Will talks improve relations between Israel and the US?

It's been the good relations between the US and Israel that has resulted in so little progress being made towards peace. A bit more friction might encourage Israel to take a meaningful step in achieving a settlement.

What it should acheive and what it will acheive are unfortunately different. It will partially rehabilitate the cosy US/Israel ties of old, whereas it should really give Netanyahu another good rap across the knuckles for the appalling behaviour of his government in the past 5 or 6 years.
It seems that strangling Gaza with two hands is not acceptable, but strangling it with one is....

The problem is Obama.

In a misguided attempt to appear more even handed he has been on the wrong side on most issues.

the most recent on the non proliferation document sigling out Israel, as well as not criticizing Turkey on instigating the Flotila of Hate Crisis.

A good start would be Obama would be for Obama to call on Arab countries to open dirtect talks with Israel without perconditions.

I used to think it was israel who was the bullied people, from recent events we see that it is Israel who is the bully willing to target innocent civilians.

The US is supporting this bully without any justification other than in certain US states the jewish vote is very high.


If the US had any moral integrity it would distance itself from Israel, until Israel started respecting international law.

Gaza and the west bank are prisons and as jailer israel should get out of palestine and leave the people be.
Isnt it about time that an international force was sent in between these two rogue states and to move israels borders back to the 1967 borders and defend those borders from both sides. not to mention sanctions against both states for all criminal activities and militant or military actions.

There will never be a real peace in the Middle East as long as the two-state solution isn't realised. There won't be any progress towards a solution either unless the USA stops vetoing any UN resolution remotely critical of Israel.

A solution would have been possible 50 years ago, but now both sides are too entrenched in their positions that any compromise is going to be seen as weakness. Therefore the macho grandstanding will continue and we'll have another 50 years of trouble in the region.

Israel is still blocking the exporting of goods from Gaza.
Israel is still stopping the people of Gaza from travelling outside Gaza.
These actions still look like the inflicting of collective punishment by Israel, rather than acts of self defence.

I'd like to see America at least threatening the withdrawing of financial support to Israel, in order to pressure Netanyahu's government into reversing the annexation of Palestinian land, but I fear that Obama is still too scared of the powerful Israeli lobby in America to do anything of note.

They either will, or they won't.

Question should probably be whether they should, or whether, as Isreal's biggest supporter, politically at any rate, the Obama administration that is, take a stance with Isreal to help 'improve' their foreign policy. That's all.

Great hopes for Obama, great hopes for Blair, such a shame.

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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Will talks improve relations between Israel and the US?

Relations between the Israeli government and the US government will most likely continue as always.

Israels real problem is that in the past 6 months its offended all its most important allies without anything remotely resembling an apology.

Britain, Europe and Australia were all caught up in the stolen passports debacle.

Israel chose too announce more settlements in East Jerusalem on the very eve that the uS envoy arrived to try to advance middle east peace talks, and have commited several faux pas since.

Not to mention Turkey.

So the question of Israels relationship with the governments of its allies is perhaps less important than the feelings of the civilian populations of those countries.

And amongst those populations, including that of the US there are growing questions about exactly how we benefit from the 'alliance' and whether by aiding Israel we are actually complicit in what is being done to the people of Gaza.

Although experience tells me that the average Israeli is unlikely to either care about these devlopments or even to be aware of them.

ref #1
Khuli wrote:
It's been the good relations between the US and Israel that has resulted in so little progress being made towards peace. A bit more friction might encourage Israel to take a meaningful step in achieving a settlement.

_____________

Would you give example of any meanigful steps from the Palestinians or any arab countries(other than Egypt)? Their refusal to deal with Israel and support terrorism is the problem.

In an era of diplomatic engagement rather than confrontation,such meetings should help in sharing each country's primary concerns to build the basis for a workable solution to the historically vexed issue. Obviously,the long term primary concern for Israel is security.All US administrations have fully addressed this issue to the satisfaction of Israel. However, in the emerging global and regional security environment,Israel needs to be more sensitive to US security plan for the region. President Obama probably would convey to the Prime Minister clearly that it is time for Israel to take some hard decisions in its own long term interest. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton also has been working on the same lines for some time. As I have written a couple of times earlier,US is the only country that can steer dialogue between Israel and Arabs to an acceptable,enduring solution. Sooner the better,Israel recognises the new parameters for action in the emerging environment.

The meeting will only achieve anything substantial if Obama gives Israel 6 months to get out of all occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem.He should confirm that if Israel fails to act he will order a joint NATO / Arab force to remove illegal settlers ,military personnel and Israeli citizens and stay in place to guarantee Palestinian security.

@comment number 2 'kiltyboy'

exactly right! well said ; )

@comment number 4 'slave to the system'

sadly the influence of the high Jewish vote is not the reason the US supports the apartheuid regime in israel _ check out the lobby group known as AIPAC and you will be much closer to the real reason! last year only 6 months after the Gaza massacre that killed 1400 people _ including
400 children, more than 50 US senators_ their wives and families_ were wined and dined for a whole fortnight in israel _ ostensibly on two separate fact-finding missions (republican and democrat) this was actually nothing more than bribery

@all other commenters on this thread _

if you want to do more than comment then boycott!
there is plenty you can do in that direction with just a little research

Will talks improve relations between Israel and the US?
How do you improve upon a relationship that is already pretty perfect – except for establishing (perhaps) whether the tail wags the dog or the dog wags the tail?
Will this meeting improve relations between the two nations?
Relations couldn’t be better between the United States of America and Israel – the part displayed before the public is simply showmanship.
Expect this meeting to have official photographs, broad smiles, Netanyahu clasping hands with Obama, and of course the inevitable joint news conference.
Is it Netanyahu was has learned his lessons, or Obama who has learned his lessons? Or were there any lessons at stake at all?
Freeze on the settlements. This was for nine months only on settlement construction in the West Bank. This particular freeze ends this September. WB Settlers have already started a campaign against extending that freeze. Obama will ask Netanyahu to commit to an extension of the freeze, but I doubt that Obama will get it.
Watch for Netanyahu to tell Obama that he cannot possibly commit to extending the West Bank settlements freeze without a promise from the Palestinians for direct talks. By Palestinians, of course, he means the PA, and something tells me, the freeze would come off regardless of endless "talking" by the PA.
Another issue will be Israel's continued refusal to allow large amounts of cement, iron and other raw materials into Gaza to rebuild homes destroyed in fighting between Israel and Hamas 18 MONTHS AGO. Last month Israel announced it will lift the three-year-old embargo of Gaza after growing international criticism following Israel's raid on the flotilla that left nine Turkish activists dead. Today, Israel announced its new policy for Gaza, saying that all consumer goods and many raw materials may be allowed in, but who defines "consumer goods" and "raw materials", who determines their final destination? Israel does.
Do not look for Israel to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Do not look for US financial and military assistance, totally $3B, divided into $1.2B in economic assistance and $1.8B in military assistance from the Americans to Israel to be reduced, inspite of an American deficit reaching gargantuan portions into the trilliosn.
In short, nothing will change, except the role-playing and the script.

Dave__G wrote:
I'd like to see America at least threatening the withdrawing of financial support to Israel, in order to pressure Netanyahu's government into reversing the annexation of Palestinian land


And I'd like to be 18 again.

The sad fact is, neither are going to happen.

Call me a pessimist, the show of all Israeli PMs and USA to resolve the Palestine issue is going on for decades without any concrete outcome. This is another mock show for the world media. Israel feels it is doing a charitable act by allowing some more aid items to enter Gaza. America ho and hums to lend credence to the show. After all, Israeli-affiliated companies are the main source of funds for many US presidential elections including that of Prez Obama. Politics is really the school for scounderals. Netanyahu's visit carries the selfish intention to further stoke US ire against Iran.

@comment 14 'hodge'

right on the button brother!
sadly our Western politicians have far less courage than the people they are supposed to represent _ Obama and Blair included
the latest pathetic offer for more goods into Gaza by israel in the aftermath of their acts of piracy and murder is woefully insufficient _ yet Blair jumps on the bandwagon and calls it 'a significant step'!!
then ten days later it's announced that he's to receive a medal and $100,000 for his contributions to Middle East peace!
tell me what he's actually done there _ or recognise this as a pay-off >: (

Netanyahu cannot do anything to appease Obama or his concerns about Middle East. Netanyahu is "a hostage prime minister," and he can stay on the job only as long as Avigdor Lieberman allows him to.

It is the Yisrael Beiteinu Party of his Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman that keeps Netanyahu in power, and who can withdraw his support and bring Netanyahu down at any moment - if Netanyahu concedes anything in his talks with Obama. The talks, therefore, are just public consumption fare for Obama who is sliding in the polls, and they will also serve to portray Netanyahu in the news and media as one that is still in control of the Israeli government. But all the facts -from the in-Biden's face announcement of the 1600 news Israeli homes on Palestinian land in East Jerusalem, to the insult of the Turkish ambassador seated at a low position and scolded like a child by Lieberman's deputy Mr. Ayalon, to the Israeli attack on the food for Gaza flotilla, and to the fray of relations with Turkey- have already established that behind the scenes it is Avigdor Lieberman that call the shots in the Israeli government.

Can Netanyahu offer anything to Obama that will advance talks with the Palestinians? Absolutely not. Netanyahu is a hanging by a thread of Yisrael Beitenu Party support, which consider Palestinians as vermin
in the land God has given to the Jews. And if Netanyahu dares -for example- to announce after the meeting with Obama that Israel's freeze on the 1600 news home in East Jerusalem will be permanent, Beiteinu
will withdraw its support, and his government will collapse. Netanuahu, therefore, knows that if he makes any concession on his talks with Barack Obama, and he announces that concession in a press conference in Washington, Avigdor Lieberman will bolt from the coalition, and by the time Netanyahu's plane lands back in Israel, he will not be a prime minister anymore! It is the Achille's Heel of minority governments which depend on the votes of small parties to form a parliamentary majority and govern, but which also carry the irony that the small party can also bring down the government by withdrawing it support at any moment!

Netanyahu's Likud Party is a minority party, but governs with a majority formed with the uncompromising ultra right wing Beiteinu party. He can stay as prime minister only as long as he understands that he cannot cross the Beiteinu party's line in the sand, and as long as he follows its diktat. He is, therefore, a hostage to the Beiteinu's hard core Jewish ideology, and a facade prime minister. He can stay on the job and enjoy the title and the flair of prime ministership as long as he serves the will of the Beiteinu Party and it's toxic in diplomatic circles leader Avigdor Lieberman.

Netanyahu's visit to Washington, therefore, is meaningless and worthless, because when he returns to Israel he will be fetching water to Avigdor Lieberman, and not water from Obama to Palestinians. Behind the facade of the Obama - Netanyahu talks, the facts are quite clear that the IPAC and the Jewish lobby have made Obama impotent to have any influence in the Middle East, while Netanyahu's dependence on Yisrael Beiteinu party has made him impotent to make any peace concession to Palestinians that may advance the peace process. The whole story of the Obama-Netanyahu talks, therefore is "much ado about nothing," if not an outright farce in the Middle East conundrum.
Nikos Retsos, retired professor

At 2:08pm on 06 Jul 2010, hodge1230 wrote:
"The meeting will only achieve anything substantial if Obama gives Israel 6 months to get out of all occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem.He should confirm that if Israel fails to act he will order a joint NATO / Arab force to remove illegal settlers ,military personnel and Israeli citizens and stay in place to guarantee Palestinian security".

Hear hear! Add to that dismantle the apartheid wall, return the Golan Heights to Syria and stop the blockade of Gaza entirely.

Post #1, bang on.

The United Nations should sanction against Israel for killing people who were delivering humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Palestinians must receive goods for basic needs. Whatever happened to American enforcement of law on the high seas?

To believe that these talks will make a difference is to be naive beyond belief. Obama has already ruined a wonderful relationship with the only democracy in the Middle East. He shows a clear bias of being against Israel. Meanwhile, nobody chided Turkey for killing their innocent civilians by allowing the flotilla. The relationship with Turkey is over, Israel has never ruined the relationship, the fault clearly lies with Turkey in the first place. People forget that this conflict is caused by the Islamist AKP party who has left the bed of the west for the bed of the instigators of jihad. Instead of having laws on the insult of Ata Turk, it is laughable that we are not punishing the people that are a threat to the secular nature of Turkey. It has already been reported in the news that the Turkish army investigation showed that Israel had nothing to do with a recent attack on a Turkish army base and news reports coming out of Turkey show a population that is starting to get suspicious of the government. Nobody chided Turkey of the killing of the Kurds and the massacre of Armenians during the early 20th century. Double standards abound, but those are O.K. for others, Russia can falsify passports, but nobody chides them. Back in the USA, meanwhile, all we see is anti-Israel this, anti-Israel that. They must remember we are not their 51st state. If Obama wants cooperation, he shouldn't have treated us the way he had during the last meeting. We are smart people and can see through these games, the relationship under him is the lowest it has ever been and as an American also, I can say that we see this hostility as something that cannot be forgiven by this new photo-op.

The talks will probably improve relations between Israel and the US , esp. if the US offer to up the payment of 4 billion dollars annual payment and more guarenteed loans often forgiven , plus more weaponry on top of that already given and to promise to continue the support of the US veto in the UN Security council to block sanctions of Israel for breaches of their rules.

If they can together continue to persuade Tony Blair ( the Fox who guards the henhouse ) to continue to do the bidding of the US (IMO )of the US in his ME role of impartial mediator HA ! HA! .

Also as long as AIPAC dictate policy , we will not ask the more important question " will the talks improve relations with the Palestinians and Israelis "

Since when have relations been poor between the US and Israel ? even after the arrest and imprisonment of Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard ?

Was that a real question BBC or just more wheel spinning ?

14. At 2:08pm on 06 Jul 2010, hodge1230 wrote:
"The meeting will only achieve anything substantial if Obama gives Israel 6 months to get out of all occupied Palestinian territory including East Jerusalem.He should confirm that if Israel fails to act he will order a joint NATO / Arab force to remove illegal settlers ,military personnel and Israeli citizens and stay in place to guarantee Palestinian security."

1.Many are wanting NATO out of Afghanistan yet you advocate NATO action against Jewish settlers.

2.I am puzzled why you have made only two comments two weeks a part and only on the Israel HYS.

Would care to explain why you only comment on Israel subjects and no other.

At 1:28pm on 06 Jul 2010, BewilderedMark wrote:
"There will never be a real peace in the Middle East as long as the two-state solution isn't realised. There won't be any progress towards a solution either unless the USA stops vetoing any UN resolution remotely critical of Israel."

The offer of a two state solution has been on the table since the creation of Israel.
I believe it the Arabs who have continually refused such solutions instead declaring war and funding terrorists attacks.
You may argue the Arabs will now accept the two state solution but please let us no forget the real deal breaker in this is the fact the Arabs demand for 4 million refugees(many who have never lived in Israel)
to be allowed to return(how can you return if never been?).

No doubt we have usual suspects who only appear on Israel HYS(see the above) calling for Israel to be punished whilst the Arabs continue to do nothing in the way of achieving peace.

I honestly believe the Arabs will never accept a Jewish state,they can have Islamic states but will not allow Jewish or Christian states.

You maybe followed into believing the Arab propaganda but until i see significant attempts by the Arabs to resolve the issue i will support Israel in its action to defend itself from Arab hostility.

Regards the vetoes?,well America has continually vetoed resolution as most are constant condemnation of Israel whilst the Israel enemies get no mention.

Maik finch tell me more. Which palestinian goods can i boycott? And the US sides with democratic countries...like isreal.

Neither United States nor its allies are an honest broker in the Middle East, and nor would likely to be in the future. The United States and its allies carry a deeply-rooted economic interest and the inherent prejudice toward indigenous population of Middle East. In short, there is the double standard that prevails in the politics of Western civilization
, which have hitherto hinder all progress in the Middle East.

No change for Gazans other than a slightly less restricted diet. Obama had demanded of Israel that it refrain from expanding settlements in East Jerusalem, Netanyahu refused and called his bluff, Obama backed down. Netanyahu has form - after his first meeting with the new President Clinton the latter remarked "who's the [bleeping] superpower here?"

Netanyahu's confidence may have something to do with the fact that over half the members of the US Congress attended the last AIPAC conference in Washington (AIPAC is known on Capitol Hill as the 800 pound gorilla). This is even as, according to Petraus, unconditional US support for Israel is costing the lives of Allied troops in Afghanistan.

Netanyahu's visit to Washington, therefore, is meaningless and worthless, because when he returns to Israel he will be fetching water to Avigdor Lieberman, and not water from Obama to Palestinians. Behind the facade of the Obama - Netanyahu talks, the facts are quite clear that the IPAC and the Jewish lobby have made Obama impotent to have any influence in the Middle East, while Netanyahu's dependence on Yisrael Beiteinu party has made him impotent to make any peace concession to Palestinians that may advance the peace process. The whole story of the Obama-Netanyahu talks, therefore is "much ado about nothing," if not an outright farce in the Middle East conundrum.
Nikos Retsos, retired professor


----

Thank you sir,

that may be one of the most interesting and informative pieces i've ever read on these boards.

I hope the talks concentrate on the Iranian threat to Israel, not the Palestinian "peace", which would be welcome but won't do anything to remove the existential threat Israel and its people face from theocratic Iran.

for all the naive posters who want Israel to give land for peace.

Considering that except Egypt and Jodran are the only ones who have honored peace agreements, does Israel get the land back when the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinians break their word again?

You are all very generous in demanding Israeli concessions why don't you do the same to Arab countries who have started every armed conflict?

Israel and Palestine - so many generations lost - so much mis-informaton to the world about these two 'nations'? Are Israel and Palestine two independent nations? Or are they both interdependent in trade and employment, but both wound up by dogma of politics, religion and international aid?

Looking at the geography of Israel - I'm confused, yet unsurprised too as Israel is surrounded by Islamic Nations of various degrees of fundamentalism?

This whole problem seems to stem from a 'spoiled' child attitude from Israel? Perhaps, running to daddy/mummy USA instead of inter-acting with other children in the Middle East playground? Iran leadership has become, in last 25yrs, very vociferous, antagonistic and possibly not indicative of Iranian people want? All people, of all nations want peace.

Looking at recent WWII history from Nazi Germany, one can understand the Jewish view of Israel as a homeland? However, at the same time the Israeli Gov is 'rather intolerant' AND equally 'fascist' too?

There are many attacks FROM societies on religions AND MANY attacks from religions on societies? Culture is delicate as well as difficult. How we separate them is crucial?

With so much religious/cultural history across the world before history and recent ancient times it seems that the love of power and war to keep 'productive' land is nothing new as the root of all conflict now and yet to come?

Israel and Palestine has been too indulged for too long by both sides?
Palestinians work in Israeli industries and Israeli companies work with Palestinian companies for production of exports. Would any Israeli or Palestinian business deny this reality? Let's open the debate to those across the BBC World Service who are happy or unhappy with business?

9. At 1:44pm on 06 Jul 2010, potatolord wrote:
"Yes. Hopefully they will be able to agree a way to blow up Hamas and all their dopey mates."

Well Israel originally supported Hamas to split the PLO and create an intractible enemy which would allow Israel to justify its expansionism. And according to the testimony of former Israeli PM Ehud Barak, "Netanyahu created Hamas": see https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=51303.

So Bibi Netanyahu is in fact a dopey mate of Hamas and you're advocating violence against him, which is terribly naughty of you.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

21. At 3:04pm on 06 Jul 2010, antihypocrite wrote:

"Hear hear! Add to that dismantle the apartheid wall, return the Golan Heights to Syria and stop the blockade of Gaza entirely."

The aparthied wall has stopped constant suicide attacks on Israel which has resulted in Isreal not retaliating.

Syria could follow the Eygptian line and actually negotiate the return of the GH.
Sadly Irans poodle will not.

Israel lifts the blocakade and then is faced by the fact that scud missiles are being imported and eventually used on Sderot.
What will your response then,the usual its all Israel fault.

You ask Israel to follow the standards of the West but unfortunately Israel is surronded by hostile neighbour WHO WILL NEVER ACCEPT IT and thus is forced to act savagley as there ever declining Arabs neighbours.


32. At 3:44pm on 06 Jul 2010, MagicKirin wrote:
"for all the naive posters who want Israel to give land for peace.

Considering that except Egypt and Jodran are the only ones who have honored peace agreements, does Israel get the land back when the Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinians break their word again?

You are all very generous in demanding Israeli concessions why don't you do the same to Arab countries who have started every armed conflict?"

I recommened this comment.


28. At 3:16pm on 06 Jul 2010, HD wrote:
"Neither United States nor its allies are an honest broker in the Middle East, and nor would likely to be in the future. The United States and its allies carry a deeply-rooted economic interest and the inherent prejudice toward indigenous population of Middle East. In short, there is the double standard that prevails in the politics of Western civilization
, which have hitherto hinder all progress in the Middle East."

Why exactly must the West broker peace?.

Oh yes it is the fact that Arabs will not.

No Israel was created from Terrorism and knows well what its terrorist neighbours are planning.

Sadly, for Israel unless the country "grows up" and begins to act as a first world nation they will deserve to be treated as a pariah state. It is never right to play the "eye for and eye" game with terrorists.

where are the 'talks' with turkey over allowing militant Islamists on board that damned ship?

where are the 'talks' over why Turkish ships refused to re-direct to a secure port for inspection? lets not all forget Egypt is also blockading Palestine as well. if they are so damned adamant that Israeli inspectors would reject the 'aid' Egypt would have happily done the deed instead

and finally to all those fools claiming Piracy need to look up its definition. a flotilla of ships refusing inspection is high suspicious, to ignore protacol and refuse to follow the correct channels only proves those on board wanted a conflict. under maritime war a Naval warship (of any country) has the right to board another ship if there is reason to believe something is afoot.

According to this morning’s Washington Post, President Obama is to press Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/05/AR2010070502889.html

Apologizing to Turkey would be one of the biggest political disasters in Israeli history. Instead of apologizing Israel should launch a public relations campaign explaining what kind of regime Turkey is supporting in Hamas. They should quote the Hamas Charter:

Article 7: 'Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,'

Article 13: ‘There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by jihad.’

Article 32: for the Zionist plan has no limits, and after Palestine they want to expand [their territory] from the Nile to the Euphrates, and when they finish devouring one area, they hunger for further expansion and so on, indefinitely. Their plan is expounded in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and their present [behavior] is the best proof for what we are saying.

https://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/1609.htm

It is naive to believe that the impediments to peace in the Mid East are about settlements and/or Gaza. For more than 60 years the Arabs have waged war against Israel and the only result that they want is the elimination of the Jewish State and the removal of all Jews from the Middle East. This is taught in nursery schools, kindergardens and at all levels of schools. Israel have offered the olive branch time and again and each time, the Palestinians find a "reason" to refuse. They will not even trade 1000 Palestinian terrorists for the life of one Jew, Gilad Schalit. 60 years ago there were no settlements and still the Arabs tried to annihilate the Jews. So, what has changed? Only their PR methods and their increased arsenals. The only time Palestinians will accept peace is when they have no other options left, and when they learn to love their children more than they hate the Jews.

"2. At 1:54pm on 06 Jul 2010, MagicKirin wrote:
ref #1
Khuli wrote:
It's been the good relations between the US and Israel that has resulted in so little progress being made towards peace. A bit more friction might encourage Israel to take a meaningful step in achieving a settlement.

_____________

Would you give example of any meanigful steps from the Palestinians or any arab countries(other than Egypt)? Their refusal to deal with Israel and support terrorism is the problem."
---------------

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Israel are solely to blame at all. Frankly I have little sympathy for either side, as most of their problems are their own making, and prolonged by their childish unwillingness to just call it a day. The solution isn't difficult - it's lack of people's willingness to actually do it.

Since Obama became President, some 18 months ago, one begins to develop an overall opinion of what the President and the administration think and are moving towards either wittingly or unwittingly. Our friendship with Israel, if one can call it that, has definitely deteriorated. This has the unintended consequences of of providing support to the enemies of both Israel and the U.S. The often quoted Islamic words are "The enemy of my enemy is my friend or the friends of my enemy are my enemy" comes to mind. You can be sure that Radical Islam is our enemy now and forever. They are single minded in that they wish to destroy Israel and all Western Democracy. This is nothing new and has been going on for over a thousand years. Israel has stood alone amidst peoples who would see them destroyed. The only Democracy in that part of the world. Obama with his words and actions have hurt Israel and in so doing has hurt the United States. Israel may still be the only one who might stand up against Iran. Our President, other than some minor annoyances with his sanctions, has done little except to show we are indeed a "Paper Tiger" and that people who previously have looked to the U.S. for protection and support might need to rethink their position.

The Israeli Government is guilty of terrorism. And the ongoing support of the US makes it state sponsored terrorism. It is that simple. Nothing can or will be ever be done to stop it until the US puts human dignity above money. But its ultra capitalist nature will never permit that to happen.

Talks are just what this meeting will yield.The US with its large Jewish and very influential population will always tread carefully on its policies with Israel. This idea of the Jews being the chosen people makes one wonder if "GOD" is biased or racial that he has abandoned all of his other children.As long as this ideology prevails there will be no truthful and meaningful dialogue.
So my view is that these talks will be meaningless.

Israel's enemies in the middle east are legion. There goals are clear and stated clearly. As the President of Iran has stated these goals are to wipe Israel off the face of the map and drive the Americans and all non Islamist out of the Middle East. Their broader goal is to convert the world to Islam and they have shown over a thousand year of patience. The President of Iran also states there was no Holocaust. How do you reason with anyone with this philosophy? Israel and the enemies of the U.S. are common and they are the Radical Islamist. We label them as Hamas, Al Qaeda or some other name when in fact they are Radical Islamist who confine themselves to no boundaries. They are not just in Afghanistan or are they just in the Middle East. They are world wide. If one group disappears then another appears to take its place

26. At 3:15pm on 06 Jul 2010, panchopablo wrote:....................lots of good stuff.............Sadly Irans poodle will not.


Hey, that's not being fair to Poodles. My Violin teacher has a Poodle that really is a great judge of character. We shouldn't drag animals into this. Wait, I guess there can't be much of a conversation if we didn't. O.K., continue.

This is devolving into a "Hate or blame the Jews or Zionists are running the world thread, and hate America" thread.

Has anybody noticed that 99% of HYS thread subjects involve Jews and Americans? If we are so powerful, how come I can't get anyone to help me put my Pool up? And why does sand cost $4.00 bucks for 50 lbs., considering how much of the stuff is around?

until the philistinians decide they want to live side by side with israel, and stop filling their kids minds with hate, and celebrate suicide bombers.....there's nothing to talk about.
i think americans and europeans dont have the faintest clue what its like being attacked and rocketed and suicide-bombed on such a regular basis.
we only had the occasional IRA attacks and a one-off 7/7 bombing.....try get your head round enduring that month after month year after year....a perpetual unending siege, by hate-filled philistinians, and muslim neighbour countries who have a jew-hating tradition going all the way back to the 7th century's hate-filled quran.
israel agreed to two state solution in 1948 and again in 2000....the arabs always reject it.
when the arabs are ready for permanent peace, israeli's will let out one huge collective sigh of relief.

ref #41
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that Israel are solely to blame at all. Frankly I have little sympathy for either side, as most of their problems are their own making, and prolonged by their childish unwillingness to just call it a day. The solution isn't difficult - it's lack of people's willingness to actually do it.
______________

But what has the Arab side as far as concessions? Nothing.

Kumachan israel dont send men into palestinian bars and buses with explosives strapped to themselves. That is terrorism i think you will find.

Willanr your right, if only they were all islamic...how nice and peaceful that religeon can be...ahem!

so there it is _ the answer to this HYS question _
a BBC headline that says Obama congratulates the israeli Prime Minister for the relaxing of their stranglehold on Gaza

a complete sell-out by the US
and more prevarication and internal back-slapping
from the murderous apartheid regime of israel

and allow me to be clearer on the question of boycott
if a barcode begins 7290 it was created on ethnically cleansed lands
just put it back on the shelf

(clear enough for you krokodil?)

The big problem here will be Obama's ideology. There is no doubt that he has shown himself to be an ideologue, and unfortunately for Israel he is a devout anti-Israeli. No policy actions he has taken in office bode well for this discussion. And whilst his “Muslim Apology Tour” of 2009 met with apathy and jocularity in those countries, Obama’s deference to the normal allies of the US (Britain and Israel) have received his scorn and neglect. Hopefully this time Obama might want to treat his guest with a little more dignity; just try to imagine he’s the president of Iran!

Putting aside the media 'portrayal' of these talks, the true nature of this meeting is to put the Obama administration in line with israeli policies. nethanyahoo's message will be either support us 110% or face US election loss.
Obama will then put his tail between his legs and obey the true master! Mark my words, you will notice the changes in the Obama camp towards israel within a couple of weeks.
No choice, when your country's whole banking system and media is held by individuals who give their undying loyalty to a foreign power.

ref #43
, Kumachan wrote:
The Israeli Government is guilty of terrorism. And the ongoing support of the US makes it state sponsored terrorism. It is that simple. Nothing can or will be ever be done to stop it until the US puts human dignity above money. But its ultra capitalist nature will never permit that to happen.

_____________

No it is Israel's enemies and their sponsors the U.N that is guilty of terrorism. The U.S follows morality and friendship (untill Obama) not following the oil money

The relationship between Israel and the U.S. is the major problem. Only when the U.S. gets its head out of the sand and begins treating Israel as it treats every other nation will there be any progress. When Israeli warships invaded our Free Gaza flotilla deep inside international waters, killing and severely wounding dozens of unarmed peace advocates, including Americans, kidnapping hundreds of passengers and forcing seven boats, two of them flagged in the U.S. to sail to Israel, the U.S. was virtually alone in the world in failing to condemn Israel's actions which would have been labelled piracy if committed by any other nation.

So long as the U.S. continues to fund Israel's belligerent occupation and colonization of Palestine, while giving Israel a free pass to use internationally condemned methods of ethnic cleansing, collective punishment, chemical weapons, imprisonment without charge, assassination and other crimes against humanity there will never be justice for the Palestinians or peace for Israel.

Obama has directly witnessed the failure of his own policy to push Israel in to submission. He has pushed the sides further apart, strengthened the Israeli right wing, and he has been acting like a lobbyist for the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. We are further away from peace now than at any time. It is clear that both peoples want peace, but the leadership of the Palestinians have been happy to sit back, not talk directly, and let Obama lead their recent 'achievements'. It's time for Obama to wake up, tell the Palestinian leadership to do their people a favour and recognise Israel officially. tell them to stop war mongering with their increasing supply of missiles and rockets, recognise the security issues, and enforce the distribution of the billions of dollars he as President has authorised to go to the PA to get to the Palestinian people on the ground. While Mr Abbas sends his family to Europe to live the high life on US public tax money, his people are suffering. Perhaps if these scenarios come to fruition, after proof that the Israelis can see their neighbours as trustworthy and genuinely interested in peace rather than not, progress will be made.

45. At 5:29pm on 06 Jul 2010, johnlh wrote:

"As the President of Iran has stated these goals are to wipe Israel off the face of the map"

----------------------------------

No he hasn't.

39. At 4:46pm on 06 Jul 2010, Mladen Andrijasevic wrote:

"According to this morning’s Washington Post, President Obama is to press Netanyahu to apologize to Turkey https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/05/AR2010070502889.html

Apologizing to Turkey would be one of the biggest political disasters in Israeli history. Instead of apologizing Israel should launch a public relations campaign explaining what kind of regime Turkey is supporting in Hamas. They should quote the Hamas Charter:

Article 7: 'Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,'

Article 13: ‘There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by jihad.’"

-----------------------------------

Hey, if it's OK for Israel to support Hamas, as they did in it's early years (in an attempt to destabilise Arafat), then why isn't it OK for Turkey to support Hamas?

At quote 44 Willanr wrote:
This idea of the Jews being the chosen people...

----
In biblical times when people heard voices in their heads it was probably due to some form of schizophrenia. Back then there was no treatment so they wrote books quoting 'God'.
There is no chosen people(its the most racist comment ever). We all belong to the same race: human.
Sadly, many Israeli's do not view Palestinians as such.

israel is a parasite of the american taxpayer and the u.s. government is the lapdog of israel. yes, israel controls u.s. foreign policy. aipac and many other jewish and israeli lobbys own the u.s. government. we give them billions of dollars every year and they laugh in our faces. anyone who says anything bad about israel is shrugged off as being antisemetic no mater what attrocities israel commits. its time for the american people to demand that all economic and military aid be canceled. if israel survives or not isn't the problem of the american people. maybe the u.k. can step up and foot the bill for israel to continue expansion.

As an American, neither I, nor anyone I know of, can offer a good explanation as to why we should care one bit about anything, or anyone in the Middle East. The Arabs and Jews have fought since time began and will likely do so until the end of time. Why my Country seems hell bent on taking either side is a mystery to everyone outside of Washington. Sorry, but I don't buy the whole, "they're our allies" line of reasoning. The average American over here couldn't care less about Israel or the Arab countries, unless of course, they happen to be Jewish or Muslim.

42. At 5:12pm on 06 Jul 2010, johnlh wrote:
"Israel has stood alone amidst peoples who would see them destroyed. The only Democracy in that part of the world."

Turkey is a democracy. So is Lebanon. Hamas was democratically elected. That's three neighbours of Israel which are democratic. I think that your best bet is to stick to the "Even Hitler was democratically elected argument" favoured by your fellow Zionists when discussing Ahmedinajad until last year, that way you can continue to demonise Hamas. If anyone counters by pointing out that Israel is an apartheid state which openly discriminates against goyim, just ignore them because its self-evident.

Imagine a world where the united States federal government actually followed their constitution, (which they swear an oath to honor)and did not get involved with war mongering countries as well as empire build for the United Nations by supplying their dumbed down soldiers as their warriors.

Obama should stop committing treason against the united States and let Israel fend for themselves. I'd bet that Israel would get along better with it's neighbors.

Lol i cannot be bothered to study barcodes. I will just avoid dodgy homemade rockets etc. Now where is my intel laptop...

Yet another HYS about Israel from the BBC. Dear god, this obsession is becoming rather racist in its undertones.

I know the left wing extremists would love nothing more than a split between the US and all its allies, but it's not going to happen.

The BBC is a sick organisation in need of euthanasia.

@Comment 39 (and the rest)

"They should quote the Hamas Charter:
Article 7: 'Oh Muslim, oh servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him,'
Article 13: ‘There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by jihad.’

OK Number 39 and exactly what has Israel done to isolate the extremists and encourage the moderates in the Arab world to remove these offensive clauses, hmmm? Isn't the answer precisely nothing and isn't every action Israel is taking and has taken prove their total disinterest in a just settlement in Palestine?

As others have said, nothing changes, does it? Sooner or later, SURELY, the western world will recognise the error in bankrolling this deeply immoral country? Some hope...

The US seems to do what certain lobbies within it decide for it to do, and in such sense Israel in some odd way controls the US in its favor regardless of the circumstances, with the added bonus of a non NATO country acting under the umbrella of NATO because of this... what would these talks mean? absolutely nothing in reality... so the rocky relation is non existant it has been a pure joy-ride so far for Israel, and it continues on to this day, and most probably continue until they're considered by all a failed state..

"Will this meeting improve relations between the two nations? Has Netanyahu done enough to appease President Obama's concerns? What will these talks achieve? -BBC

Although perhaps a meeting between any two nations could not help but to improve the relations between those nations, perhaps a discussion between Israel and the US could involve far more than just the relationship between those two nations. For instance, it has long been in the news that the relationship between Israel and the US could have various impacts on other nations, too, especially in the Middle East.

I am all in favor of the establishment of a Jewish state, and history has shown that Christians, Jews and Muslims can all get along with each other, quite well, if only as fellow humans. Yet, apparently there could be various religious factions within any of those groups which could ignite and perpetuate extreme differences. That is where a collaboration of perhaps many nations could be harmoniously useful, far beyond whatever relationship Israel and the US could have.

At quote 54 MagicKirin wrote:

No it is Israel's enemies and their sponsors the U.N that is guilty of terrorism. The U.S follows morality and friendship (untill Obama) not following the oil money

-----
Last I looked, Israel is also a member of the UN. Israel is in violation of many, many resolutions(they hold the record for most UN resolution violations) against it namely the call from the entire international community (including its lacky the US) to go back to its legal 1967 pre-war borders.
As it stands, Israel is the TERRORIST rogue state and all who fight for their rights against this terrorist state are called: freedom fighters.
Long live the Palestinian people and their rightful lands! Don't ever give up your fight for freedom!!!

ref #55
, mariapalestina wrote:
The relationship between Israel and the U.S. is the major problem. Only when the U.S. gets its head out of the sand and begins treating Israel as it treats every other nation will there be any progress. When Israeli warships invaded our Free Gaza flotilla deep inside international waters, killing and severely wounding dozens of unarmed peace advocates, including Americans, kidnapping hundreds of passengers and forcing seven boats, two of them flagged in the U.S. to sail to Israel, the U.S. was virtually alone in the world in failing to condemn Israel's actions which would have been labelled piracy if committed by any other nation.

______

Your flotilla was one of hate and you had no interest in peace. You looked for a fight and I am only sorry that Turkey hasn't recieved more blame.

Everyone on that boat ignored or condoned the terrorism that Hamas perpetuated on a daily base. all the deal hate activists will not be missed.

I think a trial for all of you would have been the proper outcome , with the lead supporter Greta Berlen in the dock with you.

At quote 65 SystemF wrote:

The BBC is a sick organisation in need of euthanasia.

---
Just replace 'BBC' with 'Israeli government'. Then you will get an A+ on your homework.

You are always on this board, if you don't like the BBC, I have a suggestion for you: GET OUT.
But you won't since you have been sent along with your little right-wing pro-israeli buddies over here to do damage control for your master israel.

The term Palestine or Palestinians was coined by Europeans; it didn't exist before. No other group besides the Jews had ever made a national homeland there, which they did 2000 years ago and now. Jews have always been there in great or small numbers. Who made the hotly contested Jerusalem, the Jews did. The so called Palestinians were offered alot in the 2000 Camp David accords. I think the Palestinians would be better off being integrated into Israel. They could worship how they wanted and be an Israeli citizen with a chance at a better life. I just read the other day how Hamas had turned off power to some of their Palestinian brothers as punishment. It beats being under hamas rule. None of the other Arab countries want them.

Communication is better than any of the other options.

Due to deep-seated religious differences in the area and various claims toward that end, I doubt there ever can be a permanent peace. Religion can be a deep part of a person's life, unlike nationalism (which can reach religious fervor) or a superficial belief in an economic system.

Khuli wrote:
"It's been the good relations between the US and Israel that has resulted in so little progress being made towards peace. A bit more friction might encourage Israel to take a meaningful step in achieving a settlement."

If the relations between the US and Israel would become bad, it would be a signal for the enemies of Israel in the Middle East that Israel can be destroyed, as was already tried in 1948 and 1967.

Then there will be a big war, and it is not clear that the people Khuli would like to help - the Palestinians - would be in good shape as a result. It is hard to say what can happen, but usually big wars bring about quite a lot of death and destruction, World War II being an example.

I should probably make it clearer what I mean, that the tensions in the Middle East in recent years were what is called a "low intensity conflict", not a real war. In a real war, people don't care about public relations, how they are seen by the public opinion in some peaceful faraway neutral country.

In a real war people care about other things, see maybe the movie "Stalingrad" which will explain it.

But then maybe Khuli believes that the Palestinians would emerge from a high-intensity, large scale conflict whole and victorious. Of course no one can say what will happen, only a prophet can do this.

I am just doubtful that relying on civility and good will, which is a good idea in normal circumstances, would necessarily work if the whole hell breaks loose.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

Mariapalistinian, that flotilla reresented nobody except self rightious egos and extreme elements. Your lot dont talk for this briton.

If you were to remove all the "genuine grievances" that the Palestinian peoples have and force Israel back behind its legal borders and defend those borders from both sides there would be no REASON for the Palestinians to fight, and the majority of people in Palestine want a normal peaceful life, Hamas will fade into obscurity or be rounded up for being militant war mongering nutters by a legitimate regime with a mandate of the people.

Amandak your freedom fighters are another persons terrorist, its all about perception. I view hamas as terrorist as do many many others.

58. At 6:34pm on 06 Jul 2010, Dave__G wrote:
Hey, if it's OK for Israel to support Hamas, as they did in it's early years (in an attempt to destabilise Arafat), then why isn't it OK for Turkey to support Hamas?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In short, after the appearance of the Hamas Charter in 1988 and after Hamas started shifting from charitable and educational activity to terrorism did Hamas start presenting a greater threat than the PLO. Since 1993 Hamas has dispatched 113 suicide bombers and lobbed 4,548 rockets into Israel. There is no doubt today who they are and what they stand for and apparently Turkey shares their values.

I suggest you get the details here:
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths2/PalestinianWar.html
https://current.com/groups/terrorism/90387787_statistics-of-kassam-rocket-and-mortar-fire-from-the-gaza-strip.htm

should be quite simple...
1. recognize the right of israel to exist
2. release gilad shalit
3. no more mortars from hamas into israel

all will then be good for gaza.

I have very little optimism for peace in the middle east. 3 religions demand exclusive rights to have geographical areas without any compromise. If all the parties truly believed in god they would go to every possible length to peacefully live together and accommodate each other. The religious hatred is so great that it is not possible to have peace in our lifetime, every generation is indoctrinated to hate other religions, just look at the children throwing stones and rioting on all sides. What a dreadful way to raise children, does any party truly believe in the peace their religion requests, and love of each other?

71. At 7:37pm on 06 Jul 2010, ArmandK wrote:

At quote 65 SystemF wrote:

The BBC is a sick organisation in need of euthanasia.

---
Just replace 'BBC' with 'Israeli government'. Then you will get an A+ on your homework.

You are always on this board, if you don't like the BBC, I have a suggestion for you: GET OUT.
But you won't since you have been sent along with your little right-wing pro-israeli buddies over here to do damage control for your master israel.

-----------

You are a fine one to talk - you're always on this board, and only to rant and rave about Israel and nothing else. Do you not have an opinion on any other issue? To paraphrase what you just said, have you been sent over by your left-wing anti-Israeli buddies (for the record I didn't know it was right-wing to support Israel and left-wing to support the Palestinians; why do you have to be a certain wing to support a certain side??)

Amandak i would suggest your pathelogical hatred towards israel demands you go on the next flotilla and with a bit of luck you will get to gaza. I am sure the palestinians cant wait...

After reading what the black list will contain and the caveats added to concrete - eg Only the PA can approve projects to release concrete in Gaza - even though they are not in charge there, are completely ridiculous.

This 'easing' is a PR stunt designed to win over a US president with struggling ratings.

All you Anti-Semites can relax. This meeting is about domestic politics. There are large Jewish populations in major cities who historically vote for the President's Democrat party. These Jews have been at odds with the President's policies towards Isreal and the Muslim countries. B. Housein Obama is trying to shore up these voters with a view toward the mid term elections in November.

Will talks improve relations between Israel and the US?

No chance. Not with Netanyahu as Prime Minister.

I feel sorry for Israel and Israelis, they are surrounded by hateful and intolerant people.
Yet, they too, have become hateful and intolerant.

69. At 7:11pm on 06 Jul 2010, ArmandK wrote:

"Long live the Palestinian people and their rightful lands! Don't ever give up your fight for freedom!!!"

Long live Israel and it people and do not ever bow to Islamic extremism like the cowards in Europe have.


46. At 5:32pm on 06 Jul 2010, zathros wrote:
26. At 3:15pm on 06 Jul 2010, panchopablo wrote:....................lots of good stuff.............Sadly Irans poodle will not.


Hey, that's not being fair to Poodles. My Violin teacher has a Poodle that really is a great judge of character. We shouldn't drag animals into this. Wait, I guess there can't be much of a conversation if we didn't. O.K., continue.

"This is devolving into a "Hate or blame the Jews or Zionists are running the world thread, and hate America" thread."

Israel threads alawys attracts the Guardian readers spouting the same old garbage.

In Briatin we have seen the rise of Anti-Semitism,mostly it is committed by Muslims(oh can i say that) and the looney tunes much like those on here say it is because of Israels actions.

On the other hand we Islamphobia and the looney tunes much like the ones here say it because British people are rascist not the fact that thousands are being killed by people claim to do it in the name of Islam.

Basically in Britain its better to blame Jews for the worlds woes.

Tiger 80, where did the Philistines come from then ?

Will the talk improve the relationship between Israel and US?
Will this meeting improve relations between the two nations? Has Netanyahu done enough to appease President Obama's concerns? What will these talks achieve?
These questions need to be rephrased. I don't believe there is relationship issue between the two. I don't even think that Obama has any concern either at least for Palestinians.

As stated by Mr. Noam Chomsky: "President Obama, like every American president, has said that he’s opposed to settlement expansion," But his administration has made it clear that the position is purely symbolic.

They would not undertake even very mild steps toward sanctions.
Their main problem, Chomsky purported, is Netanyahu’s "insulting" posturing. Supporting an Israeli prime minister perceived as reluctant to meaningfully recognize a Palestinian state could damage America's credibility as a mediator for peace.

US foreign policy leaders "want to put in someone who’s more accommodating, who will carry out the same programs but not in an arrogant and insulting fashion," Chomsky said. "It’s the manner – not the facts – that they’re objecting to."

“What’s happening now is very similar to what happened twenty years ago," he continued, comparing the current clash to "when President George H. W. Bush and Secretary of State Baker were insulted by the arrogant behavior of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir."
Shamir’s attitude was too "brazen" for Bush to overlook, Chomsky noted, recalling that the former PM would “schedule settlement expansion for the day that Baker arrived for peace talks.” So “they compelled Israel to throw him out and put in a more accommodating prime minister, Shimon Perez, who did pretty much the same things, just more politely.”

No significant change over the period of time in Israel's posture, how could there be any? as long as US is behind it to support for any wrongdoings. No change is bound to come by these talks, unless there is fairness in the attitudes of these two heads. Recognizing the rights of Palestinian should be the basis without which there could not be a lasting peace. Giving all the rights to one and ignoring others right will not bring about any meaningful change.

The relations between the US and Israel are not the first priority, the first priority should be the improvement of relations between Israel and the other nations of the Middle East and there is not much hope of that given Israel's persecution of the native inhabitants of the area which was Palestine until the modern state of Israel was created at the point of many guns, largely provided by trans-Atlantic sources.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

65. At 6:55pm on 06 Jul 2010, SystemF wrote:

"Yet another HYS about Israel from the BBC. Dear god, this obsession is becoming rather racist in its undertones."

-------------------------------------

Israel isn't a race. It's a country.

The talks will achieve the status quo- no change there then

91. At 8:56pm on 06 Jul 2010, SimpleOldSailor wrote:
"The relations between the US and Israel are not the first priority, the first priority should be the improvement of relations between Israel and the other nations of the Middle East and there is not much hope of that given Israel's persecution of the native inhabitants of the area which was Palestine until the modern state of Israel was created at the point of many guns, largely provided by trans-Atlantic sources."

You are correct in the fact that Israel and the Arabs should be the ones who do the talking about peace not america and Israel.

Sadly people continue overlook the fact that the Arabs still will not reconise or even talk to Israel.

If the arab world openly said that it wanted direct talks with Israel i could honestly say that America itself would take Israel to the table itself.

You want america to pressure Israel then the world should pressure the arabs to the table.

In 1967, following a war between Israel and the countries of Syria, Jordan and Egypt, Israel militarily occupied the West Bank, Gaza strip, and East Jerusalem.
That year, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 242 calling on Israel to withdraw from the occupied territories.

Israel has yet to comply.

80. At 8:13pm on 06 Jul 2010, Mladen Andrijasevic wrote:

"Since 1993 Hamas has dispatched 113 suicide bombers and lobbed 4,548 rockets into Israel. There is no doubt today who they are and what they stand for and apparently Turkey shares their values."

------------------------------------------

Turkey was, until very recently, a close friend of Israel's. But international friendships mean nothing to Israel - just look at the nations whose passports the Israeli government cloned to carry out the extraterritorial murder in Dubai. Every one from a supposed friend of Israel. So the Turks elect a government which Israel doesn't like and all of a sudden it's the latest addition to the Axis of Evil.

This Israeli government is the most arrogant government from any country that I can recall in the last couple of decades. It abuses friendships and bullies those it dislikes. The sooner Netanyahu and his extremist government disappears from the scene, the better.

I am an admirer of President Obama, but his star has wained a little, in my opinion, by his thug like language and posturing over B P. Whatever his reasons for those uncharacteristic outbursts, he can't afford the same kind of behaviour when it comes to dealing with a macheavellian character like Mr Netanyahu. Mr Obama has been ignored and treated with seeming disdain by the Israeli P M. The USA is the only country that Israel will listen to, and it is therefore within the US gift to drive a solution to the suffering of the Palestinian People. As with all peaceful resolve, it takes a special and courageous leader to drive the process, is Obama that Leader. Over to you Sir !

I am not sure i understand what needs "improving". The media is making a big deal of this but in fact nothing has changed on the ground. Is the US providing less financial aid? Less economic trade? Maybe even dare criticize Israel publicly? Did the US stop vetoing every resolution going through the UN against Israel? I believe the answer is no to all of the above, this "crisis" is something Israel and the US came up with to act as if Israel is under pressure.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.