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U.S. rebukes Israel's victorious Netanyahu on Mideast policy

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@bass4funk

Read albaleo's post.

Obama or no Obama there are some serious considerations here.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@SuperLib

If no violence allowed and no harsh sanctions, then the only option is the one the global powers are following now. Play around with Iran on Iran's terms, hurt Iran a little and Iran accedes a little, til they get the bomb.

Possibly as global states' attention wanes or the sunset clause invokes (US wants 10 year sunset, IIRC, and Iran wants less), Iran can throw a fit over some excuse and throw out the inspectors and ramp up production.

They gave up inspection on the forcibly disclosed facilities, but who knows how many undisclosed facilities they have or how big the facilities are? No need for them to abandon the effort. Even in ancient times Iran had really long tunnels. UN agency is careful to say the "declared" facilities are not enriching too much. Maybe Saudi Arabia and Europe will be the canaries, to show us how crazy the crazy men in Iran really are.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Turbostat, I don't disagree with anything you said, but if regime change is off the table, what other options are there besides negotiating to get Iran to cooperate? That's the reality we're dealing with.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@jersey

Netanyahu's party won 29 out of 120 seats. Which means about 75% of the Israeli's voted AGAINST him. How do you figure this as a "rebuke" for Obama?

Well yes it is a rebuke. Because in Israel's parliamentary system of government, Netanyahu will remain the political leader of the country. This is exactly the result that Obama did not want to see happen. You see in Parliamentary systems the voters do not vote directly for or against the leader of the country. They vote for the representatives that select the Prime Minister. Therefore you cannot say that any particular percent of voters were against him - or for him for that matter.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

RichardPearce: To address a couple of myths (deliberate misinformation) that have been posted ...

Iran is not serious and the five powers and UN are not serious. If any of the parties were serious, Iran would not be enriching any uranium, and would not have thousands of centrifuges. They'd have zero. The anti-proliferation forces are not serious enough to start a war, and Iran knows it. So their progress is slowed by trying to appear to conform to inspection measures, but not slowed as much as it would be if any of the powers wanted full stop to research, instead of just enough stop to pretend at success in diplomatic negotiations and inspections.

It would be so simple to stop research, stop mining, stop enrichment, and buy fuel. Russia has offered to make available to Iran the nuclear fuel it needs for its power plants. Instead Iran insists on dragging the UN to a halfway point at which it can bamboozle the world until it finally declares itself a nuclear-weaponized state.

Weapons can be produced with 50 pct enriched uranium, 90 pct is needed for lightweight warheads. https://books.google.com/books?id=3PN-NEfl_U0C&pg=PA211&lpg=PA211&dq="minimum+enrichment"

Iran, for many years and until only recently, refused IAEA inspections including inspections of uranium mines, and still refuses inspections of certain facilities, including a suspected weaponization research facility, Parchin. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parchin

IAEA says in their recent report that Iran is not NOW enriching above certain percentages but properly limits their statement to Iran's "declared facilities". Note that at least two of Iran's enrichment facilities were undeclared until their hand was forced: http://foreignpolicy.com/2012/01/11/the-20-percent-solution/: "Iran disclosed neither the Natanz nor the Fordow site to the IAEA until forced to do so, in 2002 and 2009, respectively, when outside observers discovered and publicized them."

Just googling 'iaea inspections iran cooperation' or 'iaea iran centrifuge' or 'iaea iran undeclared 2015' turns up many recent articles contradicting your claims, including:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/03/02/un-iran-is-still-hiding-nuclear-info.html

“Iran has yet to provide explanations that enable the agency to clarify two outstanding practical measures,” said International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano. “The agency is not in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities.” ...

http://www.iranwatch.org/sites/default/files/iaea-iranreport-02192015.pdf

[IAEA 2015/02/19 report] - ... Summary ... While the Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material at the nuclear facilities and LOFs declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement, the Agency is not in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities. ... Iran has not provided any explanations that enable the Agency to clarify the two outstanding practical measures, nor has it proposed any new practical measures in the next step of the Framework for Cooperation. ... Contrary to the relevant resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council, Iran is not implementing its Additional Protocol. The Agency will not be in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran unless and until Iran provides the necessary cooperation with the Agency, including by implementing its Additional Protocol. ... ANNEX I ... THIRD STEP: Five Practical Measures, agreed on 20 May 2014 1. Exchanging information with the Agency with respect to the allegations related to the initiation of high explosives, including the conduct of large scale high explosives experimentation in Iran. 2. Providing mutually agreed relevant information and explanations related to studies made and/or papers published in Iran in relation to neutron transport and associated modelling and calculations and their alleged application to compressed materials. ...

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/patrick-goodenough/iaea-warns-possible-iranian-activities-related-development-nuclear

March 2, 2015 - IAEA Warns of Possible Iranian 'Activities Related to Development of a Nuclear Payload'

... “The agency remains concerned about the possible existence in Iran of undisclosed nuclear related activities involving military related organizations, including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile,” IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano writes to the Vienna-based agency’s board of governors.

Those suspected activities, first outlined in a Nov. 2011 IAEA report and “assessed by the agency to be, overall, credible,” have since been “further corroborated,” he said. ...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pretty much sums up the GOP position.

About that litany list of what the Dems have done, don't think it'll fit all in this box.

Some people sure are.

Wait another 602 more days, that'll take care of itself.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

most people aren't dumb

Some people sure are.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

it would be very bad, but if that meant to counter this president and his radical agenda and that can stop him, go for it

Pretty much sums up the GOP position.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Yeah, and NASA was caught faking the moon landings.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Report-Senate-panel-probing-Obama-administration-ties-to-effort-to-unseat-Netanyahu-393905

But I know, it's impossible for Obama and his minions to do anything wrong because his majesty is impervious to faltering on anything and it would make perfect sense, since BB seems to be the only one with some sort of sense to understand the complexity of these crazy mullahs and yet, this president loves our enemies more than our allies, that's why it took a few days to congratulate Netanyahu, but once again, Dems had this blow up in their face, they never, ever learn.

FYI, just because a former Obama campaign staffer went to work for a policy group in Israel doesn't mean the administration was behind it.

You can believe that, you are entitled to that, but most people aren't dumb and to think that they DIDN'T have their hands in it or tried not to sway the election, you would have to be living on the moon. BB was and is in Obama's way and as long as he's in the show, it will be very hard for Obama to get what he wants, so yeah, I do very much believe there was a plan to try to get him out ASAP, but as we know how the results turned out....

In fact, there have been other former Obama campaign staffers who have gone to work for pro-Bibi groups. How's that for a little cognitive dissonance?

Plastic, keep trying and keep digging, buddy.

If anyone was actively participating in swaying the election in Israel, it was John Boehner and his House GOP caucus.

And even if that were remotely true and there is absolutely NO mention of it, but IF that were in the least true, it would be very bad, but if that meant to counter this president and his radical agenda and that can stop him, go for it. But since that is not the case, because the GOP doesn't have a problem with BB nor are they going to try and jeopardize their chances in congress.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

bass

the admin. was caught trying their best to influence the Israeli election to oust Netanyahu

Yeah, and NASA was caught faking the moon landings.

FYI, just because a former Obama campaign staffer went to work for a policy group in Israel doesn't mean the administration was behind it. In fact, there have been other former Obama campaign staffers who have gone to work for pro-Bibi groups. How's that for a little cognitive dissonance?

If anyone was actively participating in swaying the election in Israel, it was John Boehner and his House GOP caucus.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

The White House on Wednesday scolded Netanyahu following for 1) abandoning his commitment to negotiate for a Palestinian state and 2) for “divisive” campaign rhetoric toward Israel’s minority Arab voters.

Obama is the last one to scold anyone and let's not go there when it comes to divisive elections when you have the president with his best efforts trying to influence the outcome of an Israeli election.

1) Netanyahu's promise of No Palestine goes against official US policy.

True, but it is also illegal for the US to interfere in a foreign election process and to contribute money. Now Israel (and rightly so) feels betrayed and is pissed off so for any cooperation to settle the two state solution and dealing with a president that wanted your head is at this moment and time, dead in the water

As such, the White House acts appropriately, and those here who support Net are, once again, siding with a foreign leader against the United States.

Then so be it. This president doesn't deserve an iota of respect for all the mess he's made.

This is getting treasonous.

Tell that to the president.

2) The rhetoric wasn't "divisive.' It was bigoted. Israeli Arabs are 100% Israeli. End of story.

So that means, if they were to hypothetically become the majority as Israeli citizens (although muslims) they have the right to dictate the terms, directions and conditions of the country that would suit their personal interests which are more inline with Islamic rule in the one and only Jewish state?? With all due respect, but I have no idea what you are thinking but whatever it is, that is just a Cinderella fantasy story. It will never, ever happen.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

To address a couple of myths (deliberate misinformation) that have been posted, I'll just note that an 'election' where the majority of the legal population of a state is barred from participating because of their ethnicity so that a minority ethnic group within that legal population is the majority of the voters is NOT democracy, but rather the system that Mandela fought against, and that the IAEA inspectors have free reign, with full Iranian cooperation according to their reports, to inspect, audit, and test to their hearts content, every site in Iran where enriched material is made, stored, processed, used, or disposed of, and they consistently note that there is NO evidence of the sort of even research into inventing the technology and techniques that would allow for the Iranian enrichment process to produce weapons material. If you tried to ramp the Iranian enrichment process up to make 90%+ material, even the American weapons makers couldn't produce working warheads from it. The entire basis of the NNPT is that there are techniques and technology that have to be developed or invented that are not part of the sort of civilian program that Iran has, techniques and technology that are distinctive and easily discovered in the routine IAEA inspections of every site in Iran where enriched material exists. And the IAEA inspectors report full cooperation and free access to those sites (the sites that the US claims are of concern contain, even in the US claims, zero enriched material)

1 ( +1 / -0 )

If Iran won't allow full access to weapon inspectors, they are pursuing a nuclear weapon. DPRK and Saddam all over again.

Going to all that trouble and continuing to expand their centrifuge program, for the sake of few radioactive needles for medical purposes and to supply their one power reactor with fuel Russia is willing to sell a 10-year supply of to them?

Get real.

Oh, wait, I forgot! Someone needs a peace deal legacy! It's all OK, then! Because it worked out for Clinton!

http://www.iranwatch.org/news-brief/report-two-dead-after-explosion-iranian-nuclear-facility

October 6, 2014 - Two workers were killed after an explosion at a military explosives factory near the Parchin military base southeast of Tehran. Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO) said the cause was a fire. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) suspects Iran has conducted research relevant to nuclear weapons at the Parchin site. IAEA inspectors have not been allowed to inspect the facility since 2005.

http://www.iranwatch.org/our-publications/articles-reports/irans-nuclear-timetable

February 24, 2015 - This report estimates how soon Iran could fuel a nuclear weapon. With its thousands of gas centrifuges, Iran now has the ability to enrich uranium to a grade suitable for use in nuclear reactors or to a higher grade suitable for use in nuclear warheads. The data below, which are based on reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency, describe Iran’s uranium stockpile, its centrifuges, and the rate at which its nuclear capacity is growing.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction

Under the 1994 Agreed Framework, the U.S. government agreed to facilitate the supply of two light water reactors to North Korea in exchange for North Korean disarmament. Such reactors are considered "more proliferation-resistant than North Korea's graphite-moderated reactors", but not "proliferation proof". Implementation of the Agreed Framework floundered, and in 2002 the Agreed Framework fell apart, with each side blaming the other for its failure. By 2002, Pakistan had admitted that North Korea had gained access to Pakistan's nuclear technology in the late 1990s.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The White House on Wednesday scolded Netanyahu following for 1) abandoning his commitment to negotiate for a Palestinian state and 2) for “divisive” campaign rhetoric toward Israel’s minority Arab voters.

1) Netanyahu's promise of No Palestine goes against official US policy. As such, the White House acts appropriately, and those here who support Net are, once again, siding with a foreign leader against the United States.

This is getting treasonous.

2) The rhetoric wasn't "divisive.' It was bigoted. Israeli Arabs are 100% Israeli. End of story.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

bass4funk: How about completely cutting off Hamas or Iran until they can promise to abandon their request to build nukes.

and

so if Europe wants to turn its back. So be it.

Republicans keep making demands that only work with the support of the international community, then they tell the international community to take a hike if they don't like it. I don't understand what they think their next play will be after stopping negotiations.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

This is the story of the modern state of Israel in about 20 seconds, like it or not.

No, that is the story of anti-Zionist propaganda. In 20 seconds.

Like it or not, Israel exists. Get used to it.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

So, you're defense of Netanyahu is that Obama did a terrible job and was re-elected, so it's okay for Netanyahu as well.

But the fundemental difference is, at least Netanyahu knows how to lead, knows how to call the terrorists out and knows not to compromise to give up your country, your security and recognizes radical Islam for what it is. Whereas Obama only cares about one thing and that's Obama.

Not exactly sound support, my friend. And yes, you want war

So now you get to dictate what I want? This is why people are so disenfranchised with them because all they do is either exaggerate or flat out lie and put words in other people's mouths.

-- don't say you want peace when you stand behind Israel saying the only way to disarm an unarmed Iran is to have ZERO nuclear program (it's okay for others, but not that sovereign nation!), and the only option for that is war. He wants it, you support him, you want it. Period.

Yes, I totally stand by it. You would have to be out of your mind to think Iran wants peace or it's going to coexist peacefully with its Sunni neighbors and Isreal. Pie in the sky, won't happen. And stop babbling about war, NO ONE wants a war with Iran!! Turning your back and increasing the sanctions and taking NO deal as opposed to a deal that isn't worth the ink it's written on. But what Obama's doing could indeed lead us to a possible war because the Saudis and the Israelis will never live with nuclear Iran.

Oh, and you misquoted me above -- it was someone else you were quoting. But we know how evasive the facts can be, eh, bass

Hey, unlike Obama, I'm human, I'm allowed to make a mistake.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

"I think we all know there will be no solution until there is an effective security and policing system in Palestine. Security against Israeli aggression and policing of the Palestinians who fire rockets into Israel. That is a situation that is normal in most developed countries. It's unlikely to happen from within Palestine without help. Will any outside country take up the task?"

How about China?

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The people voted and the winner is the winner. They probably realise that the only way to maintain security is by not giving up any of their land. Any one in the Israelis situation would understand because they don't see the borders as lines on a flat map, the borders are geographically strategic for their defense, if they loose any of that land, they all die at the hands of their enemies. The probably realized that they need a hard head like Nethan

0 ( +1 / -1 )

America doesn't appreciate being used as an election campaign tool for others.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Benjamin Netanyahu is a manipulative, paranoia-addled, fear-mongering asshat of the highest caliber. He's a danger to Israel and the entire Middle East,

If Netanyahu had replied with flowers to every rocket, shell or bombs that hit Israel, then the whole of the Gaza strip and West Bank would have been littered with flowers and Israelis would have been on the Fast Track to extinction from the middle east.

Israel exists in a region filled with medieval minded savages where the only way to survive is to fight and fight hard.

The ones still dreaming of a peaceful Palestinian state need to get their myopia treated because the Palestinian state will be run by Jihadi thugs who will make Iraq look like a well behaved kindergarten in contrast.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

This is a disaster we need to end aid to israel and threaten sanctions if they continue settling in the west bank and refusing to attempt to make a deal for peace, Israel needs us infinitely more than we need them it's time to act like it and stop letting this despicable warmonger's policies reflect badly on us as allies

2 ( +3 / -1 )

My guess is that the Jews in the US, who are heavily Democratic, will remember this in 2016.

Where have I heard this kind of talk before? Ah... now I remember.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Netanyahu took a page from China's iron fist: 'Absolute NO discussion of a statehood for people who doesn't like your rule'.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Try that again. Israel is one more beautiful 20th century utopian dream that has turned into a nightmare.

It is time to wake up.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

bass4funk: "Look at Obama, he did a horrible...IS STILL doing a horrible job and yet, he still got reelected."

So, you're defense of Netanyahu is that Obama did a terrible job and was re-elected, so it's okay for Netanyahu as well. Not exactly sound support, my friend. And yes, you want war -- don't say you want peace when you stand behind Israel saying the only way to disarm an unarmed Iran is to have ZERO nuclear program (it's okay for others, but not that sovereign nation!), and the only option for that is war. He wants it, you support him, you want it. Period.

Oh, and you misquoted me above -- it was someone else you were quoting. But we know how evasive the facts can be, eh, bass?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

By nuclear Iran, do you mean Iran with nuclear weapons? There is no evidence that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon program.

That's like saying there is NO evidence that Mc Donald's food will make you fat. Come ON man, seriously.....

Even Netenyahu's own intelligence says so.

You mean, the people that tried to oust him, most of the so called liberal opposition, I wonder why....

The main reason Netenyahu made such a big deal out of it was to get the Israelis' attention away from the terrible job he's done leading them. And it worked, apparently.

Look at Obama, he did a horrible...IS STILL doing a horrible job and yet, he still got reelected.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

By nuclear Iran, do you mean Iran with nuclear weapons? There is no evidence that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon program.

But the republicans "know" that the Iranians have a WMD progr... I mean a nuclear weapons program.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

And maybe the UN will declare that Texas is Mexico or Taiwan is part of China. Look, it's never going to happen, even to have this conversation is looney.

http://i100.independent.co.uk/article/here-are-all-the-countries-that-recognise-palestinian-statehood--xkVle9I-8e

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So how is Obama's idiotic irrational reason for trying to make a deal with the Iranians any different? So we get a nuclear Iran with this deal and then what? You think the Sunnis and Israel will put up with that?

By nuclear Iran, do you mean Iran with nuclear weapons? There is no evidence that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon program. Even Netenyahu's own intelligence says so. The main reason Netenyahu made such a big deal out of it was to get the Israelis' attention away from the terrible job he's done leading them. And it worked, apparently.

If Palestine is recognized as a state, Israel's occupation could be recognized as illegal! LOL!

Actually, the International Court of Justice already ruled that the occupation is illegal. LOL!

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

LOL! If Palestine is recognized as a state, Israel's occupation could be recognized as illegal! LOL!

And maybe the UN will declare that Texas is Mexico or Taiwan is part of China. Look, it's never going to happen, even to have this conversation is looney.

This would mean that any member of Netanyuhu's government could be arrested when abroad, just like what has happened to Putin's government! LOL! A sovereign Palestine could peel away support of Israel from my former partners! LOL! Yes, this is a load of laughs!

Ok, Smith...

Conservatives, whether in America or Israel, seem to have a very strange sense of humor.

No, it's called dealing with reality.

Um, Republicans, Netanyahu is not your friend. I know he's King of the Hill for now because he did something Republicans only dream of doing which is to make Obama look bad, but at the end of the day you're siding with a foreign power that will stab you in the back just as quickly if the tables turn.

Keep on dreaming. Had the election went South, you'd be dancing in the streets now, but it all backfired on the libs, the Dems and the president especially. The GOP doesn't have to do ANYTHING to make this joker look bad. He's doing a bang up job of it already.

Plus, you'll have to live with the fact that the Republicans whored out their own government to help him do it. My guess is that the Jews in the US, who are heavily Democratic, will remember this in 2016.

So what did the president and the Dems do to undermine the Israeli elections, which is illegal anyway, but you don't consider that whoring, right? Also, the Jewish vote in the US is not what will swing the election, it's the moderates and that encompasses all ethnicities.

Israel needs the help of foreign powers to get any kind of stability, and since Bibi just stabbed Europe and the US in the back it's hard to know just where he thinks he's going to get the support he needs.

Israel has always overwhelmingly relied on the US for most its overall support and throughout all that has happened, NO ONE has stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel as much as the US, so if Europe wants to turn its back. So be it.

Being isolated just isn't an option for him but that's exactly where he is.

In a way, they have always been isolated to a lesser extent.

In the end he'll probably have to switch back to the two-state peace plan. I can't imagine Europe and the US will sit at the table with an Israel who refuses that since it makes negotiations useless.

That may be and I don't have a problem with that, but as long as the Palestinians refuse to recognize the Jewish state, there will never be a move forward and progress on the two state issue, never.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Bibi proved that a lot a bigoted crap--no Palestinian state, more illegal settlements, beware of voting Arabs--helps a loser win elections in Israel. Finally even the U.S. is fed up. And I am in a rare moment agreeing with SuperLib.

Israel is one more beautiful utopian 20th century that has become a nightmare,

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Um, Republicans, Netanyahu is not your friend. I know he's King of the Hill for now because he did something Republicans only dream of doing which is to make Obama look bad, but at the end of the day you're siding with a foreign power that will stab you in the back just as quickly if the tables turn. Plus, you'll have to live with the fact that the Republicans whored out their own government to help him do it. My guess is that the Jews in the US, who are heavily Democratic, will remember this in 2016.

Israel needs the help of foreign powers to get any kind of stability, and since Bibi just stabbed Europe and the US in the back it's hard to know just where he thinks he's going to get the support he needs. Being isolated just isn't an option for him but that's exactly where he is. In the end he'll probably have to switch back to the two-state peace plan. I can't imagine Europe and the US will sit at the table with an Israel who refuses that since it makes negotiations useless.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

The UN, are you serious?? LOL

LOL! If Palestine is recognized as a state, Israel's occupation could be recognized as illegal! LOL! This would mean that any member of Netanyuhu's government could be arrested when abroad, just like what has happened to Putin's government! LOL! A sovereign Palestine could peel away support of Israel from my former partners! LOL! Yes, this is a load of laughs!

Conservatives, whether in America or Israel, seem to have a very strange sense of humor.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Isn't democracy what the US government stands for? Only if it meets it's standards.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Typical Netanyahu. Lies, lies, and more lies. Cut Israel off until Netanyahu abandons his plans to settle more in the contentious zones.

How about completely cutting off Hamas or Iran until they can promise to abandon their request to build nukes.

Period. No more dealing with this moron who clearly, like bass and other supporters, simply want war and not any further attempts at peace.

No, we want peace, don't speak for me or anyone else that believes the same. But what Obama is doing will guarantee instability in the region and it will only get worse one the Saudis start their own nuke program.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

LFR: "Cherry picking the news to suit your arguement is unbecoming and obvious."

He got his report from Faux News, and cherry picking and denying the facts is all that network does.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Bass,

How about the Palestinians and Hamas stop building tunnels and stop firing Qassam rockets towards the Israelis, that should be the absolute first step before anything or any other deal to be made.

You should remind yourself who is being occupied by whom before even suggesting such a thing. You can equivocate and rationalize all you want to, but it's the Palestinians who were uprooted in the first place and left with begging for a smaller portion of the greater whole that was once their home. They're fighting for their lives, figuratively and quite literally, and have always been on the side of right in all of this. Full stop.

Well, there was a reason why he won, just like there is a reason why in our country the Dems lost the House and Senate. The people were NOT happy with the other option,

You're delusional. Netanyahu barely scraped by in this vote. I know it. You know it. And you can be certain Netanyahu knows it. It can hardly be claimed that he has any sort of mandate from the people of Israel. He clearly doesn't, considering how many Israelis voted for any other candidate that was NOT part of Netanyahu's insanity. Cherry picking the news to suit your arguement is unbecoming and obvious.

Also, as an aside, attempting to link Obama to Netanyahu's rejection of a two-state solution with (and I can't believe I'm even having to type this) the Iran/nuclear issue is . . . fantastical. I know you hate the man, but, again, you're delusional.

The Iran deal has little if anything to do with Israel being a-holes towards Palestinians. Israelis sealed that reputation all by themselves right after the Six Day War by purposefully targeting and punishing civiians for Arab military folly. Israel set the tit-for-tat table with their constant oppression of Palestinain civilians. Are you seriously trying to say Israel has any sort of right to whine when Hamas replies in kind? Delusional.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

"In a hard-right shift in the final days of campaigning, Netanyahu backtracked on his support for eventual creation of a Palestinian state..."

Typical Netanyahu. Lies, lies, and more lies. Cut Israel off until Netanyahu abandons his plans to settle more in the contentious zones. Period. No more dealing with this moron who clearly, like bass and other supporters, simply want war and not any further attempts at peace.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Benjamin Netanyahu is a manipulative, paranoia-addled, fear-mongering asshat of the highest caliber. He's a danger to Israel and the entire Middle East, if not the world, because his particular brand of "Our way or no way" IS bound to get a lot of people killed on all sides of this conflict.

So how is Obama's idiotic irrational reason for trying to make a deal with the Iranians any different? So we get a nuclear Iran with this deal and then what? You think the Sunnis and Israel will put up with that? Obama knows and was told by many from congress and many military officials, this is a bad deal, but Obama is taking that same attitude it's my way or MY WAY. That is what will get a lot of people killed as it already has with ISIS.

First, Israel needs to stop its relentless annexation of Palestinian territories.

How about the Palestinians and Hamas stop building tunnels and stop firing Qassam rockets towards the Israelis, that should be the absolute first step before anything or any other deal to be made.

It certainly doesn't improve matters by insisting on calling "invasion" something so offensively innocuous as "settlement." Have the intestinal fortitude to call land theft what it actually is.

IT also doesn't help to NOT recognize the Jewish state and refuses to negotiate of make ANY deal with Israel.

Palestine needs a formal and legally recognized state with secure borders that can no longer be nibbled on by Israel.

Once the first two steps are made and Hamas and the radicals promise to decease ALL violence and attacks towards Israel and are really serious about peace, talks should resume and they should take their time and see how they conduct themselves before any advancements on any deals pertaining to statehood, but truth be told, after what Obama has been doing with the Iranians and the threat of Hamas once again encroaching the Israelis and add to that, the Shenanigans what the WH did about interfering with Netanyahu's election, the man is not going to take ANY chances now and all bets are off, now I am not saying that I agree with that stance, but what was the WH thinking? Obama and his admin. pushed this man into a corner, now he absolutely doesn't trust Obama and now his mind is made up, so the two state solution at least for now is dead.

Middle Eastern states need to just accept that Israel is not going anywhere, at least not without a fight that no one will win but everyone will regret profoundly.

Exactly!

The West needs to put a cap on how much and how far it is still willing to allow Israel to continue to blatantly exploit its guilt over the Holocaust and genuine desire to help Jews overcome that horror in safety and security.

You can forget that last statement, never going to happen.

Oh, and it might help to stop electing jerks like Benjamin Netanyahu who perpetuate this mess almost out of perverse glee.

Well, there was a reason why he won, just like there is a reason why in our country the Dems lost the House and Senate. The people were NOT happy with the other option,

However, now that Netanyahu has clearly repudiated any consideration of Palestinian statehood, cause for such restraint no longer exists.

That wasn't Netanyahu's fault. As long as the Palestinians don't have a real leader that wants peace and that can accept and recognize Israel as the Jewish state, we are all just spinning our wheels.

Watch for movement by the Palestinians in this area at the UN, supported by numerous liberal countries, very soon. We'll see if Netanyahu can continue to count on an American veto in the Security Council.

The UN, are you serious?? LOL

-13 ( +2 / -15 )

what is it that Israel has over the US?.... this is 2015 not 1954... the US should cut Israel loose - it is nothing but a millstone around the neck of middle east progress

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Netanyahu is digging the hole deeper for Israel, and here's why: the Palestinians have to date accepted being thwarted in having their nascent state being recognized because doing so at such an early date might have dissuaded the Israelis from negotiations. However, now that Netanyahu has clearly repudiated any consideration of Palestinian statehood, cause for such restraint no longer exists.

Watch for movement by the Palestinians in this area at the UN, supported by numerous liberal countries, very soon. We'll see if Netanyahu can continue to count on an American veto in the Security Council.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

This series of news is too complicated for me to understand... Does anyone have any helpful resource?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Benjamin Netanyahu is a manipulative, paranoia-addled, fear-mongering asshat of the highest caliber. He's a danger to Israel and the entire Middle East, if not the world, because his particular brand of "Our way or no way" IS bound to get a lot of people killed on all sides of this conflict.

Israel's magical creation is akin to a stranger checking into a hotel for a night's stay, then inviting relatives to stay as well, then pushing other guests from their rooms to make space for more visiting relatives, then ultimately forcing everyone other than immediate family, including the hotel management, out, declaring ownership of the building, and changing the name on the stationary and over the front door.

It doesn't stop there. The former owners and guests who have been forced to live in the alleys and streets surrounding the hotel are then forced to move elsewhere (no one really suggests where) as the hotel's new owners appropriate surrounding real estate to add new wings to the building to accommodate more family.

Now, if such a story were to unfold in most modern societies, one would expect the appropriate authorities to come in and expel the the invasive guests.

Imagine if they didn't?

This is the story of the modern state of Israel in about 20 seconds, like it or not.

But no one is ever going to admit this, so we have to work with what we have in the here and now:

First, Israel needs to stop its relentless annexation of Palestinian territories. It certainly doesn't improve matters by insisting on calling "invasion" something so offensively innocuous as "settlement." Have the intestinal fortitude to call land theft what it actually is.

Palestine needs a formal and legally recognized state with secure borders that can no longer be nibbled on by Israel.

Middle Eastern states need to just accept that Israel is not going anywhere, at least not without a fight that no one will win but everyone will regret profoundly.

The West needs to put a cap on how much and how far it is still willing to allow Israel to continue to blatantly exploit its guilt over the Holocaust and genuine desire to help Jews overcome that horror in safety and security.

Finally, the world (and Israelis) needs to adopt a modicum of maturity and understand that criticism of Israel's clearly antagonistic policies against Palestinians is not anti-Semitism, but rather anti-a-hole-ism.

Only until these things occur can some semblance of peace come to the Middle East.

Oh, and it might help to stop electing jerks like Benjamin Netanyahu who perpetuate this mess almost out of perverse glee.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

Just what the Middle East needs... More of the same hardline Israeli dogma as a perfect foil for the Ayatollahs.... An eye for an eye leaves the whole world stupid.. And the scrapping of the two state solution that has been twenty years in the making for the sake of winning an election is low even for the likes of Netanyahu. I cant hep feeling for the Israels who didnt vote for him...and the Palestinians who are going to be displaced now that he has just given settlers in the West Bank carte-blanche to get the bull dozers out.

Very bad news for Israel and the region in general.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

To be specific, not U.S, but Obama's team who must swallow the disappointment. It might be the sign for more elections to come. Obama lost the House and Senate to republican majority, and now his" friend-nemy" Natanyahu of Israel. The next 2016 presidential election will be the hardest to swallow, and it is Karma time!

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

Please....some of you just don't understand that the President represents the entire country. It's not a lottery or game where the winner takes all. He won, but just barely. So you can't just disregard the other 49% of the people's wishes. That's exactly what has stagnated American policies. You know...there was a time when Obama really tried to comprimise and try to bring both parties to the table. And though both parties are at fault, you GOP fanatics don't seem to get that half of America dreads the disaster that would happen if ever you controlled the House, Sentate, and Presidency. Maybe things are best as they are now.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

And the Israeli people rebuked Obama who was openly working for Netanyahu's defeat.

Wolfpack -- really? Netanyahu's party won 29 out of 120 seats. Which means about 75% of the Israeli's voted AGAINST him. How do you figure this as a "rebuke" for Obama?

7 ( +11 / -4 )

And the Israeli people rebuked Obama who was openly working for Netanyahu's defeat. President Obama does not like a strong Israeli leader as is seen in his frequent professorial disdain for the interests of Israel and Jews in general. NNetanyahu will get to enjoy seeing Obama pass from power before him and can only hope that the American people will choose a successor that is less openly hostile to the most reliable democracy in the Middle East.

The problem is now that the admin. was caught trying their best to influence the Israeli election to oust Netanyahu completely backfired and if they thought he was stubborn then, he is now MORE defiant than ever and he'll remember this, not only that Obama now has royally screwed up our relationship with Israel, but they are digging in their heels on Iran and the Palestinian issue

Now Netanyahu will get to enjoy seeing Obama pass from power before him and can only hope that the American people will choose a successor that is less openly hostile to the most reliable democracy in the Middle East.

One can only pray and hope. We have 602 more days to go!

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

@Sabrage

Isn't democracy what the US government stands for?

It is what the US stands for. No one said you couldn't get a bad result from time to time in a democracy.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

I think we all know there will be no solution until there is an effective security and policing system in Palestine. Security against Israeli aggression and policing of the Palestinians who fire rockets into Israel. That is a situation that is normal in most developed countries. It's unlikely to happen from within Palestine without help. Will any outside country take up the task? It would be nice if it were the USA, but I can understand the difficulties. How about Germany shows us how to do it? Any country that succeeds will gain enormous kudos by doing something great: helping to build a prosperous Palestine and creating good relations with Israel. Let's not give up hope.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

U.S. rebukes Israel's victorious Netanyahu on Mideast policy

And the Israeli people rebuked Obama who was openly working for Netanyahu's defeat. President Obama does not like a strong Israeli leader as is seen in his frequent professorial disdain for the interests of Israel and Jews in general. Now Netanyahu will get to enjoy seeing Obama pass from power before him and can only hope that the American people will choose a successor that is less openly hostile to the most reliable democracy in the Middle East.

-15 ( +3 / -18 )

Israelis voted for Netanyahu's policies in a democratic election.

Isn't democracy what the US government stands for?

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

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