The president and the peace process

A thankless task, but at least Barack Obama seems to be trying

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Readers' comments




To Parrosenok:

President Obama will have another Middle East peace talk. I said U.S. is the only country can do it. My point in my original blog:

Prime minister Sharon reported to have said “don’t worry about American pressure; I tell you, we, the Jewish people, control America and the American people know it!”.

I agree with Ariel Sharon. Indeed, Jewish people control America, just take a look the Wall Street, the U.S. Congress, The New York Times, the Washington Post, TV stations, businesses, movie industry, etc....

U.S. is the only country has that kind of leverage at the present time. Therefore, President Obama should try it again. It seems like the U.S. is in rapid decline; again, I think U.S. may have less leverage in another decade.

My second blog is in reply to someone, who denies Ariel Sharon’s involvement in several incidents, so I try to correct that person. That is all there is to it....

Please stay on the topic, look at the facts.

Viejo Vizcacha

Why does The Economist still perpetuates the myth that Jews in the USA are the deciding factor on what the government will do in the Middle East? After all, it was reading The Economist that I first learned about the influence of Christian zionists on US foreign policies.

The main obstacle for peace is not the New York Jew, but the Texas Christian.


To Parrosenok:

I searched Ariel Sharon’s quote on Yahoo, there are 15,900,000 hits, Google has 360,000 hits, and Ask.com has 686,700 hits, etc....

I read some of them, some one said syndicated columnist Georgie Geyer fabricated that quote, someone wrote a book and tries to prove it, someone said he attended the AIPC meeting on Oct 3, 2001 and hears it, someone said it is not true....

The fact remains; US gives $182,000,000,000 foreign aids to Israel, that is almost half of total U.S. foreign aids.

The fact remains; Israel is the only country, if U.S. citizen donate money to Israel, it is tax deductable.

Look at the Wall Street, which group of people has more influence? or in charge of Lehman Brothers, B. Stearns, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, who invented CDO, MBS, CDS, ABS? how about the banks? the stock market? Bernie Madoff, etc....

Go to Hollywood, MGM, century-21, and most the movie studio? Take a look New York times and the names of editors, go to Washington Post, take a look at the names too, Los Angelo’s Times, Wall Street Journal, the list goes on and on....

Go to take a look at the list of lawyers, the American Medical Associations, most of the influential organizations, just listen to the radio, the talk show hosts, etc....

Take a look at the names of U.S. Congress, Obama's White house, the government advisors? the members of AIPC?

In my personal humble opinion, I am sorry to say, it appears Jewish does have significant influence in U.S., more than any other group, if not out right control.


I would like to draw Economist editors to a recent Op-Ed contribution in the NYTs:

In Israel, Settling for Less. Aug 29, 2010

It drills down lucidly to the crux of party philosophical difficulty in Israel in meeting obligations to curtail settlement and control militant settler's actions that fuel Arab anger.

Absolutely recommended that it be brought forward, and introduced for discussion, if one is to understand the main barrier to peace brokering between Israel and Palestine.

Public Dude

If the meddlesome US Congress left foreign policy to the President, something could be achieved. America’s interest in Israel is not any more strategic than as a “friend” since Israel has nothing much to offer in return. Witness the unflinching support America provides Israel at UN or Security Council while expecting the Russians and the Chinese to toe its line. Naturally the Russians and the Chinese see American bias and are not willing to accommodate.

This “friend” Israel has been a spoiled child. Its strength flows from American support and yet it never hesitates to give America a black eye. Remember the insult Joe Biden felt when Israel announced more settlements when he was visiting?

The US has provided military and financial support to Israel and is the poorer for it. It is well known that the neo cons in the Bush administration pushed America into a needless and expensive war with Iraq to do Israel’s bidding.

For providing such unflinching support, America has a right to put Israel on a short leash, if only the Congress let it or the Israeli lobby were ignored. For its size and population and the number of Jews in the US, there is a disproportionate influence on the US foreign policy to the detriment of US interests.

John Barker

I wonder how rich I would be if I had gotten a dollar for every time I read about the "peace process" in these pages over the last 20 years.


American Jews may well be Democrat, but AIPAC is Likudnik (and thus, not only Republican but Neocon). American congressmen and senators are in deep terror of antagonizing Israel not just because of the potential loss of Jewish votes, but because of the virulent backlash they will doubtlessly get from the Lobby in the form of character assassination campaigns propagated by conservative media outlets, and specially because of the dramatic drop in raised funds that will follow (coupled with the raise of those of their opponents). That's why any bill in support of Israel gets unthinkable bi-partisan consensus, regardless of the opinion of their voters. This, in any other country would have an ugly name. In the US, it's just politics.


To Reluctant Polutter:

In your reply to my blog, you said and I quote:

“....So the massacre was committed by Lebanese in 1982, but somehow Sharon who became Prime Minister in 2001, is responsible for that?”.


Please check your fact. Sharon may be a hero in some people’s mind. But, a terrorist in many people’s mind. Please do not say something that is not true....

Here is a web site: http://www.zionismIrael.com/bio/sharon_biography.htm. with Israel flag flying on every page.

Please let me quote from this site:


Ariel Sharon was born Ariel Scheinermann in Kfar Malal, mandatory Palestine, on February 27, 1928. He joined the Haganah underground at the age of 14 in 1942 (1947 according to some sources).. During the 1948 War of Independence, he commanded an infantry company in the Alexandroni Brigade… Sharon was appointed Central Command and North Command intelligence officer in 1951-52. In 1953 he found and lead the "101" special commando unit which carried out retaliatory operations. Sharon and 101 were responsible for an infamous bloody raid in Qibieh, in October 1953, in which 69 civilians were killed.

The 101 commando unit was merged into the paratroopers with Sharon still in command. Its mission remained reprisal raids for increasing infiltration, especially from Egypt. Sharon was wounded in one such raid in Dir El Balach. Sharon was made commander of the paratroop brigade ("Hativat Tzanchanim") in 1956 and helped to establish its tactics and reputation. In the Sinai Campaign he led a controversial operation against orders to conquer the Mitla pass.

In 1957 he was sent by the IDF to study at the Camberley Staff College in Great Britain. In 1958 Sharon became an Infantry Brigade Commander and later was made commander of the IDF infantry training school. Sharon became Chief of Staff of the Northern Command in 1964 and Head of the Army Training Department in 1966. He fought in the 1967 Six Day War as commander of an armored division. In 1969 he was appointed Head of the Southern Command Staff.

Sharon resigned from the army in June 1972. He was recalled to active military service in the 1973 Yom Kippur War (October War) to command an armored division. He became involved in a controversy over the crossing of the Suez canal. According to some versions of the war, Sharon's action allowed the IDF to surround the Egyptian Third Army and end the war in a superior tactical position. Others claim that his disobedience and recklessness cost many lives needlessly.

Ariel Sharon was elected to the Knesset in December 1973 on the right-wing Gahal ticket. During the peace negotiations with Egypt, Sharon persuaded Menachem Begin to agree to remove the settlements in Sinai in order to obtain peace with Egypt. One of his priorities was to pursue agricultural cooperation with Egypt, but his major priority was expansion of Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank and Gaza, often circumventing legal channels to found and support new settlements.

In 1981 Ariel Sharon was appointed Defense Minister. He was the architect of the 1982 Lebanon War....

Here is a quote from another encyclopedia:

Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He is currently in a permanent vegetative state after suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006.


During the 1982 Lebanon War, while Sharon was Defense Minister, the Sabra and Shatila massacre occurred between September 16 and 18. Security Chief of the Phalange militia, Elie Hobeika, was the ground commander of the militiamen who entered the Palestinian camps and killed the Palestinians. The Phalange had been sent into the camps to clear out PLO fighters while Israeli forces surrounded the camps, blocking camp exits and providing logistical support. The killings led some to label Sharon "the Butcher of Beirut".

Prima Soho

Nobody in their right mind would accept a Jewish supremist philosophy in any country.

This is exactly what this and previous Israeli governments want.

That is why there is no piece.

The Palestinians are not going to accept that Jews have more rights than Christians and Moslems in Israel.

Christians and Moslems should have equal and identical rights as Jews in Israel.

Why the USA idententifies with such an evil philosophy of open discrimination is beyond any reasoning.

Jews who have been very noisy against discrimination against them in the past, have no qualms about Jewish openly practasing discrimination against other religions.

Religious discrimination should not be tolerated anywhere.


Are you really comparing any (heck, every) country in the Middle East to 1930's Germany or Japan? No one over there poses a real and present danger to the United States of America. Even a nuclear armed Iran couldn't get a missile within 1000 miles of US airspace. This is not our fight, we have our own issue and should use our resources at home.



Quite amazing that with all the problems the US is having Obama finds the impossible Middle East peace process as top priority. When was the last time that two sides that hated each other made peace because a foreign nation asked them? Only when they were exhausted from fighting. Clearly not a case here.

Besides the situation in Israel is quite normal and relaxed compared to what was going on in the past 60 years. Obama should appreciate the quite we have today in Israel and concentrate on the much more lingering issues: Iraq, Afghanistan, US debt, insolvent social security/medicare, unemployment, bankrupt banks, bankrupt states, bankrupt municipalities, rising taxes. How did Israel even make it to his list?


It is exactly because the situation is better than ever before that peace is on the agenda.
The Palestinian Authority is building itself up economically and creating real state mechanisms for the first time. A large part of the West Bank is under complete PA control.
The Hamas is completely blocked for now from creating mayhem by the weapons embargo imposed on it by Israel.
Hezbollah is still recovering from the last time it had an armed conflict with Israel.

There is a real chance here for something to happen, if only both sides' leaders would be smart enough to grasp the opportunity.

Obama is investing in it because he knows that a peaceful Middle East means better and more stable world economy tomorrow. If there was no oil in the Middle East, he would probably not have been so anxious. He is trying to secure a better economic future for the next generation of Americans. That is what every American president realizes soon after he enters office.

See my other comments for the link between an Israeli-Palestinian peace and curbing the effects of radical Islam in the region.


Primo Soho wrote:


BilboBilbo responded:

On the contrary. When the state of Israel was created, the first thing it did was to give equal rights to all its inhabitants, whether Jewish or not.
This is much more than many countries (including the US) did when they were first created.
Israel has long mastered the art of discriminating against minorities without passing any discriminatory laws:

1. Most Israel government benefits are tied to service in the IDF : non-Jewish citizens are not required to serve in the IDF. Seems reasonable enough until you learn that Orthodox Jews can also claim an exemption from IDF service but are still entitled to all those IDF benefits, unlike non-Jewish citizens that don't serve in the IDF.

2. A Jewish Land Trust owns 13.5 % of land in Israel which it only leases to Jewish people. Another 79.5% of land is owned by the Israeli Government which leases land equally to all citizens and Jewish non-citizens (but not to non-Jewish non-citizens). This kind of religious discrimination would not be legal in USA or most liberal western democracies.

3. Jewish citizens displaced by the 1948 war (eg from Eastern Jerusalem) can reclaim their original properties after 1967 : non-Jewish citizens of Israel cannot reclaim any properties they vacated (even for a few days for any reason even if because they were driven out by the IDF) during the 1948 wars. Technically the law applies to Arabs and Palestinians (regardless of religion) but in practice Jewish Arabs are exempt.


As long as the US pursues the Israeli, instead of its own national, interest in the region, it is unlikely to reach any solution. For example, the US spends US 5 billion annually to maintain peace between Israel and Egypt. What a strange way to spend money! And, perhaps Iran will be next the beneficiary of US largess -- so it remains 'bomb-free'.

John 71

There will never be peace in the middle east. There I said it. Analyze the situation a million times over if you wish. Makes no difference whatsoever.

FYI, I am usually an optimistic person, but no. Oil does not mix with water. (sorry, that's the best way I can put it).


The Kal's cartoon is much better than the article itself. USA is the third player dressed up like a referee，which is why all the previous presidents got their bleeding noses. Nice work by Kal.

Prima Soho


You are wrong and you know it. Christians and Moslems are not equal to Jews in Israel.

And that is the crux of the issue.

How long the Jews can keep on discriminating against Christians and Moslems is questionable, however, this discrimination will come to and end sooner or later, and that is the nightmare facing Israeli governments.

So far they have been able to pull wool over everybodies eyes. But this is getting more difficult to do.



You wrote:

No possible Israeli government will evacuate the settlements on the West Bank. No possible Palestinian leadership will be able to make an agreement unless the settlements are removed. Discuss!


In the Camp David Summit, the Palestinians were offered 98% of the West Bank, 2% land swap, all of the Gaza strip, plus 35 billion dollars in reparations.
This included moving many settlers.

Arafat refused. Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia told Arafat that he was betraying his own people. Arafat chose armed conflict.

So it is possible, and Israel can move settlers.
If the Palestinians are serious, and if the Israelis are serious, things can be done to bring about peace.


In 1948 the Palestinians decided the pro-Nazi Grand Mufti of Jerusalem and turn down the 1948 UN partition plan. Instead they decided along with Arab armies from surrounding nations, after Hitler had already achieved genocide of the Jews from Europe to do the same in Israel, the home of the Jews from 3,000 years ago. Many of the Jews in the nascent Israel had just escaped the European genoicde only to have a repeat performance in their native home. It was the desire of the Palestinians and the Arabs repeat what Hitler had done in Europe, only thank God this time they failed.

6,000 Israelis were killed, 1% of the population at the time: Proportionately that would be as if 3 million Americans were killed or almost half the population of New York City.

The Palestinians and the Arabs have never apologized for their attempt at genocide/ethnic cleansing. Never. They have never been brought in front of the International Court in The Hague for their crimes.

A first step in the peace process is an apology.

The Palestinians have had trouble with many Arab countries as well:

1970: They hijacked 4 airliners and landed them on Jordanian soil. They then tried to overthrow the Jordanian government.

1970: The Palestinians then created another state within a state with their own army in Lebanon setting off the Lebanese Civil War.

1982: The Palestinians using Lebanon as a base to attack Israel cause the Israelis to have to invade Labanon, resulting in the ejection of the Palestinians to Tunis.

1991: Iraq invades Kuwait. The Palestinians government decides to support Iraq. The result: hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are thrown out of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Thousands of Palestinians killed.

2006: Hamas, a government that does not even recognize Israel and is recognized as a terrorist organization was elected the previous year largely as a protest to the corrupt Palestinian Authority run by Fatah. Hamas and Fatah have a civil war with Hamas the winner. Hamas is part of the Muslim Brotherhood who was responsible for the assasination of President Mubarek's predecessor, President Sadat. They are outlawed by the Egyptian Government. Thus because of Hamas, the Palestinians in Gaza are on bad terms with Egypt and it for this reason that Egypt keeps the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza closed thus causing an embargo of Gaza.

The Palestinians should have had a state 62 years ago. But instead they turned that down and decided the pro-Nazi Grand Mufti of Jerusalem with the goal of genoicde and ethinc cleansing of the Jews from their original home.

The Palestinians need to be pressured by the international community to apologize for their actions in 1948. The we can move forward for a true peace.


The problem is Israel, Iran, Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq aren't separate problems.
The Israel-Palestine-conflict is continually used as a reason to oppose the west in Afghanistan and Iraq by terrorists. Israel is difficult to ditch because it supports the war on terror, because of it's powerful lobby and because it and the US share common goals in the region. Afghan terrorists hide in Pakistan. Iran supplies Iraqi and Afghan terrorists with weapons. You might add India to the mix because the Pakistani military regards Pakistan's terrorists as a protector against a potential Indian invasion. China likes Iran's oil. Russia has interests as well. Among other things, it supplies the region with weapons when the US won't.

Quite the party.


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