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Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
The American Presidential campaign recently entered a new stage, with Hillary Clinton dropping out of the race. Now it is up to John McCain and Barack Obama to each convince the American voter that they are worthy of leading the most powerful country in the world in the coming four years.
Throughout much of the campaign, Obama was subjected to excessive nitpicking, rumors and accusations, many of which were baseless and unfair. He was judged not only for his worldview, but also doomed for his name, his color, his religion and his personal background.
Obama's critics werent limited to the US: our former Ambassador to the United States, Danny Ayalon, opined in a JPost.com blog that during his meetings with Obama he felt that the Senator "was not entirely forthright with his thinking." Ayalon added that Obamas campaign is "leaving us with more questions than answers."
Aside from this being imprudent, coming from a senior Israeli diplomat who served for several years in Washington, this accusation was premature: in the months that have passed Obama has supplied ample evidence of the clarity of his policies and views, including those regarding Israel.
At the recent AIPAC policy conference Obama addressed a whole gamut of issues concerning Israel, ranging from Holocaust denial to ensuring Israel's qualitative military advantage. He pledged to implement a Memorandum of Understanding that will provide $30 billion in assistance to Israel. However, what seems to differentiate Senator Obama from Senator McCain is his understanding that Israel's security depends on a lasting peace agreement with its neighbors no less than on military aid. Peace is a key goal for Obama, who said at AIPAC "that is why we, as friends of Israel, must resolve to do all we can to help Israel and its neighbors to achieve it."
The election of Obama as President of the United States would constitute an amazing shift in its history. Like Israel, the US is an immigrant society; its population a colorful array of ethnic groups and world cultures. Despite this, entire segments of American society - Women, African-Americans, Hispanics, etc. - have never succeeded in making their way into the Oval Office. A victory for Senator Obama would do a great deal to dissipate feelings of disenfranchisement prevalent today in the United States; it would indeed be a victory of fairness over bigotry and past racism.
Senator Obama recently received an important endorsement from Former Vice President Al Gore, who said in a conference in Detroit that he would do all he could to help Obama win the White House. "Take it from me, elections matter" said Gore, and he's right. Today, Israel enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support in the United States, and will continue to enjoy it for the foreseeable future. The upcoming Presidential elections, however, will determine whether this support manifests itself mainly in security aid, or also in fresh thinking and a committed, prolonged, effort to bring about peace in our region.
1 | Morton Friedman Lanham, MD USA, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Is this a joke? Immediately after his 'clarification' at AIPAC came a renunciation. It took a few weeks to see him divorce himself from Wright, or did he? Now he refers to Sharpton as the Bible interpretation to be followed. A vote for him is a vote against bigotry? Who wrote that? Farrakahn? Note that the $30 billion referred to is a 10 year figure, no more and no less than the present level of support. and most of which goes to support purchases from the US. Ayalon may have been un-diplomatic, but he was absolutely correct. Perhaps he might have been even more un-PC.
2 | Ron Colorado, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Are you kidding? This guy and his wife are avowed but disguised Marxists. Her past comments about America, her thesis while in college, their associations with an unrepentant terrorist and they unblievable denial of knowing what their Rev. taught in the pews for 20 years all point to one conclusion--that they agree in philosophy with these people. Are you SO naive that you would endorse somebody like this? What do you think will happen to Israel with this man in power? He will do nothing to protect and defend your country unless it is in his own selfish interest.
3 | Mica NYC, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
It would only be a victory for fairness if he wins in fairness. As to your silly little notion that voting for Obama is making up for past racism-that is only true if the voter has impeded the career progress of others because they were black. otherwise you are asking us to make a decision not on the content of his character or his judgment but rather on the color of his skin. to assert that he has been subject to disproportionate smears, requires some willful blindness. Now the media uses the "cycle of violence" technique every time Obama does something negative and contrary to his image.
4 | Tod Zuckerman , San Francisco, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Typical Avital Pap. Not a word about her hero's 20 year membership in a church led by Israel demonizer and Farrakan worshipper, Jeremiah Wright - perhaps, Avital believes Wright was correct when he equated Zionism with Nazism, and instructed his parishoners to join the divestment from Israel campaign. Also, no mention how Obama, two weeks before his AIPAC speech, at a rally actually mocked those who worry about the Iranian threat. Maybe, Avital , like Obama, thinks we can play patty cake with the Iranian mullahs. No, what really upsets Avital are Pro-Israel Christians - go figure ! (I gave up)
5 | Bill-South Dakota, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Obama has, indeed, given us many answers as to how he would run the country if elected as our President. He has indicated that he would try to place Supreme Court justices who interpret the constitution as he does...from the far left...not from the far right...not from the moderate middle. But from the far left. And if we vote for him simply because he's black, wouldn't we be doing precisely what we're being told NOT to do...voting for someone because of their color? Fresh thinking? Raise the taxes on corporate America, and they'll pass the taxes onto us. Not my kind of fresh thinking.
6 | Ronnie Glass Robertsdale Alabama , America, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
I would have voted for Barbara Jordan if she had ran for president.
If this is the way MKs think, Israel is in deeper feces than I thought.
7 | Nona Faber, Ankara, Turkey, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
Do your research: Obama is NO friend of Israel. Look at the people he surrounds himself with. He is also a Marxist. Look at his policy ideas: Take from the rich and give to the poor. It will weaken America. A weak US is not good for Israel.
8 | szs Melbourne, Fl., Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
What fresh thinking? One Jerusalem or two?
9 | Elly Hensel, Denmark, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
You can use all the fine words you can find regarding this man. One thing is for sure: He cannot be trusted nor can his wife. You and a lot of other of other people are not the least realistic with you r glorification of him..
10 | Linn Denton Keller Texas, Tuesday Jun 24, 2008
I'm a us citizen with great respect for israel. it is plain for me to see that there will be no peace in Israel without war. You guys with our help need to take your enemy's seriously. They want you all dead. Along with all Americans. In my life time I have never seen peace in Israel. Mainly because your enemys don't want peace. If it were up to Israel you would have peace and live with your neighbors side by side, This is not even a concideration to your enemy's. Wake up smell the bagels. Hit them before they hit you, again.....
We can do it!!!! Togeather!!!
11 | annonymous, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
good post
12 | Lenny Steinberg, Brooklyn, NY, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Obama, after he said at AIPAC that Jerusalem would remain the undivided capital of Israel, backtracked the next day saying that it is for the parties involved to negotiate. He knew when he made the speech what a hot button issue it is and then he quickly unabashedly backtracked. How many more issues will he backtrack on? He clearly says things very lightly and retracts them just as quickly. So how will we know what he really thinks?
13 | Amarilys Pons Spain, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
look at who Obamas advisors are, Zbgnew Brzinski, who is a big fan of Mearsheimer and Walt, Samantha Power, who commented that the US should invade Israel, on behalf of the Palestinians, Reverend Wright, who gave the Jew-hating Black Muslim leader a man of the year award, etc. Obamas foreign policy advisers now are mostly affilliated with George Soros. George Soros is famous for hating Israel and anything associated with Israel. Obama had another adviser who blamed Israel for the failure of the Camp David talks. Obama will say he supports Israel when he speaks to aipac but then changes his mind
14 | Paul Zucker Phoenix, Arizona, USA, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
I am a Jew and I am voting for Barack Obama.
15 | Heymish, Ashdod, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Fresh thinking? Like the 'disengagement' Colette? You represent the dying Isralien who will have to make way for the Jew in the Land of Israel. Better you should go to America and be with B.O. than to merit the Land of Israel, as your 'values' are more in tune with socialist, reactionary sophomores like B.O. and Hugo Chavez than that of the Jewish people. Yes, B.O. has fresh ideas, and he can 'make peace.' Are you kidding? Do you really believe that it's a matter of having fresh ideas? I wonder how much of your support comes from Arab voters versus Jewish voters.
16 | mhl, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
As one of the leaders of the Israeli Appeasement Lobby, it is no surprise that Avital leans to Hussein Obama, who wants to pursue similar appeasement policies in the US. What a black mark on Israel that this woman pretended to represent her country in the UN
17 | Amadeus Birmingham U.S.A., Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
My concern about Barack Obama being elected president is his years of experience in the Senate - TWO! Two years experience is hardly enough to deal with the economic and political problems that await the next president. And, from what I've heard, Barack Obama is long on rhetoric and very short on specific details about his proposals. With his inexperience, he will be extremely dependent on his advisers. And those advisers give me great pause. If Obama isn't elected, it won't be because of race; it will be because of inexperience.
18 | Edward B., USA, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
The support that Israel enjoys today will not last forever - the first pacifist President, such as Obama, will see to it. Some of his statements have already drawn a parallel between the actions of the so-called Palestinians and Israel. "Equivalency" is a part of his vocabulary. Al Gore? The guy that invented the internet, global warming and peaceful arabs... With friends like Gore and Obama who needs the enemies... DO NOTE VOTE FOR OBAMA!!!!!!!
19 | Marsha, US, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Have you seen the list of Obama supporters, Collette? Jimmy Carter, for starters. And are you unaware that after the AIPAC convention he did a total turn around, to no one's surprise. How about the fact that for 20 years Obama belonged to a church headed by a raving anti-semite? I guess it shouldn't surprise anyone that someone with your leftist anti-Jewish feelings would endorse such a leftist candidate. But don't you have anything better to do?
20 | Bruce from San Francisco, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Thank you for your intelligent and heartfelt article. As an American--a Jewish American--I feel a sense of hope and possibility with Barack Obama that I haven't felt, in a long time. He's brilliant, a superb speaker and has demonstrated an ability to unify diverse groups of people. I'd feel proud to have him represent the U.S.
21 | USA, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
We're not going to comprimise choosing a bad leader for president just so the rest of the world can feel good about race relations. What an ignorant reason to choose a leader of the super power and leader of the free world just to "dissipate feelings of disenfranchisement". There's other ways to deal with race. And if ethnic people in the USA feel disenfranchised because of history, they can go live in another country and feel disenfranchised because of current racism and hardships. A US president should not be picked to appease victimhood.
22 | C.Barnett, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
It is sad that a former Israeli foreign official to the US can so badly assess this election. This is blatant tripe, and if Ms.Avital should know better. Obama was not unfairly charged with anything that was not amply verifiable.The Rev.Wright whom he said" brought him to Christianity",was a former Muslim,married and baptized his children,was his pastor for 20 years,served on his campaign advisory committee,was broadcast to be anti-White,damning the US andshowntobe anti-Semitic.His close friends,WmAyres,a Weatherman, admits to many acts of terror, was tried, and acquitted on a technicality.
23 | Elchanan Cohen, Rehovot, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
MK Colette Avital should be more circumspect in her criticism of Danny Ayalon when she says, "Aside from this being imprudent, coming from a senior Israeli diplomat who served for several years in Washington, this accusation was premature", since she herself was quoted in the U.S. Press when asked why she, as an Israeli diplomat stationed in the U.S., did not defend a particular Israeli policy issue, stated that "she could not defend a policy she disagreed with". To have this position and to publicly state it while representing Israel on foreign soil is unforgivable!!!
24 | C. Barnett, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
In the interest of truthfulness for the record ,it must be added, Rev. Wright supports and printed the entire Hamas mission statement in the church newspaper.Obama is friends of Farrakhan, hiring Nation of Islam members to work in both his state and US Senate offices.The head of his US Senate election finance campaign was a member.He was friends with Edward Said, a PLO Council Member and renowned hater of Israel. He and Prof.Khalidi together raised funds for terror groups.His advisers are openly anti-Israel.He voted against funding our troops at war.His Texas office posts Che's picture....
25 | Blues, Portland USA, Wednesday Jun 25, 2008
Please tell me you are kidding! Race, sex, religion are NOT good reasons to elect (or not elect) someone to office! Don't rely on a politician says he will do, look at his history to see what he has done! Obama and the Democratic Party is not friendly to Israel, and never has been. When Obama says he desires peace in the ME, does he mean peace for Israel, or peace in the ME at the expense of Israeli sovereignty, of the Israeli way of life, or of Israeli land? What is Obama's plan for peace in the ME? My experience with the Democratic Party is that he doesn't have one, he's just talking.
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