By Jenna Lifhits, WEEKLY STANDARD
The Obama administration is manufacturing a crisis with Israel in anticipation of a post-election diplomatic push targeting the Jewish state, and this past week launched a series of broadsides criticizing the Israelis through the media and in press briefings, according to congressional sources and Jewish-American officials who spoke to THE WEEKLY STANDARD.
The White House and State Department lashed out after the Israelis advanced plans to build in areas the administration considers to be off-limits to new Israeli construction, using language that reporters noted is usually reserved for terror attacks.
Asked by journalists why the administration stated that it “strongly condemn[ed]” Israel’s plans to advance construction, a phrase ordinarily used “to denounce acts of terrorism,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest replied that the construction “provoke[s] strong feelings in the administration.” In that briefing, Earnest also suggested that Israel betrayed commitments to Washington, while a State Department official separately said Israel would be “cementing… perpetual occupation” if it built the houses.
The latest controversy revolves around construction that the Israelis say is within the already existing Israeli neighborhood Shilo, but that the administration says constitutes a new settlement. Congressional officials who spoke to TWS said that the administration’s condemnation is a pretext for eroding relations with Israel and potentially for setting up a broader diplomatic offensive.
“They’re launching this weird, aggressive campaign that simply will have no positive outcome,” a senior congressional source told TWS. “It’s not an accident that all of this has been going on as Congress goes into recess [and] as attention is diverted by the election.”
The source said that while the administration has engaged in similar behavior against Israel in the past, this case appeared “far more coordinated and aggressive.”
“The president is in the market for a legacy,” the source continued. “I’m very concerned that he’s going to do something that he considers to be dramatic, just to get his name on the process.”
Another congressional source told TWS that President Obama has been “waiting for an opening” to condemn Israel.
“200 housing units in an existing community that did not expand the boundaries at all? That’s not something that should even make the news in Israel, let alone the U.S.”
The source suggested that the administration had also coordinated with media outlets this past week to release material criticizing Israel.
“The fact that they seem so prepared for this, the fact that it comes at the exact same time as this crap from the New York Times and Vox,” the source continued. “I [think] they were waiting for something.”
A senior political official at a nonpartisan national Jewish organization told TWS that the White House seems to be setting up the Israelis to take the blame for a fabricated crisis, which could then be used to justify diplomatic action against Israel.
“It’s no secret that the Obama administration is angling to do something against the Israelis after the election, when it will face no political pressure,” said the source. “That’s exactly why lawmakers from both parties have been penning letters and resolutions calling for the President not to throw our Israeli allies under the bus at the United Nations or target them domestically.”
“The administration wants to be able to say the Israelis forced them to act, which is why they’ve launched these efforts to blame Tel Aviv for tensions.”
If Trump wins, Obama’s hands may be tied with regard to Israel, even if he thinks he can do as he likes as a lame duck President. The 2016 Republican Platform says that the U.S. will cut off aid to the U.N. if it imposes terms on Israel. If President pro-tem Trump convinces them that the U.S. will stop paying its bills — I believe the U.S. pays at least a quarter of the U.N. budget — I think that might have a restraining effect on the U.N., thus rendering Obama impotent. The following should be a bumper sticker to focus the attention of ever voter who prioritizes Israel. “Any entity” means the U.N.
The Wkly Standard is part of the “Conservatives” who have been putzing around, talking and writing a lot while achieving NOTHING either for the country or for Israel. The Adm, the DOJ and the Goebbels mass media are in cahoots with the Depraved and Amoral Clinton duo against Trump and IL. Kristol is now on the side of Hillary!
Russian and USA are fighting over the Syria and to stage a takeover of Lebanon & Israel for the Levant Basin.
The State department and the administration attack of the houses being built in Judea and Samaria is to hide the fact that every City and town and village in America is a settlement built on stolen conquered Indian land. People in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
Israel could perhaps hold off for a while and then build 400 when hopefully the idiots are out of he Administration next year.. If Clinton wins the election, hopefully not, then Israel could consider cutting ties with the US and ignore UN resolutions that are not law anyway. Israel’s main problem at the moment seems to be that they rely too much on diplomatic relations and allies etc. and have little faith in the God that has returned them to their land and kept them on the winning side through every military and political attack since 1948. He can do it for them against a (fallen) USA just as easily as He has protected them in wars against all odds. He promised them that He would protect them even if the whole world were against them, this was an unconditional promise.
I expect that if Clinton wins then soon after the USA will have the wrath of God to contend with and will have little time for international politics and foreign conflicts.