Israeli leader lashes back at harsh U.S. criticism

I fail to see how settlements advance the cause of Israel's security.

Maybe they see them as a buffer from the major populous?

The U.S. would do well to join the rest of humanity.

More like the other way around.

I think even most RATIONAL Jews do not believe this guy, Netinyahoo! Israel must protect itself, but that does NOT mean that they have the right to kill off all of the PALESTINIANS, etc...

The officials derided Netanyahu as cowardly and recalcitrant, among other insults.

That's putting in mildly. One of the terms used to descibe him was "chicken***t". And I can't say I disagee. Doesn't take much courage to send in troops and tanks to kill a bunch of residents of the Gaza. But it would take courage to actually sit down with the U.S. and the Palestinians and negotiate a lasting peace. The basic framework has been there since the Mitchell Report published back in 2001. The world, and especially the Middle East, will be better off when he is no longer in office.

So America still has all the enemies as they had before but now Obama is turning America's closest allies into enemies as well. I bet he thinks this is a good thing.

So America still has all the enemies as they had before but now Obama is turning America's closest allies into enemies as well. I bet he thinks this is a good thing.

His middle name just might give a slight indication as to the reason why.

Moderator: Please refrain from posting bigoted remarks.

.....ouch!

''His middle name might give a slight indication as to the reason why'

Ah, the true colours show. The socialist, Muslim, Kenyan president looking to destroy the country from within. Do you still want to see the birth certificate? You could save yourself time typing and avoid spelling mistakes by typing 'BHO'. Lay off the Glen Beck and Anne Coulter, Bass. You're better than that. The comments here don't generally sink to that level. I know it's a bizarre concept for those on the US right to accept but Israel can and should have its actions and policies scrutinized in the same way as any other country.

Still, it's better than BFF's kid's name: Benghazi Soetero Squirrel

Israel is an oasis of democracy and tolerance in an otherwise basket-case of a region. However, its settlements policy is unacceptable, and the US administration is right to criticize it.

It is acceptable for Israel's policies and actions to be criticized in the same way as any other country's. Reasonable people would agree. I obviously discount the US rightwing.

@Jeff and Jimizo

Yep. Let's hope reason wins eventually in this particular debate, rather than blind prejudice, as is usual....

The "vast military aid" are almost all payment to USA military supply companies. Sure to be lots of kickback for US politicos, at least some "contributions" for campaigns. Israel is a functioning country (unlike welfare clients like Ukraine, Iraq, and others) and will be well served to build up its own military supply companies, no one can count on the USA as a friend anymore.

@edbardoe Nothing would make the US happier than its worthless ally going it alone.

Hamas needs to recognise Israel's existence and stop the rocket attacks. Such a move would deflate Netanyahu's sails and give the dove party in Israel a chance to work.

@Christopher

Amen to that!

So Netanyahu, that Iranian nuke that was ready to destroy Israel some what, six, seven years ago, how's that going? Surprised that people no longer believe you? Surprised that the recent terror you rained on Palestine upset a few folks? Surprised that you are now becoming a pariah state? You shouldn't be because you have really worked hard at it.

'Hamas needs to recognise Israel's existence and stop the rocket attacks. Such a move would deflate Netanyahu's sails and give the dove party in Israel a chance to work.'

I agree that Hamas should recognise Israel and stop the rocket attacks. I also believe that Israel should stop violating international law by stealing other people's land. However, given the fractious nature of Israeli politics where extremist nutters often hold the balance of power, I doubt we'd see a shift towards a more dovish administration with sympathy towards extremist nutters of a different religious stripe even if they stopped firing rockets. Given that US military and financial support for Israel is to all intents and purposes unconditional despite the odd cross word, there is no reason for Israel to adopt a more dovish stance.

Christopher Glen: while I agree with you, I can't find any articles saying that Hamas has recently been firing rockets. Two weeks after the Israeli military operation, is the last one I can find. I don't know for a fact if that is the case but I do know Israel has consistently been building more illegal settlements. For what ever reason, I don't believe either side truly wants peace.

It's time the US moved beyond words with Netanyahu -- a man who continuously insults the nation he has his hand held out for, and refuses to listen to a word they say. Tell him and the people of Israel that if Netanyahu will not listen to the US then the US sees no reason to further give them any money or any arms. Since it is clear that Netanyahu is NOT defending Israel and Israelis, but putting them more at risk both at home and abroad with his policies, he should not be funded, and definitely not be given carte blanche to do as he pleases with US money. If I were giving a relative or close friend money and that person kept gambling it away and hurting those around him or her, and ignored my advice and warnings to stop and instead seek help, I'd have to cut them off.

It's time the US moved beyond words with Netanyahu -- a man who continuously insults the nation he has his hand held out for, and refuses to listen to a word they say

He shouldn't have to, good on him.

Tell him and the people of Israel that if Netanyahu will not listen to the US then the US sees no reason to further give them any money or any arms.

It must be understood that no matter who is prime minister, they will be very limited as to the extent of peace efforts they can make. Everything Netahyahu -- whose main "sin" is simply being too up front -- stands for will continue. The U.S. needs to start distancing itself from the Zionist state unconditionally.

For what ever reason, I don't believe either side truly wants peace.

The people that run Israel definitely do NOT want peace as long as Arabs inhabit Palestine, and as long as the Al-Aqsa mosque is positioned on the site of their future temple. Peace would run contrary to their designs.

Has anyone looked at the entire world picture?

Has anyone looked at Mr. Obama's action and especially his inaction regarding the Muslim society and the Jewish society?

Have you really looked at the conflict between the two groups that goes back for several thousand years?

Have you looked at the fact that for both groups, their faith rules their lives including their society and even governments?

It took generations to come to this state, and still there is conflict. Could one generation change enough to bring real peace?

However, in order for a group to survive, when attacked, there is no choice. In any conflict, populating a territory is the only way to assure posession and control of property for survival. So both are attempting to populate a territory. It is something Russia knows very well. It is not the map or international agreements, it is actual possession by population that is dominated by one group. USA is the same. Japan is the same.

For Japan, populating Senkaku is critical. China is already populating a Philippine isand rich with oil.

So for Israel, it needs to populate to keep possession, regardless of international criticism. It is their defined territory, to which they have rights, regardless of what racial group or international group may say about offending others or may stop the peace process. It is not like what Russia is doing in Europe.

Have you really looked at the conflict between the two groups that goes back for several thousand years?

Really? If there was such "conflict," how is it that Jewish minority communities co-existed peacefully for centuries not only in Palestine, but in Baghdad, Tehran, Yemen, and other predominantly Muslim societies? Have you really looked at that?

In any conflict, populating a territory is the only way to assure posession and control of property for survival.

Yes. Any thief will proclaim that possession is nine-tenths of the law.

It is their defined territory, to which they have rights,

Defined by whom or what? What "rights" does any entity have to a disputed territory? What rights does an aggressor have to lands stolen from those who hold the original deeds?

kazetsukai: "It is not the map or international agreements, it is actual possession by population that is dominated by one group."

What narrow-minded thinking! And since you bring up how 'Japan is the same' and must inhabit the Senkakus to make them theirs, I guess you cannot deny South Korea's claims to Dokdo are the true claims (who cares about what Japan or others say, right? It's all about possession!) and the Kuriles Russian (I mean, it can't only be right for Japan or Israel, right?). But I'm going to go ahead and assume you think "it's different" in those cases, despite you bringing in completely different disputes and trying to form some kind of similarities.

"It is not like what Russia is doing in Europe."

Worse, actually, because Russia doesn't really deny its crimes or selectively choose points in history to defend slaughter. Yabits already called you out on that one, too, by the way.

“Our supreme interests, with security and the unity of Jerusalem first and foremost, are not among the top concerns of those anonymous elements that are attacking us and me personally,” he said.

Not sure what that has to do with settlements....

The Obama administration is no friend of Israel. All it would take to have peace in Israel is for the Palestinians and their terrorist friends to stop attacking Israel and acknowledge that Israel has the right to exist. Israel has a right to defend itself, but apparently many people think it does not, just as many people think that Japan does not have the right to defend itself against Chinese aggression, or that the USA is the cause of all the trouble in the world.

U.S. and Israel don’t communicate well at the highest levels, and to wonder about their mutual dependability and predictability, and limits their ability to cooperate on shared interests. The strains and breakdowns in the U.S.-Israel relationship could deny Israel achievement of the last war that resulted reduction of Hamas options. Inevitably, the U.S. suffers less from the breakdown in trust with Israel since its interests are so much larger.

@yabits

The people that run Israel definitely do NOT want peace as long as Arabs inhabit Palestine, and as long as the Al-Aqsa mosque is positioned on the site of their future temple. Peace would run contrary to their designs.

And as long as a single Israeli lives in the Middle East, there will be those like the PLO, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, etc. that will explicitly and tacitly support the murder of each and every one of them. Obama has an innate hatred of Jews in the same irrational manner that so many others in this world do. They are hated by the Palestinians, Arabs, Persians, and the Wests political Left because they are successful and modern. The rest of the region remains in the Dark Ages - treating women like property, criminalizing free speech, and political dissent. The sophisticated and intelligent President Obama is somehow more accepting of the backward than the people struggling to live decently in a very troubled region.

And as long as a single Israeli lives in the Middle East, there will be those like the PLO, Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, etc. that will explicitly and tacitly support the murder of each and every one of them

Jewish communities existed in the area called "Palestine" for centuries -- as minorities among much larger Muslim and Christian communities. Relations were overwhelmingly peaceful -- yes, despite some isolated incidents that so many mixed communities confront.

Yes there will be those among the ones who run Israel who hold the psychotic and paranoid view that you express. They'll even kill fellow Jews if they believe they are going to far to reach peaceful accommodations with the Palestinian Arabs.

Nice to see a sane nation like Sweden coming out and recognizing a Palestinian state.

One has to look at the world from the current perspective pragmatically, without emotional attachment to who or what is right and wrog in the eyes of one group or another.

What has happened in the past will not change, regardless of who is right or wrong and who did or did not do something. Any wrong if recognized by both the doer and victim, may be corrected to some degree but when personalities are involved, not everyone will be satisfied. Therefore, something that happened in the past cannot be really righted, morally and emotionally for all. Justice, like it or not, unless defined and written and agreed upon by each and all as laws, and adjuged by and acceptable to all, is mostly in the eyes of the beholder. Things can be made better. That is what life and to live is all about.

Therefore, I will not be involved with value based and/or emotional arguments.

I can however, say that given the current state of affairs in the world, and what is occuring in Israel, based upon what it is to survive, not idealistically or value based, to possess by occupation with one's own people, is the only way. That is why both sides are trying to do it.

As for territorial rights, until such time as all agrees to a specific border, those claiming it will continue to fightfor it. Like it or not, at least at this point, technically, by international agreements, that strip of land regardless of claims to the contrary, seems to be that of Israel.

What has happened in the past will not change, regardless of who is right or wrong and who did or did not do something. Any wrong if recognized by both the doer and victim, may be corrected to some degree but when personalities are involved, not everyone will be satisfied. Therefore, something that happened in the past cannot be really righted, morally and emotionally for all.

You appear to want to pride yourself on being "pragmatic," but your writing and stance are filled with serious contradictions. Either that or they are a half-dozen paragraphs of completely meaningless pap. When did anyone care about everyone being satisfied?

Politics has always been the art of the possible. In the end, demographics will win out. Also critical is the notion of "self-image," especially as it relates to the special mission that many sincere Jews deem has been bestowed on them as a people unique in this world. That is something you don't seem to understand or consider.

Politics has always been the art of the possible.

Peace will never be possible until the Palestinians stop negotiating through terrorism and hate.

The Republicans here hate Obama so much they actually are supporting a foreign leader against sitting American President.

See how far the worms have spread.

Consider what the Zionist state views as "justice" --

"IDF soldier sentenced to 45 days for death of mother, daughter in Gaza war"

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/idf-soldier-sentenced-to-45-days-for-death-of-mother-daughter-in-gaza-war-1.457649

The soldier murdered the two as they waved a white flag. He was charged with "illegal use of weapons." The fact that his illegal use of weapons killed two innocent people -- Oh well. On the other hand:

"Netanyahu's cabinet backs bill to jail stone-throwers up to 10-20 years ... Amendment will make it possible to convict and punish the violators even if the state cannot prove they intended to damage cars or injure passengers; bill must still be brought to Knesset for approval."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.624039

My country, the United States, needs to wash its hands and unburden itself of this moral infection.

Consider what Israel views as "justice" --

Consider that you might want to review the difference between 'accused' and 'convicted'.

My country, the United States, needs to wash its hands and unburden itself of this moral infection.

So, any time there is a verdict you do not agree with in your own country, it becomes a 'moral infection'?

Let's take a quick look at Israel for a second:

From the internet:

The percentage of Israelis engaged in scientific and technological inquiry, and the amount spent on research and development (R&D) in relation to gross domestic product (GDP), is the highest in the world. Israel ranks fourth in the world in scientific activity as measured by the number of scientific publications per million citizens. Israel's percentage of the total number of scientific articles published worldwide is almost 10 times higher than its percentage of the world's population. Israel boasts the highest number of scientists, technicians, and engineers per capita in the world with 140 scientists, technicians, and engineers per 10,000 employees. In comparison, the same is 85 per 10,000 in the United States and 83 per 10,000 in Japan.

Also consider this from the internet:

Israeli scientists have developed methods for producing a human growth hormone and interferon, a group of proteins effective against viral infections. Copaxone, a medicine effective in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, was developed in Israel from basic research to industrial production. Genetic engineering has resulted in a wide range of diagnostic kits based on monoclonal antibodies, with other microbiological products

So, I would ask those against Israel to rethink their absolute opposition and reverse position to the more logical and reasonable position of insisting upon peace between Israel and a future Palestinian state. Considering that absolute opposition to Israel's existence has been of little to no help to the Palestinians over the last more than six decades, it seems to me that convincing both sides to negotiate for peace would make more sense.