LOGO: Truthdig: Drilling Beneath the Headlines. A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman. Winner 2013 Webby Awards for Best Political Website
May 21, 2013

 Choose a size
Text Size

Trending:     chris hedges     economy     elizabeth warren     politics     robert scheer
Most Read

Rise Up or Die

Revenge of the Bear: Russia Strikes Back in Syria

Tumblr Is Worth $1.1 Billion to Yahoo for One Reason: You

Real American Boy: How Our Byzantine Immigration System and Failed Economy May Have Made a Terrorist

It's News, Not Espionage

Most Comments
Most Emailed

Reports
 * NEW! * Too Soon to Tell: The Case for Hope, Continued
 * NEW! * Warming Climate Endangers U.K. Farming

Ear to the Ground

A/V Booth

Arts & Culture
Act of Congress
Daily Rituals
The Girls of Atomic City

Digs

Truthdig Bazaar
Shi’ism and Social Protest

Shi’ism and Social Protest

by Juan Cole and Nikki Keddie
$30.60

more items

 
Ear to the Ground

Israel Officially Rejects U.S. Demands

Email this item Email    Print this item Print    Share this item... Share

Posted on Apr 22, 2010
White House / Pete Souza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had already made his position clear, but over the weekend he officially refused U.S. demands to halt housing construction in occupied East Jerusalem. The White House has delayed negotiations while waiting for an official reply.

This is not what President Obama wanted to hear.

In the days since, Obama sent a message to American Jews: “All sides should understand that our commitment to Israel is unshakeable and that no wedge will be driven between us.” Haaretz reports that Obama has been under pressure at home, including from Nobel laureate Elie Wisel, who took out a full-page ad in the Washington Post. The ad said, among other things, “ ... The first song I heard was my mother’s lullaby about and for Jerusalem.”

The White House and Palestinian leaders have said a settlement freeze that includes East Jerusalem is a precondition for peace negotiations. The Israeli government just threw the ball back in Obama’s court, officially. 

Maybe he’ll just drop it, hints AP:

Last week, Obama issued a surprisingly pessimistic assessment of peacemaking prospects, saying the U.S. couldn’t force its will on Israelis and Palestinians if they weren’t interested in making the compromises necessary to end their decades-old conflict.

—PZS

More Below the Ad

Advertisement


New and Improved Comments

If you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy.

By arabmuslim, November 8, 2010 at 5:51 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

There is no state called Israel.
State of thieves called Israel a
basis of the displacement
and killing of Innocent nation .
state of thieves basis
bloodshed and war
And the arrest of people
for tens of years to
prevent him from claiming
The right to life .
basis steal the land of the
Palestinian people
And then   steal
the land of the Arab-Muslim
the entire .State of the
thieves do not know the law .....
Does not recognize the
law of the United Nations,
a state that considers itself above the
law . the law is the siege of Gaza
And the bloodshed and
destruction of houses and
killing innocent people
and occupying the country
This is a country named Israel thieves

Report this

By Redwein, April 24, 2010 at 7:01 pm Link to this comment

Hoping this site has a moderator.  Want to let you know I won’t be back.  No serious site permits haranguing Christian dogma dragging and dragging on and on.  Debate is one thing but the fact you permit such bullshazizzle a la ad77’s religulocity has just lost you an intelligent commentator, though I’ll keep reading ....unless such people start writing for you.

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, April 23, 2010 at 7:51 pm Link to this comment

Thanks anno-domini77.  Just what we need: a narrow-minded religious fanatic who sees all other religions but his own as “Satan’s”. 

Who was it who said “Those who say ‘believe as I do or God will damn you’ will next say ‘believe as I do or I will kill you’” ?

Report this

By yours truly, April 23, 2010 at 6:31 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

What, even though General David Petreaus, among others, has testified that Israel’s instransigence vis a vis the Mideast conflict endangers American soldiers in Afghanistan, our government is negotiating with the settler-state about housing construction in Jerusalem?  Negotiate?  What’s to negotiate.  Just cut off the $3,000,000,000 USD that Israel gets from us every year, until such time as Israel not only calls off these construction projects in East Jerusalem.  Will this force Israel to back down?  Count on it!

Report this

By annodomini77, April 23, 2010 at 1:47 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

“The Dispensationalist teaching of prophecy takes Jesus from the center of all
prophecy and replaces our blessed Lord with the state of Israel.  In Luke 24:44,
Jesus says, “All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the
Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Dispensationalists, in effect, have
recast this section of God’s Word to say, “All things written about the state of
Israel in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Furthermore as Luther points out, Israel, even in the old Testament, has always
referred to those who believed and followed God, not to a particular race of
people or to a certain geographical area.  The Psalms regularly refer to Israel. 
When the Psalmist is referring to Israel, he is pointing to those whom God has
promised to bless.  In there false understanding of scripture, the
dispensationalists have misled millions to believe that the Psalms are referring
to God blessing the state of Israel, when in fact, the Psalms refer to a blessing
God wants to give to all who are worshiping him.  In other words, the
dispensationalist theology twists and redirects God’s promises of blessings
from children who are his through Baptism to those they believe are his
through geography.  Among themselves Dispensationalists would agree that
the leading schools teaching their interpretation of the Scriptures would be
Moody Bible institute in Chicago Illinois, and Dallas theological Seminary in
Texas.  One of the founders of Fuller Theological Seminary was also a major
promoter of Dispensationalism.” (Good News Magazine Prophecy Issue 35,
Concordia Mission Society, P.O. box 8555 St Louis MO 63126)

“24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two
covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be
slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and
corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her
children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.”
(Bible, New Testament, Galatians 4:24-26)
“I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a
synagogue of Satan.” (Bible, New Testament, Revelation 2:9)

“9I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews
though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your
feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.” (Bible, New Testament, Revelation
3:9)

Report this

By annodomini77, April 23, 2010 at 1:46 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Jesus lived in all sorts of holes.  The grave is one of them. 
  Foxes have holes. (New Testament, Matthew 8:20)
  King Herod is a Fox. (New Testament, Luke 13:32)
  Jesus brought us out of all of them.

“He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the written code, with its
regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away,
nailing it to the cross.” (Bible, New Testament, Colossians 2:13-14)
“13By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what
is obsolete and aging will soon disappear.” (Bible, New Testament, Hebrews
8:13)
Law with its religion is Satan if You don’t have Christ and the Gospel. In fact we
are no longer under the law but under Grace.  “14For sin shall not be your
master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:14) 
“13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us,
for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”[a]”  (Bible, New
Testament, Galatians 3:13) Law is like a hole.  Law is like a Cave.  Law is like a
Mountain.  “There once was a Hobbit who lived in a hole.” (J.R. Tolkien, The
Hobbit) 

Saul of Tarsus was a member of the Synagogue of Satan.  He calls himself the
“chief of sinners”  But God made him The Apostle Paul who wrote most of the
Gospel in the New Testament.

“15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Bible, New Testament,Romans 11:15)

“4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an
obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who
justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.” (Bible, New
Testament, Romans 4:4-5)

So we gain the Spirit of God not by observing the law. (New Testament,
Galatians, 3)

“16"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (Bible, New
Testament, John 3:16)


Men readily believe what they want to believe. (Caesar)


Saint Augustine said that if you want to believe you believe.

You have right standing before God.
You don’t have to jump through any hoops.
Jesus did.
He died for you and rose again. 
Heaven is your Home.

Report this
William W. Wexler's avatar

By William W. Wexler, April 23, 2010 at 9:27 am Link to this comment

Redwein,

I don’t speak for J Street.  I speak for myself, and I think that given the amount of preferential treatment and military/economic aid we’ve given to Israel, and their unbelievable grip on American foreign policy, I think it’s time to cut them loose.

That’s not J Street’s position, that’s my position.

-Wexler

Report this

By CaptRon, April 22, 2010 at 11:14 pm Link to this comment

One last thing. Does anyone else get a picture in their mind of Good Old Joe Lieberman telling Obama that he owes his good buddy Joe for all the support he’s given Obama, and that he will make sure that Israel takes care of us. Don’t worry Joe, we know that when you say something-you really mean it. If you believe that, I have some property for you. Guess where!!

Report this

By CaptRon, April 22, 2010 at 9:54 pm Link to this comment

I, too, am sick of religion as excuse for terrorism, war, cultish extremism. Like it makes everything OK for contraryism. God or Allah or whomever says the world should be this way in spite of what is, and if not destroy it. Bulls**t!! Believe in your religion if you will, it is your rite, but it is not your rite to force it on all. There are different religions laying claim to one city as the holy mecca. You can’t all have it your way. Grow up and find a peaceful solution. Which brings me to Netanyahu and Israel. As a strong friend and ally of the USA, they should understand Obama’s position by keeping him out of situations that force a response. He has too much on his plate now without having to referee a religious war/conflict. Israel is pushing this and the timing is wrong. Someone will get told NO because it had to be done at this time when it doesn’t have to be decided NOW. I have no conflict with the Jewish people but they are no friend if they continue in their current direction at this time.

Report this

By John, April 22, 2010 at 7:57 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

With people like Schumer blasting Obama for being mean to Israel 73 senators rallying to AIPAC’s call its easy for Israel to give Obama the finger and there isn’t a darn thing he can or will do about it…Schumer had the nerve to blame the Palestinians..they keep saying the Palestinians need to do their part. What would that be? Die off?

Report this

By Redwein, April 22, 2010 at 3:53 pm Link to this comment

Wexler, J Street does JStreet favor cutting all aid to Israel?  They certainly oppose the BDS movement (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) At the end of the day, I really don’t think JStreet will stand for the radical solutions (I know some will read that as Final Solution but please keep your yarmulkes on!) that are required to resolve this horror for Palestinians.  Mass BDS action, cutting of aid, making the Israeli government understand unequivocally that it faces international pariah status.  This is what is needed.
For a perspective that I much prefer to JStreet, please visit: http://www.muzzlewatch.com

Shalom!

Report this
PatrickHenry's avatar

By PatrickHenry, April 22, 2010 at 3:06 pm Link to this comment

When my kids reject my demands, I first cut off their allowance, followed by a boycott of privleges, goods and services.

Report this
William W. Wexler's avatar

By William W. Wexler, April 22, 2010 at 12:59 pm Link to this comment

Well put, faith.

Report this

By john from ojai, April 22, 2010 at 11:09 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

We need to officially stop sending $7million a day of taxpayer money to this rogue, war crime committing, nuclear armed state.

Report this

By faith, April 22, 2010 at 10:30 am Link to this comment

Israel does not require support or assistance from any nation.  By this
pronouncement that they will continue to build and that they explicitly will not
reconsider their position as per the U.S. request they have emphatically asserted
their rights as a sovereign nation.  Now, I want MY Congress to assert its rights by
refusing any further funding or support of Israel.  They may stand or fall on their
own merits - just as they wish.  Our own nation can happily put those billions of
dollars to use rebuilding the U.S.

Report this

By dihey, April 22, 2010 at 10:21 am Link to this comment

To AmEx and others.

It should be obvious from my earlier posting that I am not a friend of the State of Israel.

Every analysis of the birth of the State of Israel must take into account that not one of the victorious allied nations was willing to take in as permanent citizens the frightened survivors of the Nazi terror.

I know several Israelis who were not religious in 1945 and are not religious today, yet migrated to Palestine/Israel or remained there because they were not given any reasonable alternative choice.

The foundation of the State of Israel is much more complex than you think. In fact, most of the orthodox Jews that had always been in Palestine opposed the Zionist immigration as well as the formation of the State of Israel because they correctly believed that it would become a secular state with a Jewish whiff.

If you go to Tel Aviv or Haifa you will have to walk around for hours to encounter a Jewish male who has his head covered or a Jewish woman wearing a “Sheitel”. In fact you may never encounter one.

Report this

By dihey, April 22, 2010 at 10:06 am Link to this comment

Once upon a time there was a “roadmap for peace”. The government of Israel at the time used it as political toilet paper. Nothing has been and nothing will be learned by our country. It is and will continue to be a huge waste of time and energy to “talk” to the Israeli governments because they are not to be trusted ever.

Report this

By Kwagmyre, April 22, 2010 at 9:59 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

If the U.S. unhappiness with the Israeli position on this was that serious(meaning if Obama & Co. had any real balls about this)all military/financial assistance would be cut off immediately.  Then we would no longer be Elie’s “weasel”.

Report this

By amex, April 22, 2010 at 9:19 am Link to this comment

Why don’t you quit saying that our relations to Isael are unshakable Obummer?  I don’t know them and by what I can see I don’t want to know them!!!  The Israeli government is more fascistic than America’s.

I am so tired of watching them crap on Palestinians believing that a piece of Earth was given to them by some God!!! Jesus H. Christ!!! I am so tired of religious bullshit at the epicenter of the worlds problems. Sure, tell us its about freedom or democracy or socialism or whatever fear you are trying to pedal to the sheepish American that day.  It is still religion, it is always religion, go away religious zealots!!!!!!

Go Palestinians!

Report this
William W. Wexler's avatar

By William W. Wexler, April 22, 2010 at 9:06 am Link to this comment

This would be a perfect opportunity to cut Israel free and let them be on their own without the massive aid and preferential treatment the US has given them for decades.

For more information on the American/Israeli Jewish community who disagree with the right wingnuts in the Israeli government, visit

http://www.jstreet.org/

-Wexler

Report this
thebeerdoctor's avatar

By thebeerdoctor, April 22, 2010 at 8:40 am Link to this comment

Follow the money, follow the bombs.

Report this

By pecanman, April 22, 2010 at 5:56 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

All together now…..  Let’s muster a surprised look on our faces.

Report this

By David Moore, April 22, 2010 at 5:43 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)

Having lived and worked in Israel and the West Bank (not to mention being an Arabic speaker) I still think Obama can achieve a lasting settlement like President Carter. I gave money to Obama early on and then wrote him my opinion directly after he took office. In my letter, I stated he needed to go to an illegal settlement and, like Reagan, “Israel, tear down this settlement.” I also suggested he do this in front of the illegal monuments to Kahane and Goldstein. Since I am not Lloyd Blankfein, the Obama Administration never even bothered to read my letter. Since he appointed people like Ross and Emanuel, why should I expect anything different? Carter got results because those people were not involved; compare with the list of losers and conflicts of interest under Bush I and II and Clinton. As I further stated, get rid of these people (although I believe Mitchell could possible achieve peace) and appoint Carter, the only one who actually got something done. If any journalist wants a copy of my letter to Obama I will be happy to provide it.

Report this

By Inherit The Wind, April 22, 2010 at 4:18 am Link to this comment

I sure hope the President had a “Plan B” that didn’t include accepting What-a-Yahoo’s line-in-the-sand or simply backing away from the peace process.

Report this
Newsletter

sign up to get updates


 
 
 
 
Join the Liberal Blog Advertising Network
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A Progressive Journal of News and Opinion. Editor, Robert Scheer. Publisher, Zuade Kaufman.
© 2013 Truthdig, LLC. All rights reserved.