Tel-Chai Nation

The situation surrounding the Obama administration's relations with Israel is getting worse, if the following is any indication (via Boker Tov Boulder):

Mr. Obama said conflicts like the one in the Middle East ended up “costing us significantly in terms of both blood and treasure” — drawing an explicit link between the Israeli-Palestinian strife and the safety of American soldiers as they battle Islamic extremism and terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

So now he's turning to something that's very reminiscent of blood-libel tactics? This is becoming even more disturbing now.

At NRO's Media Blog, Guy Benson says:

What immediately struck me about this remark was our commander-in-chief's apparent ambivalence about America's vast and ongoing military superiority.

Some of his defenders argue the "whether we like it or not" clause was actually referring to the end of his sentence — the bit about getting "pulled into" various skirmishes around the world. That result of our strength, they say, is what may or may not be a good thing in his eyes. Perhaps.

It certainly would have been helpful for this great orator to make his point — to borrow a phrase — "absolutely clear." We're all guilty of sloppy and imprecise speech on occasion, but the president should have been more conscientious when publicly discussing American power at a large international gathering.

[....]

I do not know precisely what President Obama meant when he made the statement in question — nor do I pretend to. But based on his own past rhetoric, actions, and associations, I think it's entirely reasonable to draw attention to this remark, and to carefully examine this president's view of the country he was elected to lead.

Eric Cantor has spoken out against Obama for doing this (via Israel Matzav):

The true barrier to ending the Mideast conflict is the widespread Palestinian refusal to accept and to live alongside Israel as a Jewish state. While Israel continues its search for a reliable partner in peace, Palestinian terrorism is still celebrated in the West Bank and Gaza. Despite this reality, since day one the White House has applied a severe double standard that refuses to hold the Palestinians accountable for their many provocations. It makes one wonder where the responsible adults are in the administration?

The administration’s troubling policy of manufacturing fights with Israel to ingratiate itself with some in the Arab world is no way to advance the cause of Mideast peace. What kind of message is sent to the world when our country appears to turn its back on key strategic allies who share our values?

“The list of grievances supposedly stoking the hatred of Islamic terrorists is endless and evolving. Before Al Qaeda used our support for Israel against us, Bin Laden’s main grievance was the presence of U.S. troops in Saudi Arabia and sanctions against Saddam’s Iraq – both of which no longer exist. The suggestion that terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan will lay down their weapons if we distance ourselves from Israel is blindingly naïve. We know this because it’s been tried before. For example, Russia has sided with Israel’s Arab enemies since the days of the Cold War, and today it condemns Israel at the U.N., sells arms to Israel’s arch-enemies Syria and Iran, and is attempting to block meaningful international sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program. Did this stop Islamist suicide bombers from murdering 38 in an attack on two Moscow subway stations last month?

“With each passing day, more Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about the deteriorating state of U.S.-Israel relations. This concern was expressed succinctly by a letter today from World Jewish Congress President Ron Lauder to President Obama, who wrote, ‘Our great country and the tiny State of Israel have long shared the core values of freedom and democracy. It is a bond much treasured by the Jewish people. In that spirit I submit, most respectfully, that it is time to end our public feud with Israel and to confront the real challenges that we face together.’ I couldn’t agree more.

American Jews are now going to have to seriously contemplate this politician they put into power.

Labels: anti-semitism, islam, Israel, United States