem AND Rep Neocons. Yet, when the votes were announced by media, that announcement contained no truth. And therein lies the problem.
WE cannot vote them out. Someone (hmmmm) installed the Hack-A-Vote-2k (thanks, Dubya and crew), and henceforth, Israel is our boss. We are Israel’s lapdog (I am restraining myself in not using the usual word for that.)
The USA is no longer a shining example to the world. Instead, we are ruled by the Zionist state. And there’s not a thing we can do about this as long as Israel supports, financially, those who would run for the highest office in the land. Yes, it is our tax-dollars, given to Israel, that are then paid back to the worst people of this nation, who run for office only to do Israel’s bidding.
In other words, we’re screwed.
Back to Palestine’s recognition as a state (FINALLY), I am glad it went down like it did. Most of the world comprehends that the American people actually did not vote for Obama and do not agree with Zionism. They understand we are ruled by something and someone we would never have rule us. Some feel sorry for us. Some thank us for not being, “typical Americans”, though American is becoming more typically pro-Palestine and against what Israel continues to do.
One thing you can say holds true, today, about Americans: We root for the underdog. And we are happy to do this.
Where is the bottom of the Israeli House of Cards?
1967? 1948? UN 194 Palestinian Right of Return? UN 242?
The Ponzi Scheme has been built one level at a time, with no foundation, decade after decade
There are but a small handful of dispositive realities left:
1- Israel finds herself with 750,000 illegal paramilitary contractors over her borders and no way to get them back short of a civil war with her settlers.
2- Israel finds herself having successfully created the One State she always wanted, an Apartheid One State. (A blunder or ‘success’ of historic proportions I might add)
3- Israel can no longer defend the Apartheid aspect of the One State, due to Palestinian access to the ICC
4- One State minus Apartheid is one binational state – ONE REAL STATE. One man, one vote, from the river to the sea.
This is the fast approaching bottom of the Israeli House of Cards – and the Israelis themselves know it
I’ve given up trying to figure out Obama’s motives for doing this or that. I’ve just concluded that he’s not very smart.
What about the money? Am I the only person who thinks $3billion a year is a significant amount? In all discussions of whether the US can be an “honest broker” or whether Obama or others are ignoring Israel, there is never any mention of the billions of dollars we continue to give Israel annually. If Obama really doesn’t care about Israel or the conflict, why doesn’t he include this largest part of US foreign aid in the deficit reduction negotiations? If it’s b/c he knows Congress would get publicly hysterical, the perhaps he does have some concern about upcoming elections or the lobby.