by Isi Leibler
October 3, 2011
The serious impact of the US administration’s fierce condemnation of a routine municipal approval for construction of 1100 homes in the Jerusalem suburb of Gilo must not be underestimated.
It is crucial that Americans and the global community are made aware that Gilo is not a settlement outpost. For 40 years nobody ever challenged the fact that Gilo belongs to Jewish Jerusalem. It is a 100% Jewish populated suburb of south western Jerusalem located minutes from the heart of the city. During the second intifada it was under sniper fire from terrorists located in the adjoining Arab suburb of Bet Jala. It is as much part of Jerusalem as the suburbs of Rehavia or Katamon. To deny that Gilo is part of Israel is akin to denying that Tel Aviv is part of Israel.
To even hint that Obama’s formulation of 1967 borders means that we are obliged to “negotiate with the Palestinians” over Gilo, would simply be inconceivable. It would challenge the residential rights of 300,000 Jews in the entirely Jewish populated areas of Jerusalem over the green line such as Ramat Eshkol, Pisgat Zeev, Ramot and French Hill. These Jewish suburbs of Jerusalem, illegally occupied between 1948 and 1967 by the Jordanians who made the area Judenrein, would be up for grabs or “negotiable”. Every mainstream Zionist political party would unhesitatingly refuse to negotiate over these areas.
This US condemnation is magnified by the fact that it took place in the immediate aftermath of the defamatory address by the intransigent PA president Mahmoud Abbas at the UN General Assembly. Abbas refused to compromise on anything, reiterated his determination to never recognize a Jewish state and even denied the historical association of the Jewish people with the Holy Land.
He accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing”, employing terms such as “racist” and “apartheid” without retracting his earlier proclamations that not a single Jew would be permitted to live in the new Palestinian state. He boasted that he would reunite with Hamas whose Charter calls on the faithful to murder all Jews and remains committed to the destruction of Israel. We are repeatedly reminded that Abbas is the best peace partner we will ever get but at times like this we would do well to remind ourselves that his Ph.D. thesis was based on justifying Holocaust denial.
The Gilo construction hysteria coincides with delicate diplomatic maneuvers at the UN Security Council arising from the Palestinian abrogation of the Oslo Accords. We need US support to ensure that the fallout from this on a cluster of issues does not inflict major damage on us. For example, some European countries are likely to yet again place us in the dock when we refuse to accept substitution of UN Resolution 242 by a formula in which the 1949 armistice lines (with swaps dependent on Palestinian acquiescence) become the new benchmark for negotiations. That would lead to the indefensible 1967 lines being de-facto imposed as the new borders, with significant sections of Jewish Jerusalem and the Temple Mount excluded from Israel.
In addition, many of these nations are also unlikely to demand that the Palestinians accept Israel as a Jewish state which poses an existential threat for us, and which, amongst other matters, relates to the Palestinian foregoing of the Arab refugee right of return to Israel.
We do not expect the US government never to criticize Israel or from time to time have differences with us. But during such a sensitive situation, the vicious public condemnation of Israel over construction of homes in its own capital is hardly the manner one would expect the US to behave towards an ally.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who in her previous role as a senator had supported recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, even went so far as to accuse Israel of being “provocative”.
Not surprisingly, the Europeans saw this as a clear signal to intensify their pressure against us. The EU Foreign Policy Spokesperson, Catherine Ashton, demanded that Israel revoke the permit. The French Foreign Minister followed suit. And even German Chancellor Angela Merkel joined the pack informing the media that she condemned Netanyahu and “raised doubts over the Israeli government’s readiness to begin serious negotiations with the Palestinians”.
Despite his charm offensive towards President Obama, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu responded that Israel’s capital and in particular the Jewish suburbs of Jerusalem had never hitherto been subject to outside interference and his government would not alter its policy. He pointed out that substantial Arab construction plans had been approved at the same time.
It is thus imperative that as we witness the US Administration’s passive stance as the Europeans continue pressurizing Israel, we do not accept Obama’s UN speech as the last word on the matter, especially with Congress and the majority of Americans being strongly opposed to one-sided pressures against the Jewish state.
Indeed, Congress has already demonstrated its unwillingness to continue tolerating Palestinian intransigence. Over the past three months it blocked nearly $200 million of aid to the Palestinians in response to the PA breach of the Oslo Accords and their dismissal of US demands to negotiate with Israel. The House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees have indicated that funding would remain suspended until the question of Palestinian statehood at the UN had been settled.
Yet, the Palestinians believe that in return for US opposition to their efforts at the UN, they can leverage the Obama Administration to extract further unilateral concessions from Israel in their ongoing campaign to dismantle the Jewish State in stages. It is therefore crucial that American Jewish leaders and friends of Israel now raise their voices against efforts to transform Jewish Jerusalem into a negotiating issue.
ADL’s Abe Foxman was one of the few Jewish leaders courageous enough to speak up and condemn Obama’s Israel bashing at the early stages. He recently accused me, mistakenly, of not being willing to praise Obama’s positive initiatives towards Israel despite my having done so on many occasions However I pointed out that over the past 6 months, the ADL like other Jewish establishment bodies, had remained silent in the face of Obama’s biased diplomatic forays against Israel. One hopes, that in conjunction with other Jewish leaders he will again display the courage to publicly condemn the administration over its behavior in relation to housing in Jewish Jerusalem.
If the Jewish response to this remains muted, it will serve to strengthen those in the Administration who are determined to maintain the ongoing policy of appeasing the Palestinians at Israel’s expense. More importantly, the pressure on the administration to follow up on Obama’s dazzling UN speech will evaporate and it will be reduced to nothing other than an electoral ploy to attract Jewish and pro-Israeli Americans to the Democratic camp.
ileibler@netvision.net.il
This column was originally published in Israel Hayom
I am an American ww2 veteran. I was in Germany at tthe end of that war. I saw enough while there. Words cannot describe the horror of anti semitism.
I am strongly for Israel I attend any rally for Israel that I hear of. I take into consideration the views about Israel by a politician when I vote. Most Americans I speak to share my views on the Jews. We find it deplorable how this presidenf and his ilk are doing whatever possible to destroy Israel. Please don’t paint us with the same brush as them
The West has lost significant control over oil and gas leading to loss of power but greed remains a strong motivation (for individuals). More and more you hear and read about millionaires and billionaires while two third of humanity is in poverty, illiterate and ignorant. These masses are easily used and manipulated against Israel and the Jews in the Muslim world where Jews have disappeared long ago. At the same time it is amazing to C that no authority in the West rises against the cleansing of non-Muslims populations out of the Muslim lands. Obama, Cameron, Sarkozy and other’s silence says a lot on the issue and their moral characters.
I disagree with the BO theory that it’s the US government that prevents a Kosovo type attack on Israel. It’s the American people that prevent it. FGW once told me in an email (in so many words) that the government (of this country) must operate within what is acceptable to the masses, lest there be a massive uprising (last one being 1960s civil rights movement, effectively hijacked and neutered by the powers at the top).
Most Americans have no idea where Kosovo/Serbia is, feel no kinship to it, do not keep up with it. US policy has entailed keeping everyone in the dark on what goes on in the Balkans. Thus, it was rather easy for the big-lie machine to attack and cleanse people over there.
Americans keep up with Israel, many travel to and from, the government has made sure to keep it on page A1 at all times. And in spite of the big-lies (the Jews are tormenting jihadists, Jewish landthieves, etc.) Americans mostly still support what is right and there would be a huge protest if the US overtly supported an attack on Israel. An overt attack on Israel would not be met with the same silence as an attack on Israel, and the ‘Jews are the new hitler!’ agitprop would likely not be swallowed quite as easily regarding the Jews as was the case with the Serbs.
I notice that our great ‘patriots’ like Kristol and Wolfowitz are remarkably silent when the US is bullying Israel, but Kristol said something that is true: the American people are the ‘Jewish lobby’. The government only does for Israel what this ‘lobby’ forces it to do. And it’s wonderful that the citizens can still occasionally force the government to do what is right, such as vetoing neo-nazi schemes in the UN.
Yamit and AE, you are once again making ad homenum attacks. I will no longer tolerate them. I will delete any remarks which contain them.
I read it about 40 years ago when it was first published and remember it well. In fact have met and corresponded with Loftus a number of times since.
Prove what, Yamit? Do you think for a minute, that if the US hadn’t vetoed one mad scheme after another, Israel would not have become another Kosovo or another Korea? The only thing that stands in the way of a UN attack against Israel, is American vetoes in the Security Council. What “proof” do I need? A copy of the UN charter?
“Inherently insecure, Israelis look for protection and partners. They embraced the monster Stalin, who planned to murder all Soviet Jews in 1953. After a brief flirtation with France, Israelis turned to the United States for protection despite numerous and clear indications of their protector’s treacherousness: a weapons embargo in 1948, a threat to fight on Egypt’s side in 1956, the prohibition of a preemptive strike in 1967, the ban on destroying Egyptian army in 1973, protests against bombing the Osiraq reactor in 1981, a push for democratic elections in Lebanon and Palestine, barring Israel from an attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities, ad infinitum. Read More
US defense is Israel’s suicide
Leon Panetta, the leftist ecologist turned US Defense Secretary, arrived in Tel Aviv to pressure Israel to take ‘risks for peace.’ The idea, as usual, is that Jews should retreat from the Jordan Valley and the PA’s outer borders and count on the Arabs’ friendliness. Washington is even willing to provide security commitments—the value of which we saw just recently, when the White House failed to oppose Egypt’s remilitarization of Sinai and the return of the pre-1967 fedayeen attacks.
Panetta will also find a willing ear in Ehud Barak for his claims that the Iranian regime is destined to fall soon in yet another Arab Spring event. Any regime will fall eventually, of course, but the ayatollahs will be succeeded by virulent nationalists who will continue building up their nuclear stocks. Two years ago, when the US had the opportunity to break the Iranian regime, the White House failed to provide material support to the Iranian protesters.
If it weren’t for support from pro-Israel Americans, Israel would have been attacked by UN “peacekeepers” decades ago.
Sounds to me like a statement of fact, and I challenged Bland to show upon what it’s based upon. I have an opinion of you and can prove it, provided I have the proper inducement. You are wrong opinions can be challenged to show basis for an opinion. He can’t be forced but we are old friends here unlike yourself who is hated by every reader on this blog. That’s an opinion that can’t be proved one way or another. see the difference. it’s true though 🙂
Bribes for control and influence. Control of Israel which gives them influence among the Arabs.
withholding more than they give see pollard for proof.
You’re kidding, right? Here is another opinion that you just proved: You’re stupid!
Opinion or a statement of fact. If fact prove it if just opinion it proves again how stupid you are.
Supply link to whatever poll or source.
Obama has enough time to turn the polls around and fickle Americans will fall for anything and have. 8)
It’s his opinion, moron. No one needs to prove an opinion.
Why are you surprised at anything these morons say or do? They don’t run Israel. Tell them to go suck eggs.
No one can make Israel do anything it doesn’t want to. Grow up.
Have you just returned from Mars? America has been Israel’s only ally for several decades now, providing BILLIONS in loans and grants, arms deals, conducting joint intel operations and publicly pledging to stand with Israel against a nuclear Iran. Until Israel becomes America’s 51st state, America is free to have relationships with other countries who may be hostile towards Israel. This actually helps Israel by keeping these countries on the sidelines.
No, they’re not. These lands were lost to the Jews for centuries, with no prospects of being returned, until the Ottomans were defeated.
No, it doesn’t. Geopolitics is not based on what you choose to believe. Your adversaries have their own version of what their religion needs them do to others. Screw anyone who hides behind their religion to justify their objectionable actions.
Your faith beliefs are your own and should have a positive influence on your behavior and attitude towards your fellow man. In your case it doesn’t even seem to do that. It is only when you have no logical point that you can make that you run to Moses for help.
The political facts in the REAL WORLD are that Israel formally annexed Jerusalem and can therefore build whenever and whatever they want. If they had annexed all the lands they acquired while defending themselves they could do the same there as well.
Instead, numerous Israeli governments have conceded that the settlements in J&S are “negotiable” and then they destroyed the settlements in Gaza to confirm that the settlements should not have been built.
As I have mentioned above, it is successive Israeli governments, not the West, that decided to classify the territories acquired while defending itself as “negotiable”. The West has access to more oil and gas than it knows what to do with.
Bullshit. Greedy and unethical people and those who use power inappropriately don’t last for long under capitalism. They get put out of business or bought out for pennies on the dollar like Lehman Bros. and Merrill Lynch or end up in jail like the Enron thugs and Bernie Madoff.
Obama MUST be defeated in 2012. The US, Israel and the world cannot afford four more years of this clueless moron. The good news is that his approval among whites is below 50%, his approval among blacks is down to 58% from 96% in 2008, and his support among American Jews is down to 45% from the absurd 78% in 2008.
The West does not care where the Jews build. The West does not care about historical rights. Furthermore they are surrounded by antisemites or ignorants. The oil and the gas is what count. Still we need to find ways to resist Obama if he was to win and Israel must develop and exploit its oil/gas reserves ASAP.
As mentioned once before a week ago, you should read: “The secret war of the West against the Jews” by Loftus and Aaron. A real eye opener! TOTALLY CREDIBLE AND CONVINCING.
This is for U 2 Ted.
It is all about POWER and GREED. Two cardinal rules of US capitalism. Ethic is in another universe.
Following Abbas abrogating the Oslo accords, by his unilateral bid for statehood at the UN, all talk of negotiations is a charade by Israeli leaders, a filibuster to placate the abominable Obama, until he hopefully is thrashed and leaves the White House in January 2013.
The argument for the annexation of Yehudah and Shomron should be voiced in Israel and worldwide, as a matter of urgency, so that with the inauguration of the new president, all talk of land for peace will be terminated at the start of the new administration.
What’s this?
This.
The filthy western imperialists and globalists figured out long ago that it’s easier to make Jews conform than their enemies. No one does the slaughtered lamb bit quite as well as modern Jewry and western Jews are the worst cowards of all trying to hide among the goyim and selling out their brethern who dare to live where they don’t have the balls to.
“Pleassssseeee like us. We’ll do anything to get you to like us. Here let us offer you our heads. Will that be enough? If not we will find a way to give you more.”
An ally? Since when is America an ally of Israel any more than Jordan, Egypt or Saudi Arabia?
The Jewish historical lands are exactly the “occupied territories.” NOT JUST GILO. The Jewish state was there while the sea coast was dominated first by Philistines, then by Greeks and Romans. Jews held it only for short time, and it was largely a pagan area. Our historical connection to Tel Aviv is just a bit stronger than to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Does Leibler value Gilo, a relatively new modern settlement artificially attached to municipal Jerusalem conider as sacrosanct but not the rest of Y & S? He seems to imply that it is and if so explains what is the sickness of secular Zionists. Shy calls them stupid. They are not stupid just lousy Jews.
Why should atheist Jews have a state in the current location? Jewishness is indefensible on atheist grounds. There is a single atheist argument for Jews ruling over the Land of Israel: raw power. We are powerful and willing enough to take over this land. As good an argument as this is, it is not without the divine miracle that the handful of us Jews can stand against 300 million Muslims.
Religion provides Jews the only politically correct justification for the necessary actions. Just accept as a matter of belief that G-d revealed himself to 3 million Jews at Sinai, promised us this land in perpetual possession, and commanded us to drive the aborigines out. That position is so much simpler than labored nonsense about historical rights.
I have said before here on Israpundit and say it again it’s the Leiblers who are our real problem not Obama or the Arabs.
Here’s a clue:they don’t care.
It is criminal and obscene that Obama and Hillary have made Ramat Shlomo and now Gilo into “settlements”, both played as public diplomatic attacks.
They know exactly what they are doing, and now Panetta’s visit to unfairly criticize Israel.
Ayalon needs to at least make a new public diplomacy video.
“Obama’s dazzling UN speech” was a lie.
You said it now prove it.
Oh? I’m an American, and I’ve been pushing for no such thing. Jews, like Leibler, seem terminally paranoid. They can’t distinguish friend from foe. If it weren’t for support from pro-Israel Americans, Israel would have been attacked by UN “peacekeepers” decades ago. Maybe Ed Katz is right.
Jews inherited stupidity from their cousins, the Arabs. Abraham should have drowned the baby.
And what difference would it make if it was?
Stupid Jew.
Unlike Hevron, Beit Lechem, Shiloh, Ariel, Efrat, Maale Adumim, Yericho, Karnei Shomron, Elkana, etc.
/sarc
Stupid Jew. And there are so many. How did we ever get to be so stupid?!