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Thursday Jan 08, 2009
Rosner's Domain: What will Hillary say about GazaPosted by SHMUEL ROSNER
Comments: 44      Updated!!! Election 2009: Rosner's Poll Trend With Hillary Clinton's confirmation as State Secretary coming soon - very soon - many wonder what she's going to say about Gaza, a topic that will surely arise. Carolyn O'hara writes this: Hillary appeared quite sympathetic to the cause of Palestinian statehood as first lady (occasionally to controversy) and then vocally embraced all things Israel when she ran for New York Senator. But anyone who thinks that Hillary will unblinkingly hold to her staunch pro-Israel stance at State probably underestimates her capacity for reinvention, not to mention her ability to recognize that she's no longer answering solely to a New York constituency. Frankly, this is what we're going to get from many of the pundits writing about this topic, but I don't find this analysis very useful. Here's why: As First Lady, Clinton was sympathetic to Palestinian statehood, but that was before the collapse of Camp David. For those who do not remember, the Clintons are part of the group that's blaming Arafat for this calamity (Read Bill's book for the unforggetable conversation he had with Arafat after the fact). True, Hillary became more sympathetic when she became a Senator from the Jewish state of New York - but it's hard to tell whether this was just a politically motivated shift, or the change experienced by many other observers of Mideast events following Camp David and the Palestinian intifada. One thing I can say for sure: the Israeli establishment is generally confident that Clinton will be a friend - an ph:clinton.jpgd not the kind of friend Carter pretends to be. And one more thing: This story of the Suha Arafat kiss - that the NYT mentioned for the 10,657 time last week - is really getting kind of old, boring and irrelevant. Clinton already explained "the kiss" so many times, paid the price for it so many times, attacked for it so many times, that it's really time to move on. As State Secretary she'll surely provide some new material with which to question her policies and character. First test: confirmation hearings. What will she say about Gaza? My guess is this: Israel has the right to defend itself, we need to vigorously pursue peace negotiations, we have to use diplomacy and engage and get involved. We have to make life better for Palestinians, and more secure for both Israelis and Palestinians. We have to help the moderates against extremists. In short: she'll say everything Condi Rice would have said had she been re-confirmed for the job next week.
1 | David Gleicher, Jerusalem, Thursday Jan 08, 2009
The Suha Arafat kiss is important for a different reason. The Clintons don't like being made fools of. Suha, by making blatant anti-Semitic statements that weren't accurately translated, made Hillary look like an idiot, an unforgiveable offense. It was that, even more than running for office in NY, that shifted Hillary to the pro-Israel camp. So the lesson for Israeli leaders who deal with her in the future is obvious: Don't lie to her or make her feel stupid, and she'll stay on our side (as much as any Sec of State would).
2 | Joseph, passaic, NJ, Thursday Jan 08, 2009
Hey, Eva: Take a laxative, willya?
3 | p s kahn, Thursday Jan 08, 2009
New York State can hardly be called a "Jewish State" unless with a wink. (Israeli, I think, is the only one.). Even to call New York City "Jewish" is a stretch, unless you're Jesse Jackson ("Hymie Town" still echoes in the ears).
4 | LK, Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday Jan 08, 2009
Above all else, Hilary Clinton is a shrewd, self-promoting politician who quickly grasps which way the wind is blowing for maximum advantage. Hilary's first interest is Hilary . She's been badly burned by her and her husband's previous relationships with the Palestiniams and she's got a long memory. She is going to surprise us and serve Israel's interests in a manner which is going to be very pleasing to the Jewish state.
5 | Ronald USA, Thursday Jan 08, 2009
The 'land for peace' pressure Israel crowd is taking a beating, these days, on their policy prescriptions for Gaza - just as Hamas is taking the military whooping they richly deserve. I don't think Hilliary will do anything much different from Rice. I think she just wants to broaden her life experiences, enjoy a wide variety of international state dinners, and pad her resume. I can't imagine that Hilliary has a passion to make a unique imprint on the Israel-Arab conflict. There is nothing in her background or writings that suggest it will be anything other than business as usual for Hillary.
6 | EWU, Brazil, Thursday Jan 08, 2009
Hillary will defend Isreal behind closed doors and then say and do in public what President Obama sets as US policy following the closed door sessions.
7 | Peter Flier, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Hillary Clinton is more than intelligent enough to state that Israel has the right to defend itself. Of course diplomacy should be the most important tool, but the right of Israel to be Israel can never be bargained with. A clever question she can also ask is: who is protecting the Palestinian people against Hamas? It is not the firsst time that the Palestinian people are let down by their own authorities as well as by their Arab neighbours.
8 | George, Tucson, AZ, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Look for a showdown between Obama and Clinton. Obama - pro-palestinian. Clinton - pro-Israel.
9 | David Gottfried New York, Friday Jan 09, 2009
This is not the question we should be asking. Instead of being fixated on the celebrity and glitter of Hillery (It was once said that politics was hollywood for ugly or boring people), we should be asking these questions:
1) Will we hold firm to defending Israel and resist the demands of a largely anti-Jewish world
2) Will we maintain an historical perspective and remember that the deaths of Gaza are miniscule in the annals of miltary history
3) Will we remember that if we yield to the Arabs, we will be devoured like a mouse savaged by an eagle.
10 | H. Clark; Oboma's U.S. of socialist America, Friday Jan 09, 2009
If anyone trusts Hilarious Clinton, I would like to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge. As someone has already said, She is only for what promotes HER. She and Bill are pathological liars.
11 | Alan Marshall, Friday Jan 09, 2009
#4 in Switzerland has it partly right. Hillary is a pathilogical liar, who measures every word out of her
mouth for it's political impact. If Israel's destruction served her political (read: self) interest, that would
be fine with her. She is a disgustiong, vile person who cares not a whit about others.
12 | Joyce, South Carolina, USA, Friday Jan 09, 2009
" Kudos' to number 4" I agree
13 | Ngabdullah Indonesia, Friday Jan 09, 2009
What I know Israel killed many women and children.
14 | tommy, Friday Jan 09, 2009
First, she'll check Bubba's library contribution list. Why else do people give almost $500,000,000.00 to an ex - president, once impeached? Heck, Marc Rich only paid a half a million to be a pardoned fugitive. Obama's got his hands full.
15 | Mike, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Hillary will do what's best for Hillary! If it suits her political fortunes to pressure Israel, she will find a way to do so that covers her bets. And in 2016, when she runs for Prez, America will be a VERY different country, with the Jewish vote being far less influential than it is now.
16 | bannister USA, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Hillary will impleoment the policy of her boss. Simple and easy.
Israel will have its own Hussein to answer to.
17 | Jason Alster , Zichron Yacov , Israel, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Doen't Israel get it yet. The world and the Clintons like the winner. If Israel wins in Gaza , and she is this time, then America has a strong ally. When Israel was willing the strengthen the Palestinians , the USA has to take that into consideration. Remember, the American Israeli love affair happened after the 6 day war , not before , and began to sour after the Yom Kippur war. It picked up again when Sharon won the Intifada two. If America , Obama , and Hilarie can rely on a strong Israel to stand down Iran, all will be good
18 | Robert Rabinoff, USA, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Abraham Lincoln once took a vote in his Cabinet. It went unanimously against him. Of course the final decision was what he wanted. When one of the Cabinet members protested "but we voted!" Lincoln replied "Yes, but my vote is the only one that counts." I'm sure our new man from Illinois is quite familiar with this anecdote. Cabinet members may advise; ultimately Obama will make policy. Remember Colin Powell?
19 | R.Allen, NYC - USA, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Kick Rosner out of Israel. He belongs in a Marxist State like Cuba. Why they imported him from Haaretz, I will never know.
20 | 12 Tribes, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Who cares? She has no foreign policy experience. It's the economy stupid!
21 | Colin Wright, Richmond, California, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Hillary is a politician whose ambitions for the future are still very much alive. Barring a sea change in the dynamics of the American political scene, she will continue to toe the line.
22 | Colin Wright, Richmond, California, Friday Jan 09, 2009
re #19 R.Allen
'Kick Rosner out of Israel. He belongs in a Marxist State like Cuba. Why they imported him from Haaretz, I will never know.'
Oh that's funny. And here I was thinking he was the only right-wing Israeli columnist I could stand.
23 | Tom, USA, Friday Jan 09, 2009
Who honestly cares what Hillary has to say ? As much as you like to prevent the truth from being seen, the world knows that 1/3 of the dead in Gaza are children and another large percentage are unarmed women. Genocide is genocide and the world is viewing war crimes in real time. YOU WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE
24 | George, Tucson, AZ, Friday Jan 09, 2009
#10 Seemingly. Just don't let political biases and strategic party postering make us oblivious to the obvious - Obama will be pro-Arab. Hillary is the counterbalance (for political reasons or not!)
25 | Shel Zahav, Jerusalem, Friday Jan 09, 2009
What they say at confirmation hearings and what they do afterward when they don't report to anybody but the President are two different things. We will wait and see, but we shouldn't expect a lot from Hillary in this regard because we cannot rely at all on the empty suit who appointed her.
26 | Shel Zahav, Jerusalem, Friday Jan 09, 2009
What they say at confirmation hearings and what they do afterward when they don't report to anybody but the President are two different things. We will wait and see, but we shouldn't expect a lot from Hillary in this regard because we cannot rely at all on the empty suit who appointed her.
27 | Martincho, Carrollton, GA, Friday Jan 09, 2009
To Tom: # 23: What genocide? I think my friend u should get a dictionary and know the exact meaning of the word genocide. I suggest u, to compare the number of Pals before 1948 and the number of them now.
According to u, defending civil population from undiscriminated rocket fire is waging an "I'm going to get them all killed" kind of war.
And if there is someone to be accountable for the death of those poor souls, that would be Hamas and their leaders.
If Hamas and the rest of radicals put down their weapons, there would be peace. If Israel does the same, there were no more Israel.
28 | Larry in Silver Spring, Friday Jan 09, 2009
1. To my Israeli friends, remember that confirmation hearings are meaningless so don't count on anything said there.
2. Stand strong.
29 | Theophilous, trapped behind enemy lines in CT, USA, Friday Jan 09, 2009
To #13 Ngabdullah of Indonesia, You know that Israel killed many women and children. Did you also know that Hamas launched many rockets, suicide bombers, snipers to kill many students, women and children. Do you care? Indonesia is the largest muslim country on the planet. The chances are you are a muslim. The muslim relationship to truth is the same as a fish's relationship to a bicycle. It doesn't need it, it doesn't want it, and it has no understanding of what it is at all. Simply dont shoot at Israel and Israel will not shoot at you. Very simple, you understand?
30 | Theophilous, trapped behind enemy lines in CT, USA, Friday Jan 09, 2009
To #23 Tom, I have to agree with your first sentance, Who cares what hillary has to say. As for the rest... Well when Hamas loves its children more than it hates the israelis, then they will stop using them as human shields. They will stop storing weapons and explosives in schools and hospitals, when they understand that those site are more valuable to them in their original function than as storage depots, and therefore legitimate military targets. When they can wrap their minds around the idea that not every square meter of Israel is "occupied Arab land", then maybe we can have peace
31 | tommy, Saturday Jan 10, 2009
#24, Good thoughts, but Emanuel, Steinberg and Ross(a founder of AIPAC!) could hurt Israel because no one will consider the USA an "honest broker"; then, others, like Sarkozy, will push a pro-Palestinian agenda so Paris doesn't get burned to the ground. Even pro Israeli friends say Ross was TOO pro-Israeli and sabotaged negotiation due to his ardor for Israel. He could love it to death.
32 | DAVID KAPLAN, Saturday Jan 10, 2009
#13 Ngabdullah Indonesia
For a country that slaughters its Christians, I think that ignorant statement is compoletely out of line. BTW, what existential threat does a few Christians pose to Indonesia?
As for Hillary, I would expect that she will adopt the long standing pro-Arab State Department tilt. Who hasn't, with the possible exception of George Schultz?
33 | A. Non Imus, Baghdad, Iraq, Saturday Jan 10, 2009
Ngabdullah of Indonesia, what Israel knows is that the children they kill won't grow up to be terrorists, and the women they kill won't bear children who'll grow up to be terrorists. If the Palestinians didn't want Israel to kill their women and children, they shouldn't vote for terrorists like Hamas and Hizbollah to run their governments.
34 | Moishe Alexander Thornhill Canada, Saturday Jan 10, 2009
I think Hillary will be pro Isreal and pro peace she learned after camp David what she was dealing with. She will take the same stance as the rest of the normal free world that these terrorists must be stopped in order for there to be true peace in the region and she and Bill will work toward that result.I would think that soon as she is confirmed she will get involved the same day and try and bring some sanity to this situation
35 | michelle Wright, Saturday Jan 10, 2009
The 5 Pres of the U.S. met this week. In discussing the crisis in the M.E., Carter insisted in dealing with Hamas directly, Clinton wants talks with Hamas thru mediators, Bush 41 and Bush 43 opposes contact; 2 Pres in favor 2 against, what will Obama do? Exactly what most Americans including US Jews thinks he should do. Not allow Israel to drag Us into another war, Not allow Israel to dictate US foreigh policy, not allow Israel to alienate US from our European allies. Israel will not force our hands. A Pales State will be established during Obams term with Hillary Clinton as Sec. of State.
36 | Rebecca, USA, Saturday Jan 10, 2009
Do not count on Hillary. #10 is correct. USA is now firmly in the Socialist dumper.
37 | Rose - A Black Perspective USA Chicago, Saturday Jan 10, 2009
A Comment to Rebecca #36
You think the USA is a Socialist dumper. Remember, Israel was established by Bolshevik Marxist Jews with the kibbutz/ moshav system based on socialist principles. In fact,Communism was created by Russian jewry (Lenin was married to a Jewess and his gov't was 3/4 jewish) Stalin who killed 50 milliion of his own people was twice married to Jewish women and even Fascism was invented by a Jewish woman M. Sarfatti , Mussolini's mentor and mistress. I wonder what the seductive Jewess Livni is "cooking up" in her kosher kitchen for USA and how we can avoid getting BURNED!
38 | Tom Qureshi- Florida, Sunday Jan 11, 2009
Our next secretary of state will have to rethink unwaived support of Israel, fast becoming a liability to US foreign policy. After WW-1kingdoms were created by US/UK/France in Middle-east & Africa by giving titles to local chiefs. Since creation of Israel (1948), the dummy kings have been overthrown thru Military's, Baath & local socialist movements in Eqypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan. Only Saudia Arabia, Jordan and a few are left. Our unquestioned support of Israel and it's aggression has made us loose lot of friends. How many more will be lost to street power in next 5-years, think!
39 | Tom Qureshi, Sunday Jan 11, 2009
Time is now ripe to settle for borders. If 1967 borders buys peace with Palestinians, Syrians and Jordanians, its time we take it. This was the objective of all the wars, and now all parties will accept it and guarantee us peace that we have sought for 60 years. Hammas and PLO are two political parties with militant wings, and let them settle their differences in their own territory. Let them have their air, land coast and whatever. What we need is peace for ourselves. Look at Chinese example, not a single war, a lot of saber-rattling (taiwan) and now the richest non-oil nation.
40 | Asian NYC, Sunday Jan 11, 2009
13#, pig Indonesia muslims, your Muslimes in indonesia killed many successful chinese women and kids. why? because mostly chinese like jewish ppl very hard works and well educated. Muslim only knows how to breed suicide bomb......stupid pigs....
41 | George, Tucson, AZ, Sunday Jan 11, 2009
Socialist Israel? C'mon folks. Let's get our ear to the ground here. The past does not represent the present or future. Stick to the facts. Surprise! Hillary will come to Israel's aide despite Obama's pro-Arab stance.
42 | Tom, USA, Sunday Jan 11, 2009
30 | Theophilous - Excuse me but it was the IDF who told people to go to a certain building and then less than a day later shelled the building. Hamas is NOT using kids as human shields. The animals in Israel love killing unarmed women and children.
43 | Bobby Peace, Chicago, Sunday Jan 11, 2009
If it is peace Israel is hoping for, then Israel hasn't had a clue how to achieve that and hopefully Clinton and Obama will lead the region into peace. To follow Israel is to follow folly. If the Palestinians aren't happy with their future then Israel will not have peace. The hard-core Zionist narrative has to be ignored and an embracing of peace and friendship and Israel making fair concessions, such as a return to '67 borders. Israel cannot ever get peace following its current path. Either that or the current generation of Israelis must die and their children choose peace.
44 | Ngabdullah, Monday Jan 12, 2009
# 32, DAVID KAPLAN, although Indonesia For a country that slaughters its Christians, I always obey Christians. All of us give them chances to the churchs. They always attend to the churchs as they want. I love them. Thank for the comment
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