Four years ago during his first visit to the Middle East as president, Barack Obama not only snubbed Israel but gave a speech in Cairo to the Muslim world in which he made it clear that he viewed the plight of the Palestinians as morally equivalent to that of the Holocaust. In doing so, he didn’t merely elevate the Palestinian claim to statehood as his diplomatic priority but downgraded the Jewish claim to their homeland as purely a function of international pity in the aftermath of the slaughter of European Jewry. This slight was not lost on the people of Israel who regarded these statements as much as the fights the president picked with the government of Benjamin Netanyahu over the following years as evidence of his utter lack of sympathy for the Jewish state.
But after years of tilting the diplomatic playing field in the direction of the Palestinians the president arrived in Israel today singing a very different tune. He may have come into the presidency determined to open up daylight between the positions of the United States and Israel and succeeded in doing so. But his opening remarks upon arriving in Israel today effectively closed the gap between the two countries to the minimum. Even more important, his recognition of Israel’s rights effectively dashed the hopes of many in the Arab and Muslim world that this president, especially after his re-election, would further downgrade the alliance between the two nations.
Barack Obama isn’t the first American president to stand with the people of Israel, but his speech today was important precisely because of the expectations that he has raised among those who hope to isolate the Jewish state and undermine its ability to defend itself. There may be many in Israel and in the United States who still regard Obama with skepticism–and with good reason. He may still be, as veteran peace processer Aaron David Miller memorably said, the first U.S. president in a generation that wasn’t “in love with the idea of Israel” and a persistent critic of both Netanyahu and the Jewish presence in Jerusalem and the West Bank. But his remarks upon arriving in Israel today show he may have learned from his mistakes.
The importance of Obama’s airport speech lies mainly in the fact that these are the words of the same person who went to Cairo University and spoke in a manner that gave much of the world the idea that the U.S.-Israel alliance was on hold. It might not have been significant had George W. Bush or Bill Clinton spoke of 3,000 years of Jewish history and of its citizens being the “the sons of Abraham and the daughters of Sarah,” and to refer to the U.S.-Israel alliance as being “eternal,” but from Barack Obama this is remarkable.
This can be dismissed as mere rhetoric that can always be ignored or reversed at the whim of a president who has shown that he is confident that his cheerleaders in the mainstream press won’t hold him accountable. But they also have a power in and of themselves. When the world heard Obama downgrading the alliance with Israel, they drew conclusions that were dangerous to the stability of the region as well as to the security of the Jewish state. But when the president makes plain that even he regards the relationship with Israel as unbreakable and that the rights of the Jews to their “historic homeland” must be respected, that has great meaning too.
One would think that it wouldn’t be a big deal for a U.S. president to express his support for Zionism in the fulsome manner that Obama used today. But in doing so he sent a chill down the spines of Israel’s foes. The campaign to delegitimize Zionism and to regard any act of self-defense on Israel’s part as a war crime may have gained ground in recent years in Europe and on American campuses. But the willingness of the president to speak in this manner is a blow to the hopes of those who think Israel’s days are numbered.
Obama may say plenty tomorrow in his address to Israeli students that may upset some friends of the Jewish state. Given his history, the president’s critics have reason to wonder whether he is hoping to use any leverage gained by this trip to orchestrate pressure on Netanyahu to make concessions to the Palestinians. But given his present unpopularity in Israel, the best he can hope for out of this is to lower his negatives there. The idea that he can mobilize Israelis against Netanyahu isn’t realistic.
As much as Obama deserved criticism for his past record of picking fights with Israel and undermining its position in the world, today’s speech undid at least some of that damage. Even his fiercest critics must give him credit for that.
The following is the text of his opening remarks upon arriving in the Jewish state. Let’s hope Israel’s enemies and critics who regarded the Cairo speech as the beginning of the end of the U.S.-Israel alliance take it to heart.
I’m so honored to be here as you prepare to celebrate the 65th anniversary of a free and independent State of Israel. Yet I know that in stepping foot on this land, I walk with you on the historic homeland of the Jewish people.
More than 3,000 years ago, the Jewish people lived here, tended the land here, prayed to God here. And after centuries of exile and persecution, unparalleled in the history of man, the founding of the Jewish State of Israel was a rebirth, a redemption unlike any in history.
Today, the sons of Abraham and the daughters of Sarah are fulfilling the dream of the ages — to be “masters of their own fate” in “their own sovereign state.” And just as we have for these past 65 years, the United States is proud to stand with you as your strongest ally and your greatest friend.
As I begin my second term as President, Israel is the first stop on my first foreign trip. This is no accident. Across this region the winds of change bring both promise and peril. So I see this visit as an opportunity to reaffirm the unbreakable bonds between our nations, to restate America’s unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, and to speak directly to the people of Israel and to your neighbors.
I want to begin right now, by answering a question that is sometimes asked about our relationship — why? Why does the United States stand so strongly, so firmly with the State of Israel? And the answer is simple. We stand together because we share a common story — patriots determined “to be a free people in our land,” pioneers who forged a nation, heroes who sacrificed to preserve our freedom, and immigrants from every corner of the world who renew constantly our diverse societies.
We stand together because we are democracies. For as noisy and messy as it may be, we know that democracy is the greatest form of government ever devised by man.
We stand together because it makes us more prosperous. Our trade and investment create jobs for both our peoples. Our partnerships in science and medicine and health bring us closer to new cures, harness new energy and have helped transform us into high-tech hubs of our global economy.
We stand together because we share a commitment to helping our fellow human beings around the world. When the earth shakes and the floods come, our doctors and rescuers reach out to help. When people are suffering, from Africa to Asia, we partner to fight disease and overcome hunger.
And we stand together because peace must come to the Holy Land. For even as we are clear-eyed about the difficulty, we will never lose sight of the vision of an Israel at peace with its neighbors.
So as I begin this visit, let me say as clearly as I can –the United States of America stands with the State of Israel because it is in our fundamental national security interest to stand with Israel. It makes us both stronger. It makes us both more prosperous. And it makes the world a better place. (Applause.)
That’s why the United States was the very first nation to recognize the State of Israel 65 years ago. That’s why the Star of David and the Stars and Stripes fly together today. And that is why I’m confident in declaring that our alliance is eternal, it is forever – lanetzach.
Pretty words. He's good at that. Time will tell whether its boilerplate or really reflects a change in his outlook. n nI would bet on boilerplate. What else is he going to say? n nEven assuming true good will, there is the issue of competence. Can he solve the key security issues in the region? n nAgain, I bet on the pessimistic. n nBut yes, nice words.
yes, nice words indeed. Almost sounds like Newt Gingrich
nMaybe Saban is vetting O's Israel speeches now? n nThe problem is that it is already being reported that Sec Kerry will be following up with the Saudi 2002 plan this weekend. Maybe he'll also have a USA visa for the new Miss Israel so she can visit America.
Let no one be fooled by Obama's showmanship. He is STILL lying for the Palestinians by omission. He said at joint press conference with PM Bibi that in 2012 no Israelis were killed by a PA Arab, thus implying that PA Arabs are "moderate" and "partners for peace". His lie by omission was that 2012 saw a hugh increase in PA Arab attacks on Jews AND in 2013 the relentless PA Arab on Jew violence is ESCALATING. Of course this is all due to the PA/PLO/Fatah/Abbas media narrative of hate and violence – something we can all stay on top of by checking web site of Palestinian Media Watch. Suggest everyone check web site of Israel National News daily for a sense of what Israelis suffer every day. Here is the article you can search for recap of 2012 PA/Arab on Jew violence for 2012 : n n2012: No Israelis Killed in Terror Attacks in Yesha By David Lev 1/24/2013, nISRAEL NATIONAL NEWS/ARUTZ SHEVA nFor the first time since the signing of the Oslo Accords, no Israelis were killed in terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria during 2012 – masked the fact that 2012 saw a significant rise in the number of terror attacks in Israel.
Mr. Obama's speech is a start, a good start, but it was just a few short years ago that he demanded Israel stop building rooms for grandparents to live with their children. He put demands on Israel that no other president has ever done and he made Israel the criminal of the region while Palestinians, who murdered Jews, were lauded and praised by the PA with not so much as a criticism by our president. n nSince Mr. Obama's visit to Cairo, the middle east has only grown more dangerous and not just for the countries there. Egyptians overthrew Mubarak only to install an Islamist regime. There has been no democracy there. Syria is killing its citizens and now it seems chemical weapons are the method of choice in that backward and violent country. Iraq, once freed by the U.S. from its own tyrant Saddam Hussein has now expelled the U.S. who brought its people freedom and spent U.S. blood and treasure to do so. That freedom may soon turn to Islamic tyranny. n nIran marches all the closer to nuclear weapons. The U.S. imposes sanctions that seem not to slow nuclear progress on iota. Should Iran go nuclear, the entire region will see itself transformed overnight and not for the better. Europe is under threat from Iranian missiles made all the more deadly should they be tipped with nuclear bombs. n nSo, sure, Mr. Obama spoke lovely words. He may smile politely and say more words. But let's not forget that we got to this point because our president let the region go. He neglected it and now he must find a way to deal with it. n nNext week is the holiday of Passover. It's a holiday to remember that God took His nation from the slavery of Egypt to the freedom of Israel. We remember how the Egyptians treated us, we remember how God liberated us, and we would do well to remember how Mr. Obama has neglected us. n
Bravo.
Thank you.
say no to no, maintain guard at maybe, but say yes to yes
not buying it. n nfor one thing, he left out the main reason America and Israel are allies: we share the same values–freedom of speech and religion, equality for women, not stoning gays to death, and so on. in other words, all the things the Muslim world does NOT stand for. the Palestinians also yearn to be "masters of their own state," and Egypt has a democracy. but we are not like either of those. n nat least he hasn't said anything downright offensive–yet. like that jewel of a comment that maybe Israelis didn't like him "because of my middle name"–you know, because Israelis are stupid AND bigoted. sheesh.
Never mind about Cairo. The Real torture was watching those Israeli children jumping like mongoose singing Shirley Bassey’s old songs for Obama as if he’s a pedophile. Israelis lost their mind. Jerusalem artichokes and red mullet tossed with green soybeans prepared by Chef Shalom Kadosh. Are you trying to kill him now or nuke Iran or both or what? Obama is Chicagoan Hikikomori, his main Diet French Fries & Burger. I don’t need to wait for Bibi/Obama meeting outcome. Obama snubbed Bibi as Netanyahu delivered his carping dull speech. Obama loathed every moment of it. His body language obviously ain’t friendly. Bibi’s cover-up narrative about Middle East Prosperity was foolish because Obama knows very well that Bibi would love to nuke the entire Middle East if he’s allowed to. Bibi is finished. Idiots never learn. In order Not to offend Arabspringers, Obama skipped Kotel Mugshot Rituals that Israelis crave unless he tours Israel’s Nightmare; Dome of the Rock as well. He’s visiting a church instead. He will have no Mugshot inspecting Hamas Rocket Stockpile that Israel uses to milk US Sympathy and fools Petty. Obama doing what he’s doing, going where he’s going, and avoiding what he’s avoiding. Though Abbas is powerless to peace with Israel Obama will visit Ramallah to mark his mating ground. Now I feel better. Obama hugged Peres as friend and jabbed Bibi as another Nut-Job with a lot of egos trying survive.
Obama was going to visit the Dome of the Shlock. Really. The ceremony, worked out by the Wafq, was called Barack Heart Barak–and the idea was that the President would get to personally run his hands through the horse poop that lovingly surrounds the shrine where Suha's first Versaci ensemble is on display. But there was a scheduling conflict. What Obama knows by the by is that Israel's anti-missile technology stands between him and the guys who really have a yen to turn the non-Persian world into fissile by products. That includes your sponsors in the Middle East. But we take it you're not a It's a Small World After All fan. Gets smaller by the day though. Three words. u0627u0631u062fu06a9 u0648 u067eu0648u0634u0634
I never knew that Cairo was insignificant until you said so. Tell that to your fellow moonbats.
I see Chuck Hagel is back. He makes more sense masquerading as 'Cloture' than he did at this confirmation hearing.
We should neither expect this brief visit to chart a new course or undo all the damage of the past 4 years. Neither of those things will happen no matter what you think good or bad. of Obama. Obama tried the 'new course' thing in his first term and he'd have to be borderline schizophrenic not to see how that turned out in region. So in accordance with Obama's foreign policy of RETREAT! FLEE! his trip to Israel is a big nothing that won't accomplish or change a thing.
Obama in Ramallah right now: "End the Occupation for a contiguous Palestinian state." n nWe're done here.
I have long doubted the sincerity of Arab (or Persian) governments in their anti-Israel stances. Oh, they sincerely hate the Jews, alright. What Muslim –given the pitiful state of Islamic civilization– wouldn't? But Islamic states need Israel –the way, for example, various Argentine dictators have found the Falklands handy– as a way to rally the populace against a foreign enemy, and defuse the rebellious impulses of people who would otherwise have time on their hands to think about how they're governed. A smoldering conflict –not a conflagration– is what works best for them. And Al Qaida, et al, provide a handy trashcan to dump the feistier young sociopaths among them.