T. Belman. This article suggests that Obama decided not to force Israel and the Palestinians to make peace on his parameters. In my opinion, he may yet do so. Azoulay proceeds from the premise that the outlines of a deal are there and it only takes presidential force to make it happen. He ignores all the reasons why Israel rejected the deal. The question remains, why didn’t Obama force such an agreement or at least try to?
Op-ed: The American president had the ability to put irresistible pressure on Israel and the Palestinians and drag their leaders towards the only way which could stop the circle of violence: A peace agreement. He chose not to do that.
WASHINGTON – US President Barack Obama had many good intentions and plans to make peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Now, when the chance for peace is buried under stones, knives and Molotov cocktails, he can’t say to himself and to the world that he had no part in this failure. He is one of its precursors.
Obama discovered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s refusal of a two-state agreement before starting his second term. As opposed to general opinion, the lack of communication between the two did not begin when Netanyahu arrived to address the US Congress against the agreement with Iran behind the president’s back. It happened way before that, when Obama realized that Netanyahu talks about peace but has no intention of doing what it takes to reach peace.
Obama warned, sent messengers and presented plans. There is one thing he didn’t do: He didn’t put real pressure on the two sides. The leader of the free world has the power to create a situation in which two nations, which more or less depend on the White House’s purse, have a lot to lose if they don’t conform to Washington’s peace vision, which is aimed at establishing a decent agreement. But Obama avoided forcing an agreement on Israel and the Palestinians, although his closest circle told him it was the only way out.
The American president had the ability to put irresistible pressure on the two sides and drag their leaders towards the only way which could bring peace and calm to the region and stop the circle of violence: A peace agreement. He chose not to do that.
It doesn’t take a particularly creative mind to reach such an agreement. The characteristics are clear to all those involved, including the Israeli prime minister. He also knows that there is only one solution, based on components from the Bill Clinton parameters and the Saudi peace initiative: Two states, marking borders and land swaps, Jerusalem as the capital of both states, an acceptable solution to the refugee issue, an end to the occupation and mutual recognition.
The bloodbath which is taking place now could have been avoided, and so could the one before it and the one which will unfortunately follow. That requires a strong leadership whose doctrine isn’t based on fears and prejudice. Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have so far been unwilling to accept the tough decisions and present to the world a peace of the brave. On the other hand, Obama has failed to apply the world power’s authority and has been unprepared to discuss the punishment which would follow the two sides’ sins.
Obama very much wanted to reach a significant achievement in the foreign policy arena before leaving the White House. He put his name on a historic agreement with Iran and received credit for establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba after decades of unnecessary hostility. He justified the Nobel Prize he received as a down payment in his first year in office through Tehran and Havana. As far as he is concerned, Jerusalem can wait.
The opportunity to reach a peace agreement during his term was missed by all those involved: It was a story of insistence, inflexibility, fear and preferring political survival and the throne of power over giving peace a chance. The result is grim: The Palestinians are left with no hope and Israel has become unsafe, isolated in the world like it has never been before. Obama distanced himself from this cursed neighborhood in the Middle East, and the next president will do the same.
In the Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday, Israel was not even mentioned, and that’s where the wind is blowing: The White House is turning its back. It is conveying indifference. Netanyahu will arrive at the White House next month. It will be Obama’s last opportunity to exert his power both on Israel and on the Palestinians so that they start talking instead of killing. It’s hard to believe he will take this route. His agenda has already changed. So has his list of priorities.
Ted, what happened to my comment to babushka. It should be number 12.
@ babushka:
Since you understand so well what this administration and what the democrats are, I’m sending you the complete email as I received it. Really interesting how these people operate.
Here it is: Very Interesting. This was sent to me by a good friend who happens to be extremely financially astute. He, in fact, was a Comptroller and then became a CFO of a public company as well so his thoughts in my opinion are quite valid. Ironically he also had leaned towards the left in the past and was an Obama supporter a few years ago.
The Clinton Scam – how it works
Note: Also, Chelsea is the deputy director of the fund and lives in a $9.2M apartment in New York. Not bad on her paltry salary.(Her husband is a multi-millionaire. Her father in law went to jail for fraud)
The article linked below is a good, concise summary of how the Clinton Foundation works as a tax free international money laundering scheme. It will, if we keep the pressure on to find the ‘truth,’ eventually prove to be the largest political criminal enterprise in US history.
This is a textbook case on how you hide foreign money sent to you and repackage it to be used for your own purposes. All tax free. Here’s how it works:
1. You create a separate foreign “charity”. In this case one in Canada.
2. Foreign oligarchs and governments, many sworn enemies of the United States, then donate to this Canadian charity. In this case, over 1,000 did, contributing mega millions. I’m sure they did this out of the goodness of their hearts, and expected nothing in return. (Imagine Putin’s buddies
waking up one morning and just deciding to send untold millions to a Canadian charity).
3. The Canadian charity then bundles these separate donations and makes a massive donation to the Clinton Foundation.
4. The Clinton Foundation and the cooperating Canadian charity claim Canadian law prohibits the identification of individual donors. (As this article indicates: http://thefederalist.com/2015/04/27/the-clinton-foundation-is-wrong-canadian-law-doesnt-prohibit-donor-id/ this is not true.)
5. The Clinton Foundation then “spends” some of this money for legitimate good works programs. Unfortunately, experts believe this is on the order of 10%. Much of the balance goes to pay salaries that enrich the Clinton’s, fund lavish travel, etc. Again, virtually all tax free, which means you and I are subsidizing it.
6. The Clinton Foundation, with access to the world’s best accountants, somehow fails to report much of this on their tax filings. They discover these “clerical errors” and begin the process of re-filing 5 years of tax returns.
7. Net result – foreign money, much of it from enemies of the US, goes into the Clinton’s pockets tax-free and untraceable back to the original donor. This is the textbook definition of money laundering.
The linkage between these foreign donations, and the favors done by the Clintons (including Hillary as Secretary of State) will be the subject of a future note from your humble correspondent. This will extend money laundering into bribery and treason.
Oh, by the way, the Canadian “charity” includes as one of its principals, one Frank Giustra. Check him out on Google. He is the guy who was central to the formation of Uranium One, the Canadian company that somehow acquired massive US uranium interests and then sold them to an organization controlled by Russia and Vladimir Putin. This transaction required US State Department approval, and guess who was Secretary of State when the approval was granted.
Nothing to see here. And much of this uranium will eventually be sold to Iran, undoubtedly for peaceful purposes as Obama will of course never let Iran build a bomb.
As an aside, imagine how former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell feels. That poor schlub is in jail because he and his wife took $165,000 in gifts and loans for doing minor favors for a guy promoting a vitamin company. Not legal but not exactly putting US security at risk.
Sarcasm aside, if you’re still not persuaded this was a cleverly structured way to get unidentified foreign money to the Clintons, ask yourself this:
Why did these foreign interests funnel money through a Canadian charity?
Why not donate directly to the Clinton Foundation? Better yet, why not donate money directly to the people, organizations and countries in need?
This is the essence of money laundering and influence peddling. Now you know why Hillary’s destruction of 30,000 e-mails was a risk she was willing to take. One “smoking gun” e-mail would land her in jail.
Anyway, please read and weep. These gifters could, if America does not wake-up, someday be back in the White House.
The Clinton Foundation is a brazen, in-your-face influence peddling crime syndicate. It is fitting that the felon who conducts this criminal enterprise should be the front runner for the Democratic presidential nomination because the Democrats (in close association with their Republican allies) have for decades been conducting a pay-for-play scam masquerading as democracy.
@ babushka:
Try reading The Federalist article here is the link.
http://thefederalist.com/2015/04/27/the-clinton-foundation-is-wrong-canadian-law-doesnt-prohibit-donor-id/
Surprise, surprise!
A knowledgeable reader writes,
Great news for those of us who realize that Hillary would be Israel’s worst nightmare:
The Repugs must win in pro-gun states like Ohio and Pennsylvania, and Hillary has just confirmed the darkest fears of the pro-Second Amendment faction of the electorate. This should provide a compelling Get-Out-The-Vote impetus.
Let’s say the learned author is right (she is grievously and delusionally WRONG – on ALL accounts)has the PA or PLO or Fatah kept ANY agreement signed with Israel? Any? Why would she think they would keep one imposed by POTUS? And even if by some miracle they did, how long before Hamas or ISIS or some other terror organization ceases control of the PA and throws them off tall roofs as Hamas did to the PA in Gaza? We cede our vital and ancestral heartland and expose our underbelly to the muzzie monsters and we get what in return? A piece of paper not worth the ink written on it. G-d save us from the delusional and masochistic and suicidal LEFT!!!
He lost me with the first sentence:
Wow, new all-time highs in self-delusion.
I hope that the rest of the article does not contain useful pointers on how to become a trillionaire or attain immortality because I will miss out on all that wisdom as I cannot bring myself to read another word this guy writes.
I just read that Obama is going to keep about 10,000 soldiers in Afghanistan for the foreseeable future. Though in public he says its to fight Alqaida, its also there to put a damper on Iran’s activities.
The USA is going to make a lot of commission and manufacturing money from Israel’s sale of the IRON Dome defense weapon. I can’t see the Obama administration reversing their ideas about two states. So, in another posting, quoting Dr. Lerner, its time to dissolve the Oslo accords. The conditions are now the best they will ever be.
Dissolving the accords should stop the flow of money to the PA.
Oh yea, I forgot Obama is a Nobel Peace Laureate. This means that along with Arafat he has brought peace on earth and good will toward men. Orly, we’re so glad that your Peace Now gurus brought in Arafat and his Palestinians from Tunis. Peace would only be around the corner if we followed the components of the Bill Clinton parameters and the Saudi peace initiative. But instead we have a circle of violence because those poor Palestinians youths don’t have a State of their own. If they did, I’m sure they would feel much better about those filthy Jews they stabbed.
Jerusalem cannot be divided. Israel cannot be made smaller. Peace can come if the Palestinians decide to build a society that is based on business, education, and democracy.
Is that last statement a dream?
Israeli leftists like Orly Azoulay overlook the fact the Palestinian Arabs real objective is to eliminate Israel, not to pursue peace with the Jewish State. The twin catastrophes of Gaza and the recent violence have not led them to reassess their fanatical commitment to the land for peace (in reality, land for war) approach to the Arab-Israel conflict.
Shrinking Israel down in size will not satisfy Arab appetites. As such they have nothing to do with borders, land or so-called occupation.
They’re rooted in hatred of the Jewish people and their state. Azoulay and her leftist ilk in Israel lost the last election. Israeli voters rejected their vision and it comes as no real shock she would like Obama to short-circuit Israel’s democracy by imposing her policy preferences by force upon the Jewish State.
All one can say is – good luck with it.
Azoulay is totally deluded in the moral equivalence that transpires from her article. Another example of what we get when the fundamentals are ignored.