Israel-US Relations Rocked by 'Tectonic Rift'

Guardian ^ | June 27, 2010 | Harriet Sherwood

[lbryce]

Relations between Israel and its staunchest ally, the US, have suffered a "tectonic rift", according to Israel's ambassador to Washington.

Michael Oren briefed Israeli diplomats on the sharp deterioration between the countries ahead of Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House early next month.

According to those present, Oren said the situation had moved beyond a crisis that eventually passes. "There is no crisis in Israel-US relations because in a crisis there are ups and downs," he told the diplomats in Jerusalem. "Relations are in the state of a tectonic rift in which continents are drifting apart."

His analysis will alarm Israel's political establishment, which is feeling isolated internationally and under intense pressure to take concrete steps over the blockade of Gaza and settlement building in the West Bank.

Oren said President Barack Obama made judgments about Israel on the basis of cold calculation in contrast to predecessors George W Bush and Bill Clinton, who were motivated by historical and ideological factors. He suggested that Obama was less likely to be influenced by pro-Israel supporters inside or outside the White House. "This is a one-man show," he was quoted as saying.

Netanyahu and Obama are due to meet in Washington on 6 July after earlier talks were postponed following Israel's lethal assault on the flotilla of ships attempting to break the blockade of Gaza.

Netanyahu is keen for the meeting to be seen as a success after a string of difficult issues have ruptured relations. His last visit to Washington ended with what was widely interpreted as a snub when Obama declined to hold a photocall with the Israeli leader.

[Jack Hydrazine]

The rift occurred the day the Big Muzzie from Hawaii was elected by a slim majority of the Fools of America.

[paul51]

this can't be. Biden said during the campaign that there is no better friend of Israel than him.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

“lethal assault on the flotilla of ships”

the UK establishment is so anti-semitic. It disgusts me.

There were proven terrorists on those ships.

[anniegetyourgun]

7/6 could prove to be critical. The world will be watching (except for most of the clueless idiots who voted for Obama).

[hstacey]

And still American Jews are for this weazel...God Help All Of Us..

[EagleUSA]

Elections have consequences. You vote in a radical, anti-Western, anti-democracy, anti-freedom, pro-Muslim....and what the hell did anyone expect?

[wku man]

"The rift occurred the day the Big Muzzie allegedly from Hawaii but more than likely from Kenya was elected by a slim majority of the Fools of America"

There, fixed it.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[skeeter]

Destroying valuable and worthy things is what the Left excels at.

Earned wealth, morality, principles, relationships, heritage - what do you call people who consider these things undesirable and seek to destroy them?

What do you call people who promote envy & resentment, who take by force of law that which they did not earn, who turn on old friends and embrace those who would destroy us?

[alecqss]

Methinks Guardian (as any leftist rag) has been a bit wishful thinking here...

[MissAmericanPie]

Imagine what his margin would have been with the absence of the Electoral College. I have always felt that it was an honor that God allowed us to be a friend to and a defender of Israel.

But in reality, Israel doesn't need us, they have the God of Israel and the Arc Angel Michael under His command. What is disturbing is our loss of position in His grace and favor when he allows Israel to be isolated from everyone, even us. What should worry us is the question of how far we must have fallen in His eyes for this to happen.

[Jack Hydrazine]

I was waiting to see if some one would call me on that. LOL! Thanks for the correction!!!!

[ExTexasRedhead]

Biden and Zero are as good a friend to the Jews as Hitler was, in my opinion.

[Jack Hydrazine]

If you know more details of the history between Israel and the USA you’ll find that the USA has stabbed Israel in the back sooooooo many times it’s rediculous.

I think Wacky Baracky is the administration that will officially turn its back on Israel in a very major way which will allow the rest of world to attack her not just with words but with soldiers invading.

Michael is a big angel but you also have Gavriel, Metatron, the Ofna’im, the Cheruvim, and many others in the heirarchy.

[LibWhacker]

Title should be

Israel-Obama Relations Rocked by 'Tectonic Rift'

The Kenyan pretender no more represents America than the man in the moon.

[TigersEye]

I call them ignorant, dangerous, the enemy and a number of other things not fit to post.

[pieceofthepuzzle]

Amazingly, American Jews didn't see this coming (and maybe some don't care so much about Israel). I understand the desire to prevent prejudice, and protect against racism etc. when you come from a group that was targeted for genocide. I admire this desire to be protective and fair to all, but good outcomes and goodwill are not served well by positions that are self-defeating and self-destructive.

We have been blind or inappropriately tolerant for years while several groups in our society embraced a shroud of victimhood and at the same time allowed and promoted hatred against those they label as the ‘oppressors’. Whites are clearly seen as the major ‘oppressors’, but many American Jews don't realize, or ignore, that they too are seen by many of these groups as ‘oppressors’. Most importantly, this view of Jews is absolutely not just about Israeli's and the Middle East, but is held on the basis many antisemitic myths and stereotypes that I believe Obama and his ideological fellow travelers still hold true.

[Cicero]

Well, I hope the American Jews who voted for Obama are happy about putting a Muslim into the White House.

Maybe it’s time for them to think about coming back to the God of Israel. He will never abandon them, but from time to time many of them wander away from Him and from the Covenant.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

“Lethal assault on the flotilla of ships” would be a perfectly accurate description of the Battle of Trafalgar.