Quote of the Day: Why Is Obama Treating Netanyano So Rudely
Amid a spate of news reports saying President Barack Obama treated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rudely during the Israeli P.M.’s recent trip there has been a spate of speculation as to why. But the most intriguing theory comes from Glenn Reynolds, aka InstaPundit:
But it’s also possible — I’d say likely — that there’s something else going on. I think Obama expects Israel to strike Iran, and wants to put distance between the United States and Israel in advance of that happening. (Perhaps he even thinks that treating Israel rudely will provoke such a response, saving him the trouble of doing anything about Iran himself, and avoiding the risk that things might go wrong if he does). On the most optimistic level, maybe this whole thing is a sham, and the U.S. is really helping Israel strike Iran, with this as distraction. The question for readers is which of these — not necessarily mutually exclusive — explanations is most plausible.
That would in fact make more sense than some other other explanations which don’t seem to hold up (if it’s to pressure Israel, it is bound to create backlash political within Israel; Obama has worked with lots of Jews during his career so saying he hates Jews doesn’t simply doesn’t hold up and is, in general, an explanation overused for years against those who differ on Middle East policy; if it’s to isolate Netanyau there are dangers that it could go beyond political message sending and trigger protective nationalism instincts among Israelis).
And, as Reynolds says, it could be a combination of things — plus coupled with the fact that Netanyahu simply may have truly world-class, lousy, terrible personal chemistry with Obama. An Obama-Netanyahu encounter may be less Obama-Biden and more Obama-McCain. And chemistry does influence relations, politics — and history.
25 Responses to “Quote of the Day: Why Is Obama Treating Netanyano So Rudely”
As with most things the obvious and simplest explanation is closest to the truth.
It is in the United States' best interests to have the Palestinians and Israelis reach a peaceful accord. They will not reach this result on their own without pressure from the United States. The United States needs to appear to be more of a neutral player than it has been recently to achieve negotiations. .
The United States must apply pressure on Netanyahu to offer cover for him internally. It is unlikely that any Israeli backlash elements to such pressure would be supportive of reduced settlements or ultimately negotiations without the American pressure.
I think Mr Reynolds as usual is seeing what he wants to see not reality. The world knows that Israel cannot bomb Iran without aide from the Americans so no amount of distancing would get the US off the hook.
Simple explanations are usually right. I think Obama simply doesn't like the guy. I also think the whole thing is probably being blown far out of proportion by those who would want to spin all Obama-related stories negatively.
If I were going to ascribe to any semi-conspiracy theory, it would be that he sees the current government as basically the least amenable to negotiation, and therefore he sees little point in trying to make nice. Of the three possible Israeli ruling coalitions – right/Likud, Likud/Kadima, and Kadima/Labor, this is the most hard-line.
I think you've got it right. History has shown that Israeli governments that don't get along with US presidents don't last long and the Obama administration would like to see Netanyaho gone or at least aligned with less radical elements.
The heart of the matter is of course the settlement program. Bibi is claiming that Israel has legitimate claims to settle the territories occupied since 1967, including Jerusalem.
But no other country recognizes that claim, including the U.S. – nor does the United Nations.
This stirs up passions in the Middle East as you might imagine. It plays right into the extremist claim that Israel is absorbing the Palestinian territories (which is hard to argue against), and is being supported by the U.S.
This gives extremists a potent recruiting tool, which we cannot afford with the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan. Israel is undermining our best interests at this time, and the White House seems to be doing it's best to make sure Bibi knows that, and that we won't tolerate it anymore.
Quote from the Instapundit:
Words fail.
Possibly Instapundit is just blinded by his hatred of muslims, nothing in his words and actions suggest otherwise =).
Reynolds is one of those people who dislikes both anti-Semites AND Jews. That is, he cares not a whit what real Jews think about the world – most of whom are liberal – but he loves to hold himself as a defender of Jews against anti-Semitism.
As for Bibi, the simple answer is that he's a jerk and a nuisance. Like most American Jews, I can't stand the man and am happy to see Obama shunt him aside.
Wow, talk about a reach….makes you wonder why anyone cares what instatard has to say.
I've always gotten a negative impression of Netanyahu when seeing him on television. I also think he and his coalition have no real interest in peace unless it's the peace of no Palestinians in the West Bank or Jerusalem and hopefully (In their minds.) Gaza, either. A real negotiation for peace requires some real concessions on both sides and Netanyahu's cadre has no interest in making meaningful concessions or doing anything about any settlements anywhere. Why should Obama like him or should the United States stand by his side?
When is the last time you saw an Israeli government willing to make any meaningful concessions for peace with the Palestinians…
I think he is just trying to keep up the pressure on Israel. If he lets up, they will see it as being back to “business as usual” and pressure will stop.
In fact, I think Israel will have to halt settlements if we are every going to get a peace deal. (Yes, the Palestinians have to stop dreaming of destroying Israel, but that doesn't obviate what Israel needs to do.) Without a peace treaty, everyone will suffer.
Am I the only one that things the current government, at least the extemists that Netanyahu must govern with, have any intention of signing a peace treaty that give the Palestinians their own country?
Netanyahu may be willing, but any attempt will break his government.
Manifest Destiny is a b****.
Doh, yes, what you said.
I'm in Israel now for Passover Week and the mood here is terrible. It's a weird combination of arrogance and self-righteous defensiveness combined with a feeling that another Masada is right around the corner. I anticipated a backlash of support for Netanyahu but among the people I have been with there is a genuine fear that if Israel loses the US backing, it truly will be alone in the world. The fear is not military but of economic and political isolation which will have negative economic effects as well as raise the issue of an imposed peace agreement. Israelis suspect, I believe rightfully so, that an imposed solution would be worse for them than anything that would emerge from genuine negotiations.
Last February when I was in Israel for the elections ( I am one of those terrible dual citizens) I had an opportunity to spend a lot of time listening to the politicians of the various parties tell audiences their “real” thoughts about peace and the Palestinians. The Likud politicians, in particular, were the most vociferous in denying that the Palestinians would have a state. They presented maps showing the Israeli annexation of the west bank except for 9 Palestinian autonomous districts – essentially the main population centers.
Moreover, the few hundred thousand Palestinians who would be swept in by annexation would be treated just like East Jerusalem Palestinians – resident aliens, not citizens. A lot of people outside Israel don't realize that when Israel annexed the land of East Jerusalem, they did not annex the people. There are many people in Israel who feel Israel should annex all the land of the west bank and treat all non-Jews as non-citizen resident aliens.
Despite Netanyahu's statement that he now supports a two state settlement, it really iis nothing more than Palestinian autonomy he supports. Neither he, his party or his coalition partners will ever negotiate or condone a viable Palestinian state. You can take that one to the bank.
For the next few years there will be no substantive negotiations and the situation inside Israel and the occupied lands will continue to deteriorate. Most Israelis now regard their own arab citizens with the same contempt as they regard Palestinians outside Israel. There is a lot of talk about removing citizenship rights for Israeli arabs. A low grade infitada is emerging that will cover Gaza, Israel and the west bank with attendent loss of life and negative economic, cultural and political effects.
What I have been talking to people here is a mandatory arbitration solution along the lines of the one used in Baseball. Each side makes a detailed peace offer and the UNSC will pick one that is the fairest. That will keep either side from being too greedy. I'll offer more perspective when I return.
[...] Quote of the Day: Why Is Obama Treating Netanyano So Rudely The Moderate Voice – Mar 27th – 14:58 [...]
Thank you for that valuable insight and first hand information.
It's comments like this from Glenn Reynolds that make me wonder why anyone takes him seriously.
The idea that criticism of the Israeli government = hatred of Jews is so self-evidently flawed, you have to wonder why any intelligent human being would ever make such an assertion if for no other reason than to smear anyone who would dare criticize the Israeli government.
Arguing that criticism of the Israeli government = hatred of Jews would be like arguing that criticism of the Indian government = hatred of Hindus or criticism of the Saudi Arabian government = hatred of Muslims.
Unbelievable.
Then again, this is the same Glenn Reynolds who vociferously supported the dropping of American bombs on Baghdad (a city of more than 5 million people) while proclaiming himself to be a libertarian.
[...] MORE STILL: Unlike Greenwald — or those hacks at Media Matters — picking up on the real point. [...]
You missed the money quote from partisan prof – “Possibly Obama just hates Israel and hates Jews. That’s plausible — certainly nothing in his actions suggests otherwise, really.”
Possibly Instanthack just hates Obama and hates blacks. That's plausible, certainly nothing in his writings and actions suggests otherwise, really.
always nice to see you jdledell, and hear your views as first person witness. We pray. For all. You and your wide family and all their diverse views, too.
kind regards,
dr.e
Who's that, the president of Mexico or the mayor of Juarez? Man, things are slipping lately — post-health care crash among the hype-prone earlier?
As to Netanyahu, the current leader in Israel's government, as I wrote before, I hope this isn't another example of amaturism and worse, far-left tendencies among the kids dressing up and playing “government” in our Executive branch. But that substantial concern aside, it seems that our kids in charge do want a Change [tm] in US-Israeli relations.
I still don't know why the settlement issue was announced — the ambassador on Charlie Rose said it was all a big mistake (that guy was entertaining, to say the least), but I had thought it was either posturing prior to meeting with the Arabs, or testing Obama, which certainly is understandable.
“They presented maps showing the Israeli annexation of the west bank except for 9 Palestinian autonomous districts – essentially the main population centers.”
Nobody sane will accept that, or the creation of any “state” without full sovereignty (such as Netanyahu's writings in the past that insist any new Palestinian state not have a military at all, not enter into any mutual defense pacts with any other nations, et cetera*). The Arabs are obviously the party greatly in the wrong historically, but some Israelis have to get real.
* Some of these are as ludicrous as Quebec's “divorce with bedroom privileges” retaining Canadian currency and Canadian citizenship!
The House of Reresentatives gave a solid bipartisan indication of support for Isreal:
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171945
I wonder if they fear amateurism or worse by ObamaCo.