Obama, Israel, and the Muslim World
Change was the central theme of President-elect Obama's successful campaign for the presidency. Unfortunately, neither candidate presented the American public with their positions on issues facing the American Republic. Now, the question that begs for an answer is, "What Change will President Obama advocate when he formally takes office?"
While there has been some speculation of what new foreign policy initiatives may be in store, The Center For American Progress is systematically making public the policy prescriptions that Obama's brain trust is presenting to the President. The Center For American Progress is an invaluable resource for people interested in what policies an Obama Administration will promote. The Center was founded and is presided over by John Podesta who heada up the Obama transition team. On Sunday, Podesta told Chris Wallace of Fox News that he believes that Obama was given a real mandate for change.
Now Podesta and Obama's think tank have posted chapters of a book they have compiled for the Obama transition team. It is titled Change For America.
Given our interest in Israel, we have read the foreign policy chapters that have been published. We will present a few of the highlights which we think give a good indication of the type of change the Obama Administration will pursue. We urge everyone to read the full text to gain more information.
Throughout the documents, there are recommendations for creating new international organizations and for working through the United Nations. The concept of America ever being in a position of taking independent action in its national interest seems like an alien idea to these policy experts.
The chapter on the Department of State, written by Gregory B. Craig, includes in its introduction a clarion call for energizing the State Department. It is clear that State should be the central body promoting and implementing very ambitious changes in American policies. The policy proposals are based on the declaration that, "America's moral standing is at its lowest in modern history..."
There is a call for the new President to take immediate public action, which includes speeches in European capitals and a major address in a Muslim capital: "He should give a speech in a major Muslim capital - perhaps in Cairo or Beirut or Jakarta - that rejects the clash of cultures, that pays respect to mainstream Islam, and that calls for a new era of dialogue, understanding and tolerance."
On the Middle East Peace Process, the recommendation is made for the President to be personally engaged, for the appointment of a special envoy with the authority to speak for government of the United States, and for the convening of an international summit.
In several places the author reiterates the need for the President to be personally involved in this process. It leaves no doubt that the Palestinian-Israeli relationship is of the highest priority. It is also clear that the objectives are the same as those of the Bush Administration: The creation of a Palestinian State.
The need for the President to make this a personal priority is underlined with the recommendation that the President should make a speech on the topic of a two-state solution in the Old City of Jerusalem.
ANALYSIS
As anyone who reads this post or the full chapter can see, these policy proposals are based on the questionable premise that the Israel-Palestinian relationship is one of the most important foreign policy challenges facing the United States, therefore it requires personal Presidential involvement. It treats the Palestinians and the Israelis as equals. Tthere is no special relationship between the only two democratic societies: Israel and the United States.
It falsely assumes that there is a rational, peaceful party to negotiate with on the Palestinian side. And it is fair to suspect that by the President giving a speech in the Old City of Jerusalem, he proposes dividing the Old City -- the heart of the Jewish nation.
But perhaps most disturbing is the support for ignoring Israel's sovereignty as a free state, the willingness to invite the international community, i.e. Israel's enemies, into the decision making process.
Anyone familiar with Israel's treatment at the United Nations knows that Israel has had only one friend to count on in the international arena: The United States. These proposals support the ending of that special relationship.
My comment is to JES4RonPaul.
It is like-minded American voters like yourself who got Obama elected! You had a "PROTEST VOTE" against Bush. Therefore, don't blame anyone but you and your like-minded American voters for electing Obama.
Instead of collectively backing a person who could "really defeat" the Socialist-Agendaed-Obama, you chose to be "really sophisticated" and vote for a man who did not have a chance in Hell of winning, namely Ron Paul.
What were YOU thinking? Pull the log out of YOUR eye!
It is so with other non-thinking-voters in America who did not listen to Obama's Socialist message. Many foolish voters only heard his "tax other people, not me", message. What a CROCK!
Many of the Jews in America are not practicing Jews and have always voted for Democrats and never pay attention to what they are voting for or who they are voting for...... That Jews in America vote almost entirely in a Democratic-block-of-votes... is an American political fact!
LOOK AT NEW YORK CITY AND STATE, FOR INSTANCE!
So, somebody in Isreal is not yelling loud enough to the Jewish Americans as to what is going on. Either that, or (which I think is the answer) American Jews just they don't care. They only see a Rabbi in passing at the grocery store!!! Shame on them.
I wish someone would write and ease my mind about the Jewish Americans and why they are so complacent. I have Jewish friends that I really like, but if I ever talk politics, they are politely quiet and a conversation never starts.
Anyone else have a same experience?
Thanks for this outlet to voice some political outrage from us all. This is the only place I have found that I would post anything.
Thanks for your ear. Love, Terri the Tax-payer
Is it a correct understanding that the majority of the Jewish vote went to Obama? If so, in light of this and SO many things... why ? Why would people do that? Thankfully God is more powerful than any of us and more powerful than all this upcoming turmoil. Have no doubt God and Israel prevail in the end! :)
My husband and children (all voter aged) are all Christians and we did not vote for Obama. My husband and I wept when he won, and we prayed for Israel's protection. We wept for our nation, whom my husband fought for in Vietnam. We can't believe that the American people voted so ignorantly and that many of our Christian brothers and sisters went along blindly - voting from their bank accounts. We feel that the election of Obama will usher in a lot of end time prophesys. Take heart Israel, because no matter what or who or when, you are protected by Almighty God. Israel may be the safest place on earth right now. My husband John and I send our love and prayers. Love, Melanie
Seems like all the comments carry the same perspective as I do. Unfortunately the ones who needed to be convinced were and are still not reading these websites-- or not reading them very closely.
The concerns that I have for the US are oriented toward what the country was founded on-- these things may not be attractive to someone who would be interested in Mr. Obama anyway. Scaring someone who likes the idea of redistribution with the threat of socialism is... um... dumb.
The prophetic reality that the US does not play into end times scenarios simply reinforces where we are on the time clock of history. Our support of Israel may take on a much more personal aspect in the very near future-- more like the supporting of Israelis throughout the world as well as this tiny country that God has set apart with its inhabitants to play out the final scenes in this epic. May God bless and protect us all. AMen
The thing to remember, is as always God is in control!
JP
I have a terrible feeling about Obama. As someone who is very interested in Jerusalem and believing absolutely in the unity of Jerusalem i feel very worried indeed about that man. And I'm not alone. Thousands of friends of Israel are already seen the first signs that the man is no good news. He is also no good news to the USA or to the world, however the reality is , he is there to stay.
As a Christian I support Israel in EVERYTHING, but knowing the Biblical prophecies one cannot but wonder.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.We all might need prayers as never before.
I feel queezy in my stomach when I think of what the USA is going to be under the reich of Obama. It is frightening, He is planning to have a military force that is controlled by "the state" at his disposal. If he tries it, I doubt that he is successful. There wil be an armed uprising in the United States against this.
I am ashamed of my Jewish friends in America and here in Knoxville who voted to elect this anti-jewish mut as the leader of this wonderful country. How could you? And 56% of so-called Christians, voted for this government.
What were all of you thinking? Couldn't you hear our screams, telling you of this Socialist?
Be strong, Americans and the world. We are facing hard times in every sector of our life, just because some really DUMB people thought it was "cute" to vote for Obama because they didn't agree with Bush on everything. Well, you got what you have asked for. NOW, YOU MAKE THE WORLD LIE WITH YOUR FLEAS!!!!
One of Obama's progressive "ThinkTank" orgs, AmericanProgress, and its affiliates (Half In Ten, WonkRoom, Yglesias, ProgressReport and blogs) are already dictating what they want enacted as "policy"… and Obama is listening.
Under the Obama govt, America will become a diminished world power, as Obama's friend, Fareed Zakaria, has projected, based on Zakaria's connections within the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and all that "access" allows. This won’t happen b/c you and I and Joe The Plumber didn't contribute long and hard to the American way of life and/or pray that God's mercy would extend another four years upon America and Israel, but because America has to become diminished in power, in order to be subsumed into the UN's vision and edict for all countries to follow a "one world governance", so that what God foretold would come to pass... not that the UN has figured out that point... they, too, will bow!
Sure... America diminishing as a "world power" stings those of us who are "patriots", but the "ripple effect" will have devastating consequences in terms of Israel's security and future. Israel will be divided, despite our efforts to the contrary, to do what we could to keep the inheritance God gave our forefathers, undivided, within boundaries He stated for our beloved Land, Israel.
The world ~ not just Americans ~ will pay a severe price in the commodity of freedom… one that diminishes America as we once were, into the America it was foretold we would become. Independence? A thing of the past. Interdependence will take center stage in the world theater, but it will come with a price of personal freedoms.
Check out the urls provided on my Facebook page, links to more research that will keep you informed.
Pray for America, our military and Israel...
Lucinda ;]
I got tired of warning/trying to warn people of the dire danger to Israel if Obama was to be elected president. It was always evident, from those whose alliances were sought by the man over the years, that the anti-Semetic smell could only be hidden by the active participation of the major news media. You wanted "change"- you are getting it.
It seems that many in the coming months and years will claim they did not know what the change was they voted for; yet the writing was in plain view and was clearly voiced for those with ears. This new change is not new it is a set back for the whole world, this change is the US joining in and accepting world views which run counter too anything ever seen in national policy. These changes will make the US like every other nation; an image of freedom with no real freedoms and this will leave Israel too stand alone in a darkened world.
Yes, a change is come ;the shame of that change will fall upon the whole of the American peoples.