As part of its bid to counter Republican attacks on its “pro-Israel” record, the Obama Administration has publicized its first campaign video directly addressing its treatment of Israel entitled: “America and Israel: An Unbreakable Bond.”
The fact that the Obama Administration feels it must recruit the Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Israeli Ambassador — all of whom are responsible for the continued policy of discrimination, occupation, inequality and deceitful rhetoric that directly contradict stated American positions — to vouch for him is nauseating and infuriating.
Why do they need this video anyway? After all, most American Jews – even those unsatisfied with Obama’s relation to Israel – vote democrat anyway and the ones who vote republican surely won’t convert because of this video.
And besides, Obama has not done anything to challenge Israel’s rightwing agenda and policies so there is no actual reason for anyone to question his support (read: condoning) of Israeli actions. The fact that they do is a result of decades of “pro-Israel” bullying and occupation whitewashing – the hard work of organizations like AIPAC and figures like Josh Block. As my colleague Yossi Gurvitz just wrote following the Atlanta Jewish Times editorial calling for the assassination of Obama , there is no lack of examples of people prioritizing Israel’s rightwing agenda:
The fact that there is a debate on this issue – that such people ["Israel firsters"] exist – is silly to the extreme and assumes we are people with no sense of history. To put it in one word: Pollard. In two: AIPAC espionage. But we seem to be having just such a debate.
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ALEXANDER
I think it paints Obama in a pretty pathetic light. All of these talking heads are praising him as Israel’s best friend, but it doesn’t necessarily amount to backing him for re-election. It could just as easily be an epitaph to his administration’s foreign policy as it could an advertisement for four more years.
“Thanks for all your hard work, but the we couldn’t care less who’s sitting in the Oval Office come January.”
Philos
Bibi, AIPAC and the Republican Party have totally f**ked Israel for the long-term. The Americans will have their revenge for this humiliation. It is an utter humiliation. There are guys sitting in the State Dept., DoD and CIA grinding their teeth (and their axes) waiting for our country to make a mistake of historic proportions.
Mairav Zonszein
Nice @Danneker – deny mine and generations of my family’s reality of life here just as so many Israelis are doing to Palestinians. You know what’s worse than a fake progressive? A self-righteous apologist.
DrPG
It is a shame that responsible people get pummeled from all sides.
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated situation. The British Conservatives used the Irish situation to drum up all sorts of jingoistic sentiment in England, and succeeded in creating a civil war and then violence in Northern Ireland for decades. In this country, Richard Nixon made a career of baiting anyone who wanted to improve relations with “Red China,” but then when he became President, he established relations with China and clinked glasses with Chairman Mao. Hypocrisy is not new in politics.
Mairav, you are correct. This is a very unfortunate concession by Obama to incredibly irresponsible politicking by the Republicans. The Israelis and Palestinians will pay with their lives, while the Republicans will sit comfortably here and plan the next area to destroy. I wish that Obama had more backbone, and that the American public would make an effort to learn about the rest of the world.
Richard Witty
I liked the piece. I thought that it summarized the US policy towards Israel, that of existential friend, but contextual potential critic.
If similar sentiments were incorporated relative to Palestinian needs and rights, then there would be peace, as both communities would have a basis of confidence of self-governance and fair treatment.
It is a statement to Israel, “you need not fear”, you can come to the table.
A progressive statement, that should earn Obama votes and money. (Earn, not defraud.)
Greg Pollock
There is in my country a tendency to equate American pride and growth with Israeli defense. The video isn’t just directed to wobbling Jewish American Democrats (although there are such) but to the belief that strong defense as engaged is identical to country and success. Obama has slipped significantly among independent voters, and some of these might be influenced by the stance of this video. The underlying theme of Republicans right now is “traitor”–not doing enough, or actively harmful things, or not putting “all of us” first. Putting Israel first is putting “all of us” first. This amorphous class of voter most likely has no idea of what the West Bank occupation does on the ground, and if you pressed them with events they would say it is deserved. Sin is shunted to those who harm our view of growth, family, and pride. Many, many Americans what the world to shape up or go away. Or so I sketch.
Moriel Rothman
Um. Oy.