Tag Archives: Israel

President Obama Interview: “More difficult to defend Israel”

During a recent interview with an Israeli television station,  President Obama  said that the international community is not convinced that Israel is serious about a two state solution, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has placed so many conditions to its establishment that it is unrealistic to think it could come into existence in the near future.

“Subsequently his statements have suggested that there is a possibility of a Palestinian state, but it has so many caveats, so many conditions, that it is not realistic to think that those conditions will be met anytime in the near future,” Obama told Channel 2.

Obama also said Netanyahu’s stand would make it more difficult for the U.S. to “defend Israel” around the world.

“If in fact there is no prospect of a peace process, if no one believes there is a peace process, it becomes more difficult to argue with those who are concerned about settlement construction, more difficult for me to say, ‘Be patient, we have a process here.’”

Obama explained that he does not at this point believe there is a likelihood for any kind of framework agreement between the sides to emerge, but that he hopes to work with them to find a way to move from what appears to be a hopeless situation, back to one where there is some hope.

“That is going to be hard work, because right now there is not a lot of confidence in the process.”

The President also addressed the ongoing nuclear negotiations claiming that  he cares very much  about the Israeli people. Obama said that he understands – given the realities of the region and the nature of Israel’s enemies – why Israelis are so concerned about security.

“I care very much about the people of Israel as well, and in my mind it is very much in Israel’s interest to make sure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon, and I think that I can demonstrate, not based on any hope, but on facts, evidence and analysis, that the best way to prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon is a verifiable tough agreement. A military resolution will not fix it, even if the United States participates, it would temporarily slow down an Iranian nuclear program, but not eliminate it.”

The President then directed his thought to the Israeli leadership, saying that just like he had to do some changes after taking office due to the Iraq war where he felt America “lost our values”, that Israeli leaders need to do the same.

“I respectfully suggest that Israel has to do that same self-reflecting, because if it doesn’t, then there are things that you can lose that don’t just involve rockets.”

UK Student Organization Votes To Boycott Israel

A leading British student group has voted to join the anti-Semitic boycott of Israel spurred by the Palestinian authority.

The UK’s National Union of Students voted 19-12 to join the “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Campaign” started by the Palestinians as a way to attack Israel on the world stage.  The NUS is the umbrella student organization for the nation with over 7 million students represented in 600 schools.

The motion also calls on the British government to stop arms sales to Israel.

The Jewish Chronicle reports that the vote was taken by secret ballot, so it’s impossible to know which members of the group voted in favor of the anti-Semitic action.

A spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry said the vote is really insignificant given the group’s previous anti-Semitic leanings.

“Instead of expressing hatred, British students would benefit from studying history and understanding that the distance between conveying hate language and prejudice to committing despicable crimes is not that great,” the spokesperson said.

Netanyahu Slams Palestinian Boycott Campaign

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed a boycott campaign by Palestinians that he says is an “international campaign to blacken” Israel.

“We are in the midst of a great struggle being waged against the state of Israel, an international campaign to blacken its name. It is not connected to our actions; it is connected to our very existence. It does not matter what we do; it matters what we symbolize and what we are,” Netanyahu said.”I think that it is important to understand that these things do not stem from the fact that if only we were nicer or a little more generous — we are very generous, we have made many offers, we have made many concessions — that anything would change because this campaign to delegitimize Israel entails something much deeper that is being directed at us and seeks to deny our very right to live here.”

The focus of Netanyahu was a Palestinian attempt to get Israel thrown out of the world’s international soccer federation because of Israeli treatment of Palestinians.

“It is important to understand that these things do not stem from the fact that if only we were a little nicer or a little more generous that anything would change,” the prime minister said, according to a statement released by his office, “because this campaign to delegitimize Israel entails something much deeper that is being directed at us and seeks to deny our very right to live here.”

Netanyahu pointed out that the Palestinians in their push used historically invalid complaints used to smear the Jewish people.

“Now, this is a phenomenon that we have known in the history of our people. What hasn’t been said about the Jewish people? They said that we are the focus of all evil in the world. All of these things are being said about us today as well. It was not true then and it is not true today. This does not have a shred of truth,” Netanyahu said.

Several key leaders in FIFA were furious about the Palestinians’ actions, saying that they were attempting to politicize the world soccer body when the group notoriously has remained neutral in all political matters.

Netanyahu Tells U.S. Senator ISIS Should Be Fought; Iran Stopped

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy and said that while ISIS needs to be fought, Iran needs to be stopped in their nuclear program.

“We shouldn’t give Iran a path to nuclear weapons and billions of dollars to pursue aggression because of ISIS. ISIS should be fought; Iran should be stopped,” Netanyahu said.

“As horrific as ISIS is, once Iran acquires nuclear weapons, it will be a hundred times more dangerous and more destructive than ISIS,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu spoke to the Senator about the nuclear negotiations that have resumed with Iran.

“I see no reason to rush to a deal, and certainly not a bad deal that paves Iran’s path to the bomb, but also fills Iran’s coffers with tens of billions of dollars to pursue its aggression throughout the Middle East and around Israel’s borders,” Netanyahu said.

Cassidy, who defeated incumbent Mary Landrieu in a runoff election last year, has been a staunch supporter of Israel during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Palestinians Try To Get Israel Thrown Out of World Soccer Federation

Palestinians are attempting to get Israel thrown out of FIFA, the world’s body over international soccer competition, claiming that Israel unfairly treats Palestinian athletes.

“Negotiations are still going on but they are very complicated,” a top FIFA official told AFP.  “There may not be a solution until the final hours.”

Officials inside FIFA said that the only way the vote on Israel’s removal can be stopped is if Palestine pulls their demand.

The head of the Palestinian Football Association has refused to withdraw the motion, which would require 3/4 of the 209 member federations to approve.  They want Israel banned from international competition and for clubs in the Jewish West Bank settlements to be banned from any competition.

The head of FIFA is vehemently against the action, saying that it is bringing politics into the Federation.  Sepp Blatter said that he met with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority to try and stop the vote from taking place.

Blatter said that Israel has done nothing to violate the FIFA statutes and that they should not face any kind of negative action from the group if they have violated no statutes.

However, Israeli officials have noted the head of the Palestinian group has violated FIFA statutes by calling for violent attacks on Israelis and supporting terrorist organizations.

Rockets Fired Into Israel

Rockets were fired toward Ashdod and Lakhish on Tuesday night.

An army source told the Jerusalem Post said that sirens went off in the areas before the rockets headed toward the cities.

Various Israeli media outlets reported five rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward the country but that only one rocket actually landed inside Israeli territory.  Initial reports had said that three had landed inside the country.

Sources in Gaza told the Times of Israel that Islamic Jihad fired the rockets toward Israel.  There are disputes inside the organization that led to kidnappings in northern Gaza and ended with the rocket launches into Israel.

The IDF said they are investigating the launch and attempting to confirm the launches were the result of in-fighting among Islamic Jihad.

President Obama Addresses Anti-Semitism At Synagogue Speech

President Obama addressed anti-Semitism during an address at the Adas Israel Congregation in Washington.

“Anti-Semitism is, and always will be, a threat to broader human values to which we all must aspire,” Obama said.  “And when we allow anti-Semitism to take root, then our souls are destroyed, and it will spread.”

The President reasserted America’s support for Israel.

“It would be a moral failing on the part of the US government and the American people, it would be a moral failing on my part if we did not stand up firmly, steadfastly not just on behalf of Israel’s right to exist, but its right to thrive and prosper,” Obama asserted.

The President added that it’s because of his belief in Israel’s right to exist that he has to be critical of some of Israel’s policies toward the Palestinians.

“I must object,” he said to applause in the Conservative synagogue. “Papering over hard questions,” he said, is “not a measure of true friendship.”

Although the President admitted “The Palestinians are not the easiest of partners.”

The President gave a glancing mention to his Iran nuclear negotiations which he called “necessary”.

“The deal that we already reached with Iran has already halted or rolled back parts of Iran’s nuclear program. Now we’re seeking a comprehensive solution,” he said, adding that “I will not accept a bad deal.  As I pointed out in my most recent article with Jeff Goldberg, this deal will have my name on it, so nobody has a bigger personal stake in making sure that it delivers on its promise.”

Largest Christian Pentecost Sunday Celebration In Israel Scheduled

A group is rushing to finish an 11,600 seat arena in Jerusalem to host what could be the biggest Christian Pentecost Sunday celebration in the history of Israel.

The workers said they know the event could be huge and that “the Christians are coming.”

Empowered21 Global Congress is organizing the event that is scheduled to run through the 25th.  Spirit-led leaders from around the world are coming to the Holy City such as Teen Mania founder Ron Luce and Samuel Rodriguez, Jr. of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.

William M. Wilson of Oral Roberts University, co-chair of Empowered21, called the event a “landmark.”

“This is a pivotal moment in history for the global Spirit–empowered movement,” said Wilson in a statement. “The Impartation service, which will pass the mantel of the global Spirit–empowered movement on to the next generation, is of particular significance. Our prayer is that this service will be a catalyst, igniting the hearts and minds of young people from around the globe with the fire of God’s love and power.”

“The Global Congress will be a powerful time of worship and ministry for Spirit–empowered Christians from every continent,” noted Empowered21 global co–chair George O. Wood. “We anticipate many changed lives as thousands of Spirit–empowered Christians gather together to seek God and bless the Holy Land.”

The group is moving into the event after a weekend event in Amman, Jordan which drew 1,000 Christians from 15 different nations.

New Israel Government’s Top Priority: Iran

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu presented his new cabinet in Jerusalem on Tuesday and vowed to fight Islamic extremists that he says are backed by the Iranian government.

“This government has been established at a time of great challenges and opportunities,” Netanyahu said. “Our first challenge is to ensure the security of Israel in the face of accumulating threats around us. Radical Islam is lapping at all our borders, nearly all in the form of factions and forces led by Iran and other radical elements.”

Netanyahu made a surprise allusion to Sunni-led Arab nations in the region in saying that Israel would seek partnerships against Iran in that country’s quest for nuclear weapons.

“Many states in the area have joint interests with us and see eye to with us on the dangers. We will make every effort to translate that partnership into peace,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu also said that he would seek “a responsible political settlement with the Palestinians.”

Netanyahu also said Jerusalem would not return to a “divided and wounded” city.  The meeting of the new cabinet was held at the Israel Museum to celebrate Jerusalem Day and the 50th anniversary of the Museum.

Benjamin Netanyahu Finalizes Coalition Government

Israel’s Prime Minister has finalized his new coalition government.

The agreement comes seven weeks after Likud scored a victory in the election by a surprisingly large margin.  The PM obtained the support of the Bayit Yehudi party to give him the 61 seats necessary for control of the Knesset.

“I’m sure that no-one is surprised that these negotiations were lengthy,” Mr Netanyahu told a news conference.

“Time is of the essence, not only because I’m leaving now to call the president and the chairman of the Knesset (parliament) to tell them that I’ve managed to form a government, but also because we’ll need to form it by next week in order to give a strong and stable government.”

The leader of Bayit Yehudi demanded the justice ministry in return for support by the 8 MPs in their party.  Naftali Bennett is an opponent of the Palestinian state and also believes that settler communities in the West Bank should be expanded.

Netanyahu says that while he now has a majority, he will continue to expand the coalition if possible.