Obama denies crisis with Israel

[Siege]

Is Siegebreaker a little...verklempt after Joans comment?

Speak english, stupid wet-back.

[The Minsky Moment]

Why? I didnt vote for Obama. I always knew he was a shitbag. The United States is a democracy, not some middle eastern dictatorship where you have to worship the President. He might be my commander in chief, but I serve the People of the United States.

This isn't about worshipping the President.  You are entitled to your opinion that the President is a shitbag (however ill-informed that opinion may be).  But when a foreign leader - or in this case some second-rank foreign cabinet member - metaphorically flips the bird to the President and the Sec of State, that is an insult to the United States.

See if I as an American citizen say (c. 2003) "Bush is a moron" - that is just me as an American exercising my rights to free speech.
If Dominque de Villepin says it, it is a diplomatic insult.  He doesn't get to call our President a moron, even if the President happens to be one. 

[Malthus]

Say it with me..

"I serve Barack Hussein Obama"


Feels good, doesn't it? Its how I start out every morning.

That's funny, you'd think that the POTUS would eat at somewhere more classy than Jack in the Box. 

[Hansmeister]

Obama is always quick to bash Israel and make outlandish demands upon them while never critizising the PA, no matter how outrageous their behaviour.  The outcome has been predictable:  the PA have refused to engage in any negotiations.  Why bother when their friend obama is busy bashing Israel?

No wonder that only 6 percent of israelis in the last survey believe that Obama is pro-Israel.  Obama has succeeded in unifying the Israeli people behind Bibi, while torpedoing any chance for diplomacy.  Good job by the Obamateur! 

It is kinda pathetic how utterly clueless the Obama team is on Israel and the Middle East.

Amazingly, the Saudi Arabian gov't is now more pro-Israel than the US gov't, at least they back an Israeli air strike on Iran and have pledged to support it.

[The Minsky Moment]

Obama is always quick to bash Israel and make outlandish demands upon them while never critizising the PA, no matter how outrageous their behaviour.  The outcome has been predictable:  the PA have refused to engage in any negotiations. 

That is almost true.
Except for the fact that Obama has not "bashed" Israel.  Or made outlandish demands.  And he has criticized the PA.  And the PA did agree to negotiate.

The puctuation was OK though.

[Jaron]

Say it with me..

"I serve Barack Hussein Obama"


Feels good, doesn't it? Its how I start out every morning.

That's funny, you'd think that the POTUS would eat at somewhere more classy than Jack in the Box. 

All your supposed wit and you can't come up better than somewhere I stopped working at half a decade ago?

Come on breh, you are better than this.

[Admiral Yi]

You do not serve the people. You serve the Commander in Chief.

Say it with me..

"I serve Barack Hussein Obama"


Feels good, doesn't it? Its how I start out every morning.

This is not true.

[citizen k]

I wonder if the Obama administration has any comment on this:

Gaza rocket kills Thai farm worker in Israel
By KARIN LAUB, Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – A rocket fired by Gaza militants smashed into a greenhouse in an Israeli border village Thursday, killing a Thai worker in the first such death since Israel's massive offensive against Hamas-ruled Gaza more than a year ago.

The launch defied a long-standing ban by the Hamas on such attacks and highlighted the growing challenge to the Islamic militant group from more radical rivals, including al-Qaida-inspired firebrands.

The rocket also raised the specter of Israeli retaliation and further conflagration at a time of renewed international focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel has drawn tough U.S. criticism in recent days for plans to build hundreds more homes for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem.

Major Mideast mediators — among them U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon — were to meet Friday in Moscow to seek a way forward after the row over Israel's building plan derailed plans to start indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Ashton visited Gaza on Thursday, the first senior diplomat to set foot in the blockaded territory in more than a year. Half an hour after her convoy of white SUVs entered Gaza through a heavily fortified Israeli crossing, the rocket was fired into an Israeli communal farm on the Gaza border.

It slammed into a greenhouse, scattering potted tomato plants in all directions. The dead man was identified as a foreign worker in his 30s from Thailand.

Thousands of foreign laborers in Israel have taken on menial jobs that used to be filled by Gaza residents until a decade ago, when unrest prompted Israel to restrict Palestinian movement.

"Israel will not allow terrorism and Palestinian terrorists to continue their attacks and to kill Israelis," Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, said during a tour of the attack site.

Later, Israeli tanks fired several shells into Gaza, causing no damage or injuries, according to witnesses. The military had no comment.

Ayalon said Gaza militants have fired thousands of rockets and mortars at Israel over the past eight years, arguing that Thursday's incident was proof that Israel had good reason to launch its war on Gaza in December 2008.

Some 1,400 Palestinians were killed during the three-week ground and air offensive, including hundreds of civilians. Thirteen Israelis also were killed.

Israel has rejected allegations by U.N. investigators and human rights groups that both sides committed war crimes. Ayalon said the rocket attack showed how "absurd" the criticism against Israel was.

Ashton said she was "extremely shocked" by the rocket attack and Ban, who is due in Gaza over the weekend, said acts of "terror and violence against civilians are totally unacceptable."

Israel held Hamas responsible for Thursday's attack, even though Hamas opponents claimed responsibility.

One claim came from Ansar al-Sunna, one of several al-Qaida-inspired groups that have sprung up in Gaza in recent years, espousing global holy war.These groups, known as Jihadi Salafis, consider Hamas too pragmatic but are not believed to have actual links to al-Qaida and have limited firepower.They have emerged as a growing irritant to Gaza's rulers, who have tried to maintain an informal truce with Israel since the end of the Gaza war.Rocket fire from Gaza dropped sharply after the war, with most attacks claimed by Salafis. Hamas security forces have rounded up dozens of Salafis in recent months.A second claim of responsibility came from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the remnants of a violent offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction.

In recent days, Hamas has issued fiery statements, urging Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem to launch a new uprising over Israel's actions in Jerusalem. Yet it has refrained from firing rockets in Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum portrayed Thursday's deadly attack as a result of "the recent escalation against our people and our holy places."

Since the end of the war, Hamas has largely avoided provoking Israel in an attempt to win international support for lifting a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized Gaza in 2007.

Ashton's visit to Gaza illustrated Hamas' efforts to win over the international community, even as it continues to be shunned by the West as a terror organization.

Bearded Hamas policemen blocked traffic at major intersections to allow Ashton's convoy to get through, but kept out of sight as she visited a U.N. girls' school, a U.N. food distribution center and a center for disabled Gazans. She had no direct contact with Hamas.

Ashton toured Gaza to get a firsthand look at the hardships caused by the war and the border blockade.

"What we have been saying to the Israelis for a long time is that we need to allow aid into this region, to be able to support the economy to grow for people," she said at the girls' school.

Gaza's 1.5 million people have become increasingly dependent on foreign aid. Europe spends some 500 million euros ($688 million) a year — or half its annual aid to the Palestinians — to help keep Gaza afloat.



Associated Press Writers Matti Friedman and Ian Deitch in Jerusalem and Rizek Abdel Jawad in Gaza City contributed to this report.

[Eddie Teach]

This is not true.

You have cameras in Jaron's bedroom? 

[Razgovory]

Obama is always quick to bash Israel and make outlandish demands upon them while never critizising the PA, no matter how outrageous their behaviour.  The outcome has been predictable:  the PA have refused to engage in any negotiations.  Why bother when their friend obama is busy bashing Israel?

No wonder that only 6 percent of israelis in the last survey believe that Obama is pro-Israel.  Obama has succeeded in unifying the Israeli people behind Bibi, while torpedoing any chance for diplomacy.  Good job by the Obamateur! 

It is kinda pathetic how utterly clueless the Obama team is on Israel and the Middle East.

Amazingly, the Saudi Arabian gov't is now more pro-Israel than the US gov't, at least they back an Israeli air strike on Iran and have pledged to support it.

Also in an unprecedented move the Obama administration has the US embassy in Tel Aviv instead of Jerusalem!!!!!1111oneeleven

[HisMajestyBOB]

I wonder if the Obama administration has any comment on this:

Gaza rocket kills Thai farm worker in Israel
By KARIN LAUB, Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – A rocket fired by Gaza militants smashed into a greenhouse in an Israeli border village Thursday, killing a Thai worker in the first such death since Israel's massive offensive against Hamas-ruled Gaza more than a year ago.

The launch defied a long-standing ban by the Hamas on such attacks and highlighted the growing challenge to the Islamic militant group from more radical rivals, including al-Qaida-inspired firebrands.

The rocket also raised the specter of Israeli retaliation and further conflagration at a time of renewed international focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel has drawn tough U.S. criticism in recent days for plans to build hundreds more homes for Jews in disputed east Jerusalem.

Major Mideast mediators — among them U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, European foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon — were to meet Friday in Moscow to seek a way forward after the row over Israel's building plan derailed plans to start indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks.

Ashton visited Gaza on Thursday, the first senior diplomat to set foot in the blockaded territory in more than a year. Half an hour after her convoy of white SUVs entered Gaza through a heavily fortified Israeli crossing, the rocket was fired into an Israeli communal farm on the Gaza border.

It slammed into a greenhouse, scattering potted tomato plants in all directions. The dead man was identified as a foreign worker in his 30s from Thailand.

Thousands of foreign laborers in Israel have taken on menial jobs that used to be filled by Gaza residents until a decade ago, when unrest prompted Israel to restrict Palestinian movement.

"Israel will not allow terrorism and Palestinian terrorists to continue their attacks and to kill Israelis," Israel's deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, said during a tour of the attack site.

Later, Israeli tanks fired several shells into Gaza, causing no damage or injuries, according to witnesses. The military had no comment.

Ayalon said Gaza militants have fired thousands of rockets and mortars at Israel over the past eight years, arguing that Thursday's incident was proof that Israel had good reason to launch its war on Gaza in December 2008.

Some 1,400 Palestinians were killed during the three-week ground and air offensive, including hundreds of civilians. Thirteen Israelis also were killed.

Israel has rejected allegations by U.N. investigators and human rights groups that both sides committed war crimes. Ayalon said the rocket attack showed how "absurd" the criticism against Israel was.

Ashton said she was "extremely shocked" by the rocket attack and Ban, who is due in Gaza over the weekend, said acts of "terror and violence against civilians are totally unacceptable."

Israel held Hamas responsible for Thursday's attack, even though Hamas opponents claimed responsibility.

One claim came from Ansar al-Sunna, one of several al-Qaida-inspired groups that have sprung up in Gaza in recent years, espousing global holy war.These groups, known as Jihadi Salafis, consider Hamas too pragmatic but are not believed to have actual links to al-Qaida and have limited firepower.They have emerged as a growing irritant to Gaza's rulers, who have tried to maintain an informal truce with Israel since the end of the Gaza war.Rocket fire from Gaza dropped sharply after the war, with most attacks claimed by Salafis. Hamas security forces have rounded up dozens of Salafis in recent months.A second claim of responsibility came from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the remnants of a violent offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction.

In recent days, Hamas has issued fiery statements, urging Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem to launch a new uprising over Israel's actions in Jerusalem. Yet it has refrained from firing rockets in Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum portrayed Thursday's deadly attack as a result of "the recent escalation against our people and our holy places."

Since the end of the war, Hamas has largely avoided provoking Israel in an attempt to win international support for lifting a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt after Hamas seized Gaza in 2007.

Ashton's visit to Gaza illustrated Hamas' efforts to win over the international community, even as it continues to be shunned by the West as a terror organization.

Bearded Hamas policemen blocked traffic at major intersections to allow Ashton's convoy to get through, but kept out of sight as she visited a U.N. girls' school, a U.N. food distribution center and a center for disabled Gazans. She had no direct contact with Hamas.

Ashton toured Gaza to get a firsthand look at the hardships caused by the war and the border blockade.

"What we have been saying to the Israelis for a long time is that we need to allow aid into this region, to be able to support the economy to grow for people," she said at the girls' school.

Gaza's 1.5 million people have become increasingly dependent on foreign aid. Europe spends some 500 million euros ($688 million) a year — or half its annual aid to the Palestinians — to help keep Gaza afloat.



Associated Press Writers Matti Friedman and Ian Deitch in Jerusalem and Rizek Abdel Jawad in Gaza City contributed to this report.

Clearly the fact that the US hasn't carpet bombed Gaza and provided Israel with a few hundred ICBMs free of charge shows that Obama is a communist anti-semite.

[Neil]

Of course Obama hates Israel.  He's a leftist black who was part of a hate-group church for decades.

[Hansmeister]

Of course Obama hates Israel.  He's a leftist black who was part of a hate-group church for decades.

One of Obama's closest friends, Khalidi, was a fundraiser for the PLO, but i'm sure JR fiends that completely defensible.  He'd defend mengele if he had a (D) by his name.

[Hansmeister]

Obama is always quick to bash Israel and make outlandish demands upon them while never critizising the PA, no matter how outrageous their behaviour.  The outcome has been predictable:  the PA have refused to engage in any negotiations. 

That is almost true.
Except for the fact that Obama has not "bashed" Israel.  Or made outlandish demands.  And he has criticized the PA.  And the PA did agree to negotiate.

The puctuation was OK though.

Too bad nobody in Israel believes that, his comparison of Israel to Nazi Germany in his Cairo speech springs to mind, for example.  Demanding that Israel not build housing in Israel is unreasonable(we're not talking West Bank here). And too bad noobody seems to be able to find any evidence of criticism by Obama of the PA.  And the PA is refusing to negotiate, or do you have some evidence of the PA agreeing to negotiate with Israel?  The PA is only willing to negotiate with the US, not with Israel.  And of course their "negotiations" usually only consists of a list of demands with no actual offers of compromise since they don't scknowledge the right of Israel to exist.

[Razgovory]

Of course Obama hates Israel.  He's a leftist black who was part of a hate-group church for decades.

One of Obama's closest friends, Khalidi, was a fundraiser for the PLO, but i'm sure JR fiends that completely defensible.  He'd defend mengele if he had a (D) by his name.

JR that Fiend!