WASHINGTON DC - Haaretz has learned that Clinton's list includes at least four steps the United States expects Netanyahu to carry out to restore confidence in bilateral relations and permit the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians.
At the beginning of Sunday's cabinet meeting, Netanyahu tried to convey a message that there was no crisis in relations with the United States. But he sent precisely the opposite message to Oren in Washington.
In Oren's Saturday conference call with the Israeli consuls general, he said that the current crisis was the most serious with the Americans since a confrontation between Henry Kissinger and Yitzhak Rabin in 1975 over an American demand for a partial withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula.
US Wants Israel To Cancel Jerusalem Building Plan
(WRMEA) - An even more provocative action by the Netanyahu government is its ongoing effort to cordon off East Jerusalem from the West Bank and to replace the Arab population with Jews. In addition to encircling East Jerusalem with massive Jewish settlements, Israel prohibits almost all West Bank Palestinians from entering the city and has confiscated the identity cards of more than a thousand Jerusalemites. In mid-December the government abruptly barred Palestinians from conducting a long-scheduled census in East Jerusalem intended to supply data needed to set economic and social priorities. One day before the count was to begin the Knesset, in a rarely used procedure, passed all three required readings of a bill prohibiting all political activity by Palestinians in Jerusalem "or any similar activity that does not conform with respecting Israeli sovereignty."
A statement issued from Netanyahu's office in support of the measure effectively scrapped a provision of the Oslo agreement calling for the future of Jerusalem to be determined in the final stage of negotiations. "Jerusalem is Israel's capital," the statement said, and the prime minister "will not allow any foreign activity in the city." Netanyahu's reference to a Palestinian census in East Jerusalem as "foreign activity" recalls the time when his former boss and predecessor, Yitzhak Shamir, called West Bank Palestinians "aliens in the land of Israel."
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
Approximately 80% of American Jews voted for President Obama, and in Israel his approval rating is 3%, at times 4% or 6%, do you feel that this is an indication of a divide between American and Israeli Jewry? And is it possible that American Jewish influence is actually harming Israel's interests and physical safety?
It is extremely disappointing to see that American Jewry voted for Obama, even though a lot of them realized that he is very bad for Israel. Some of them think it's good for Israel to be pressed against the wall and surrender to the Palestinian's demands; the left wing is always there. What is even more worrying is the silent majority, the greater body of American Jews who really care for the State of Israel, but put the American interests first. They thought Obama is good for America. That's why they voted for him, even though they knew how dangerous he is for Israel. That's extremely disappointing it is a bad sign in the relations between the American Jewry and Israel.
I was asked by various senators and leaders in both the White House and the State Department about the feeling of Israelis towards Obama. I guess they knew the polls and it shouldn't be a surprise to them, but I told them that he is regarded in Israel as one of the most anti-Israeli presidents that they have known, maybe the worst since Carter.
Interview with Knesset Member Aryeh Eldad.
I suppose American Jews who care about America but put Israel's interests first are citizens of the wrong country... The brainless should not be in banking -- Willem Buiter
Similarly, when Americans sell out their national interest to the highest bidder, it's treason. Except when Israel is the highest bidder. Then they are supporting their natural and cultural allies in the struggle against communism radical Islam the natural enemies of the Volk Eastasia.
- Jake If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.
the struggle against EastasiaEurabia
