Democrats join Republicans in questioning Obama’s policy on Israel

Source: The Washington Post

Top Democrats have joined a number of Republicans in challenging President Obama’s policy toward Israel, further exposing rifts that the White House and its allies will seek to mend before next year’s election.

The differences, on display as senior lawmakers addressed a pro-Israel group late Monday and Tuesday, stem from Obama’s calls in recent days for any peace deal between Israel and Palestinians to be based on boundaries that existed before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, combined with “mutually agreed swaps” of territory.

Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (Nev.), House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer (Md.) and other Democrats appeared to reject the president’s reference to the 1967 lines in his latest attempt to nudge along peace talks, thinking that he was giving away too much, too soon.

White House officials say Obama’s assertion did not reflect a shift in U.S. policy. But the president’s comments touched a nerve among pro-Israel activists, drew a rare Oval Office rebuke from Is­raeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and instantly became a litmus test in domestic American politics.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democrats-join-republicans-in-questioning-obamas-policy-on-israel/2011/05/24/AFkEJpAH_singlePage.html

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This article quotes DNC chair and Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: "As a Jewish member of Congress who cares deeply about preserving Israel as a Jewish, democratic state, I am proud that President Obama spoke forcefully about continuing the United States’ strong and stalwart support of Israel." Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. of Pennsylvania also criticized Obama's plan.

These pro-Israel dems are an embarrassment. They are also making Israel much less safe by supporting its current governments extraordinarily unpopular policies.

Its incredible how both parties in this country can unquestionably support Israel when pretty much the entire rest of the world hates them.

Try not to project your views on the "rest of the world".

learn to read

But the vast majority of the world hates their war mongering policies.

I think Netanyahu is a deep cover Hezbollah agent looking to destroy Israel from within.

for votes. They are SHOCKED...HOW DARE HE etc. knowing it's not any change at all. Feigned outrage.

Just saying.

and it kills me.

anti-Israel, a firm ally of our country?

That doesn't mean everyone fully supports everything Israel or its current leaders say or do, but ultimately, we stand behind our allies, and Israel is one of our strongest allies, isn't it? Also Great Britain (and we CERTAINLY don't agree with everything Britain does or says).

Just calling attention to your term "pro-Israel," as if that were something that's bad in and of itself.

but I was referring to the staunchly pro-Israel people who unequivocally support anything they do. Which is pretty much 99% of congress.

As to your other point, I dont think we should be an ally of Israel. Pretty much the rest of the world isn't and they have good reasons for that. Israel has subjugated an entire people for over 40 years. With the help of the USA and the UN they have waged war against the Palestinian people, stolen their land, and forced them into a tiny piece of land that is run like a prison. They cant have a legitimate economy, they have no rights, what little land they have is often settled by Israeli's and they get killed and beaten by the Israeli military all the time. Old Palestinian women have literally had rocks thrown at them by young Israeli settlers. Also if you ever think about bringing aid to the Palestinians you can be arrested and/or murdered and beaten by the Israeli military.

I see no reason why any modern enlightened country would want anything to do with Israel let alone call them an ally. Their human rights abuses are never-ending and have gone on for a long time. Netanyahu is one of the most vile despicable human beings to ever walk the earth. The man feels nothing for the Palestinian people, sees no problem with the fact that his country exists because it stole its land from the Palestinian people, and has bragged on multiple occasions about sabotaging peace treaties like the Oslo Accords.

Check out this video of Netanyahu admitting to sabotaging the Oslo Accords.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TG0vdzrmt4&feature=related

The guy thinks the west bank and Gaza belongs to Israel, he has no interest in a two-state solution and has no problem admitting on camera that he doesn't want a peace agreement. He also admits that it is extremely easy for him to make America do whatever he wants.

And in this case, thank goodness....the WaPo can try as hard as possible to stir shit up, but the American people side w/ the President.

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It's something like 2% of the population. How is that very large?

These assholes really need to take care of their number one priority above all else.

That is the well being of Americans, not foreigners!

speech. He should've warned Israel first, or worded it differently. Obama, one of the best at speeches and articulating his position, must've done that intentionally. I'm not so sure that was a good thing. Seems as if there was a better way to get his point across.

when they are being told EVERYTHING their tax dollars pay for FOR AMERICA is "too expensive" that they have to subsidize other countries to the tune of billions, and then walk on eggshells not to offend them? WTF. Seriously.