Stand for Israel

Senate members urge President to press Arab states

From AIPAC:

Members of the Senate have sent a letter to President Obama emphasizing the need for Arab states to take dramatic steps that demonstrate their commitment to peace with Israel. The letter, signed by 71 senators and spearheaded by Sens. Evan Bayh (D-IN) and James Risch (R-ID), cites the example of Egypt's President Anwar Sadat, whose historic visit to Jerusalem in 1977 ultimately led to peace between Egypt and the Jewish state. A similar letter in the House to Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, spearheaded by Reps. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Edward Royce (R-CA), received 226 signatures from House members.

The limits of dialogue and concessions

For years, many Israelis have questioned the notion, held by some Western diplomats and leaders, that terrorists can be swayed from their radical positions by dialogue and concessions. Well, here's Ayman Al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda's second in command, to give the radical Islamist view on the subject:

"The very minimum that the mujahideen will accept is the following: withdrawing the infidel forces from all Muslim lands, stopping the theft of the Muslims' wealth by the threat of military force, conducting [economic] exchange at real, fair prices, stopping the support for the corrupt, apostate regimes in the Islamic world, releasing all Muslim prisoners, and stopping the interference in the affairs of the Islamic world ... The Muslims will not accept two states on the land of Palestine. Palestine belongs to the Muslims. It was occupied by the infidels, and it is the duty of the Muslims to drive the invaders out of it. Israel is a crime that has to be eliminated."

Stopping support for "apostate" Muslim regimes ... releasing all Muslim prisoners ... withdrawal from all Muslim countries ... eliminating the state of Israel ... doesn't sound like a guy too interested in dialogue, compromise, or even-handedness. Maybe those Israelis are on to something.

Outspoken anti-Israel official chosen for presidential honors

At the Jerusalem Post, Gil Troy explains why choosing Mary Robinson as recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom was a bad idea:

While Robinson has had a distinguished career as the President of Ireland and a human rights activist, she has also displayed a consistent anti-Israel animus. Most disturbing, she was one of the people most responsible for the great debacle at Durban, 2001, when a conference convened to fight racism became a UN-sponsored hate-fest against Jews ... She repeatedly ignored the pleas of distinguished human rights activists including the late Congressman Tom Lantos and the US secretary of state at the time Colin Powell to stop the Durban conference from degenerating into an orgy of Israel- and Jew-bashing.

Mr. President, talk to us

The editor of Ha'aretz discusses how President Obama is viewed by Israelis:

In his global tours and TV appearances, President Obama has spoken to Arabs, Muslims, Iranians, Western Europeans, Eastern Europeans, Russians and Africans. His words have stirred emotions and been well received everywhere.

But he hasn’t bothered to speak directly to Israelis.

And the effect? Six months into his presidency, Israelis find themselves increasingly suspicious of Mr. Obama. All they see is American pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to freeze settlements, a request that’s been interpreted here as political arm-twisting meant to please the Arab street at Israel’s expense — or simply to express the president’s dislike for Mr. Netanyahu.

Wright is Wrong

Reverend Jeremiah Wright explains why he believes President Obama, a former member of his congregation, will no longer speak with him:

"Them Jews ain't going to let him talk to me," Wright said. "I told my baby daughter that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck or in eight years when he's out of office. ...

"They will not let him to talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is. ... I said from the beginning: He's a politician; I'm a pastor. He's got to do what politicians do."

Of course, it is much easier to blame the Jews than figure out the real reason why Obama will not talk to Wright: the Reverend is a political mine field of offensive remarks and hatred. In the same interview, Wright also claimed that "Ethnic cleansing is going on in Gaza—the ethnic cleansing of the Zionists is a sin and a crime against humanity." No wonder Obama has distanced himself from Wright. A smarter man than Wright might be able to figure it out.

Obama at Buchenwald

President Obama visited the site of the Buchenwald concetration camp on his trip overseas.  It is good that the President is reminding the world of the atrocities committed against the Jewish people, especially after denouncing Holocaust denial in his recent address to the Muslim world.

The President, after his visit to Buchenwald, commented:

“These sights have not lost their horror with the passage of time,” Mr. Obama said, standing alongside the group. “More than half a century later our grief and our outrage over what happened have not diminished. I will not forget what I have seen here today.”

Obama meets with Netanyahu

U.S. President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met today in Washington D.C. to discuss prospects for Middle East peace.  Obama was pushing for a two-state solution, but Netanyahu was not ready to commit to anything until the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist:

Netanyahu said he was ready to resume peace talks with the Palestinians immediately but said any agreement depended on their acceptance of Israel's right to exist. It was not immediately clear in the way he phrased the response whether Netanyahu was demanding that as a precondition for talks.

"There's never been a time when Arabs and Israelis see a common threat the way we see it today," Netanyahu said, speaking of a sense of urgency felt throughout the Arab world about Iran's nuclear program.

 

Jewish American Heritage month

President Barack Obama has declared May 2009 to be Jewish American Heritage month:

Jewish Americans have immeasurably enriched our Nation. Unyielding in the face of hardship and tenacious in following their dreams, Jewish Americans have surmounted the challenges that every immigrant group faces, and have made unparalleled contributions. Many have broken new ground in the arts and sciences. Jewish American leaders have been essential to all branches and levels of government. Still more Jewish Americans have made selfless sacrifices in our Armed Forces. The United States would not be the country we know without the achievements of Jewish Americans.

Among the greatest contributions of the Jewish American community, however, is the example they have set for all Americans. They have demonstrated that Americans can choose to maintain cultural traditions while honoring the principles and beliefs that bind them together as Americans. Jewish American history demonstrates how America's diversity enriches and strengthens us all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2009 as Jewish American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to commemorate the proud heritage of Jewish Americans with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

Thank you, Mr. President. It is interesting that this was chosen almost halfway into the month of May, and right before Obama's meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu. I look forward to seeing how the White House will celebrate. Maybe mazta ball soup will be on the menu in D.C.?