Romney Bad, Obama Good, for Israel
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Photo Credit: Avi Ohayon/Flash90
Why are some people in the Jewish world so convinced that a victory by Mitt Romney is good for Israel? I am not sure who is good for the future of America, but it might be that the pro-Romney crowd has it backwards when it comes to choosing the US presidential candidate who is best for Israel.
Under President Obama, Israel has not been forced, in any meaningful way, to cede land at a negotiation table. President Obama’s demands to begin such negotiations with the premise that a Palestinian state is to rise on all the land liberated from Jordanian occupation in the Six Day War have been so outlandish and obviously biased that it has been easy for Prime Minister Netanyahu to say no. This fierce policy debate has also lead to a palpable enmity between the two leaders.
Now, while our PM is a doing great job standing up to bad suggestions this round, that was not always the case. Remember the Wye Accords and the Hebron hills giveaway? Given more “friendly pressure” Bibi has a tendency to fold so, ironically, Obama’s “unfriendly pressure” is good for Netanyahu and makes him act and look strong.
Whether the lack of progress on the old ‘peace process’ is a good thing depends on what end goal one favors. I prefer to see Israel continue to move away from the ‘Two-State’ concept both in reality on the ground and in incremental policy steps. Eventually, this will make Israel’s assertion of sovereignty over its ancestral lands a natural step forward and finally end the dark and bloody age of the land giveaway. Those who have made careers from the ‘peace process’ will not give it up until they retire on lucrative pensions, but already some of the intellectual elite on the both the pro-Arab and Jewish nationalists sides, have come to the conclusion that the ‘Two-State’ concept is untenable and that a new paradigm is needed.
And while President Obama and PM Netanyahu continue to bicker, the ‘Two-State’ concept continues to fade. Why not keep it that way?
Daylight between the US Foreign Policy and Israel
The current administration loves to say that there is “No Daylight” between Israel and the US. Now there’s a heap of diplo-jargon balderdash. For a long time, US foreign policy (not just Obama’s) has been miles apart from Israel on important issues like American non-recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, America’s cruel and unusual punishment for Pollard, and America’s billion dollar a year sponsorship of a treacherous Fatah and murderous Hamas. So what’s wrong with little daylight? A little distance from bad State Department policy is a good thing.
But until now we have not had daylight. We Israelis love to be loved by something bigger than us and therefore we want America to embrace us, even if it means ‘No-Daylight’ smothering. For too long Israel has been treated, and at times even sees itself, as a puppet state, banana republic or a 51st state, quietly accepting bad US policy as unchangeable reality.
Recently, the mass campaign for Israelis with US citizenship to vote in the US elections (IVoteIsrael.com) has taken Fifty-First Statism to a logical extreme. We are being asked to vote in US elections to affect Israel’s national destiny through actions of the American government. Not surprisingly, the whole IVoteIsrael effort is focused on trying to help get Mitt Romney into office, unofficially, of course. And it makes sense that this group of Jews is pushing so hard to get Romney in: Obama scares them to the core of their being as he shaking the fundamental pillar of their world outlook, namely, US and Israeli closeness. Romney, on the other hand, allays their fears by hitting all the bumpers on the ‘Special Relationship’ talking points.
Too bad that it’s all a bluff. Romney’s policies will include a push to shrink Israel’s borders, he will not recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, he will not release Pollard, he will keep funding Fatah and Hamas, and he will be in bed with Saudi Arabia, and do nothing about Iran. Like his predecessors: Bush, Bush, Clinton, and the rest, Romney will say the right things but will continue to fulfill the State Department’s anti-Israel agenda. However, because of his perceived friendliness to Israel and to Netanyahu, Romney will be far more insidiously dangerous. And isn’t it a shame how much Jewish time and money gets wasted on this guy?
Ironically, the much maligned Obama administration has been the perfect antidote to Israeli capitulation to American whims. President Obama exudes an open hostility towards Israel, and real favoritism towards the Muslim Brotherhood and their ilk. The average Israeli can sense this new distance between the US and Israel and this has resulted in a an unusual feeling around here, a feeling that scares many – the feeling of independence.
Indeed under Obama’s reign, Israel is seeing more “daylight” and getting more independence from US foreign policy. As Israel begins to feel its own strength, and as the land-giveaway ideology exits the scene, the Jewish State will need breathing room to fashion and lead a new direction in the Middle East. Through the creation of this breathing space, Israel and the United States will be able rebuild their relationship on a healthier basis, as two sovereign nations with many joint interests, cooperating, trading, and securing the world together. Of course, that “daylight” will also entail the end of US foreign aid to Israel, a much needed step for Israel’s independence and key for a healthier relationship between the two nations.
Paradoxically, President Obama is helping to usher in a new and more equitable era of the US/Israel relationship. Romney, on the other hand, is bad for the Israel. A Romney White House could put effective State Department pressure on the Israeli government where the Obama administration could not. Israeli weakness for a ‘loving’ president makes it susceptible to giving in to US pressure which inevitably requires Israel to give dangerous concessions to the very people who seek to destroy the Jewish State. Moreover, if Romney would be elected, Israel would fall back into the old habit of subservience to State Department whims instead of the budding sense of policy independence felt on the Israeli street. And that’s no good. Far better to have Obama articulate and espouse the true face of American foreign policy, leaving Israel free to reject it.
tell a friendAbout the Author: Yishai Fleisher is the Contributing Editor and PR manager at the JewishPress.com, and Israel's only English language broadcast radio show host (Galey Yisrael 106.5FM). Yishai is an Israeli Paratrooper, a graduate of Cardozo Law School, and the founder of Kumah ("Arise" in Hebrew), an NGO dedicated to promoting Zionism and strengthening Israel's national character. Yishai is married to Malkah, they have two children, and they live on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.
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Obama’s first phone call as POTUS was to Mahmoud Abbas. His first speech was in Egypt. Under this president the US gave the Muslim brotherhood 1.5 Billion dollars. The LA Times has a video of Rahid Khalidi and Barack Obama they refuse to release because it would reveal that Obama is fully in the Palestinian camp : http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2012/01/remember-that-rashid-khalidi-video.html.
If Romney becomes president we don’t know what will happen. If Obama becomes president the US will end up going to war with Israel because Israel cannot capitulate to Obamas demands that will put the existence of Israel at risk. Obama wants to ‘fundamentally change’ America but he wants to destroy Israel.
An interesting article, but what happens if Obama gets in, and instead of Bibi we get some left-wing loonie.
Also, do Romney’s *current* policies include a push to shrink Israel’s borders etc, or do you think that his policy will become this if he becomes President?
This article is like a breath of fresh air, clear and well-thought out. The statement that Mr. Fleisher is a “Democrat” for writing it is plain silly.
So it doesn’t bother ANY of those of you who support a Ron Paul presidency that he took money from and was listed as the candidate of choice by Stormfront an openly neo nazi organization? Weird.
Yishai, how much is the Hussien Admistration paying you to buy him the election for American Jewish voters? Although I believe we could find better than Rumney, you are absolutely insane to believe the tripe you are selling as good sense. G-d will save Yis’roel when and only when Jews start, in mass, to humble themselves before Him and Get down on their knees and repent for the Idol Worship going on in the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You selling out the American vote to BHO is amazing and foolish in my humble opinion. I have enjoyed much of your commentary up to this point, but you lost me here. My opinion is that your liberal friends have made you adjust your position to this absurdity and when OHB wins you will be the first to realize that your mistake was worst than you could ever have imagined. Where are you on removing the pagan temples from the high places of Yis’roel? Where are you on destroying the stone, wood and metal idols from the land? Yet you first decide to save Yis’roel through a notion that you have about the American electorate. Shame on you Brother!
JPS Deu 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth.
Deu 28:2 And all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
Deu 28:3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
Deu 28:4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the young of thy flock.
Deu 28:5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough.
Deu 28:6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Deu 28:7 The LORD will cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thee; they shall come out against thee one way, and shall flee before thee seven ways.
Deu 28:8 The LORD will command the blessing with thee in thy barns, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto; and He will bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deu 28:9 The LORD will establish thee for a holy people unto Himself, as He hath sworn unto thee; if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in His ways.
Deu 28:10 And all the peoples of the earth shall see that the name of the LORD is called upon thee; and they shall be afraid of thee.
Deu 28:11 And the LORD will make thee over-abundant for good, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers to give thee.
Deu 28:12 The LORD will open unto thee His good treasure the heaven to give the rain of thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow.
Deu 28:13 And the LORD will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them;.
Deu 28:14 and shalt not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, TO GO AFTER OTHER gods TO SERVE THEM.
Num_33:52 then yes shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their figured stones, and destroy all their molten images, and demolish all their high places.
2Ki_17:29 Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt.
Lev_26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your sun-pillars, and cast.
your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you.
Deu_29:17 (29:16) and yes have seen their detestable things, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were with them –
Eze_6:4 And your altars shall become desolate, and your sun-images shall be broken; and I will cast down your slain men before your idols.
Eze_6:5 And I will lay the carcasses of the children of Israel before their idols; and I will scatter your bones round about your altars.
Eze_6:6 In all your dwelling-places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate; that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, and your idols may be broken and cease, and your sun-images may be hewn down, and your works may be blotted out.
Yishai, Do you vote Harun Yahyah/Adnan Oktar for Temple mount Mosque building committee? Really amazing…Perhaps this kind of foolishness has to happen so the remnant can stand up and stand out of the Jew’s of G-d’s choosing. So Jew’s are the Jew’s worst enemy! So Yishai, perhaps you should vote for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Using this kind of logic. Can we call this logic?
Yishai, I know I have said a lot here and not really responded to the Article on its merits. I do agree that Israel should not rely on America or any other Nation or person or president, but should only trust in G-d alone, I get that. However, for you to pick for us or Israel Obama over Romney seems really suspect. Romney is not my best pick for America or Israel, but Obama is your enemy clearly and openly. This article seems more a stump for your liberal buddies. Sorry, but that is how it appears. If this is so, you have not just lied to us for selfish purposes, but you have done a severe disservice to the land of Israel and spurned G-d. I hope this is not the case either and or. G-d Bless you. Salome.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/election-2012/wp/2012/08/21/two-state-solution-still-in-gop-platform/
Romney supports two state solution and probably will act on it when in office. How friendly is that?
Those Americans who are intending to vote for Obama in the next elections should keep in their minds that they are voting not only for an enemy of Israel but for their on destruction of America as a nation and a free people. Obama will complete his Muslim agenda upon America and the collapse of the western civilization will start after Israel falls first. Yes, Israel and the Jewish people are the most important brick in the wall before evil of Islam and sharia law. Whatever you are voting, take responsibility, back it because you will not be able to regret and the stain of shame will be on you forever. God will bless the wisdom of his children.