Tag Archive for Barack Obama

| February 25, 2013
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Arabs warn US President over Temple Mount visit: ‘Obama better follow the Muslims’ rules’

Obama must enter via ‘Lion’s Gate’ which has Muslim guards, rather than the Mughrabi Gate which is guarded by Israeli police. In this way “Muslim sovereignty” over the Temple Mount will be preserved. Sabri also cautioned Obama not to bring any Israeli officials with him to what is in reality Judaism’s most holy site.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Palestinian political and religious figures over the weekend warned US President Barack Obama that he should probably avoid ascending Jerusalem’s Temple Mount during his upcoming visit to Israel, but provided a list of instructions should he go ahead with a stop at the contentious holy site. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: , ,
| February 13, 2013
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WATCH: Obama says ‘We will stand steadfast with Israel’

Barack Obama’s State of Union address was dominated by domestic issues, but he also commented on his upcoming visit to Israel & the Middle East, expressing support for the Jewish State & promising to ‘do what is necessary to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon’

By Yitzhak Benhorin, AP

 

WASHINGTON – The economic crisis and the serious political disputed on Capitol Hill were at the focus of US President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress’ two chambers on Tuesday, yet he did address the situation in the Middle East as well, stating that his country “We will stand steadfast with Israel in pursuit of security and a lasting peace.” Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| February 7, 2013
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PA official: Only Obama can change Israel’s attitude

Former Palestinian security chief and prominent West Bank official, Jibril Rajoub tells Army Radio he believes only Obama can “build a bridge of trust” between Israel & PA.

 

 

Palestinian officials said Thursday they hope U.S. President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to the region signals readiness to re-engage in Mideast peace efforts, but that negotiations can only resume if Washington is ready to get tough with Israel.

Netanyahu, Abbas, Obama

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Barack Obama, and PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
Photo by Bloomberg

 

The Palestinians have long been anxious for the U.S.­to revive serious talks with Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| February 7, 2013
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Amb. Shapiro: Obama’s visit will show strength of ties

US envoy rejects claims that Obama’s visit is aimed at interfering in Israeli coalition negotiations. Discussions will be mainly on Iran, Syria & the Palestinian conflict.

US Ambassador Dan Shapiro said Wednesday that President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to Israel would be a display of the close ties between the two states, and dismissed speculation on Wednesday that the timing of the trip  is somehow aimed at impacting the coalition talks underway in the wake of last month’s Knesset elections.

Netanyahu and Obama shake hands

Netanyahu and Obama shake hands – Photo: REUTERS

“Obviously we don’t play a role and have no intention of interfering in Israeli coalition negotiations,” Shapiro told The Jerusalem Post, responding to claims that the surprise announcement of a presidential visit, likely next month, might be aimed at getting Yesh Atid’s Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni to join the government. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| February 7, 2013
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A 3-way Obama, Netanyahu & Abbas Meeting Highly Likely

Former Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon is convinced that Barack Obama will be meeting with Binyamin Netanyahu & Mahmoud Abbas – together.

By David Lev

 

Although details of President Barack H. Obama’s visit to Israel remained murky, former Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon is convinced that Obama will be meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas – together. In a post on his Facebook page Thursday, Ayalon said that plans for such a summit meeting were being woven “even as I write this.”

Obama is set to arrive in the region on March 20, and will visit Israel, the PA, and various countries in the region. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 22, 2013
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Re-elected Obama’s anti-Zionism

Since November, Obama’s anti-Israel steps raise worries because they jibe with Obama’s early anti-Zionist views. We lack specifics, but we know that he studied with, befriended, socialized, and encouraged Palestinian extremists.

By Daniel Pipes

 

I predicted two months before the November 2012 presidential vote that, should Barack Obama be re-elected, “the coldest treatment of Israel ever by a U.S. president will follow.”

President Barack Obama

Well, the elections are over and that cold treatment is firmly in place. Obama has signaled in the past two months what lies ahead by:

  • Choosing three senior figures — John Kerry for secretary of state, John Brennan for CIA director, and Chuck Hagel for defense secretary — who range from clueless to hostile about Israel.
Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| January 22, 2013
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The Washington Post to Obama: Welcome the PM’s re-election, urge him to form centrist gov’t

 

The Washington Post calls on both leaders to ‘reset their relationship’ as they each begin new terms this week.

By Haaretz

 

“Mr. Netanyahu hasn’t been afraid to play up his notoriously bad relations with President Obama,” wrote the Post’s editorial board, stating that in the past, a prime minister’s poor relations with the President of the United States would amount to political failure.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Barack Obama meeting at the White House

The Post’s editorial described the recent comments made by President Obama to Bloomberg Columnist Jeffrey Goldberg, that Israel “doesn’t know what its own best interests are.”

According to the Post, Netanyahu’s response, that only Israelis can determine their own best interests, was received warmly by the Israeli public. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 17, 2013
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Netanyahu rebuffs Obama; White House spooked by the nationalist parties

Past prime ministers who succumbed to American pressure left Israel with devastating results. For instance, Ehud Barak was convinced by Bill Clinton to meet nearly all of Yasser Arafat’s demands, only to be thanked with the outbreak of the “Second Intifada.”

By Ryan Jones

 

The Obama White House appears to be engaging in a very thinly veiled effort to influence next week’s Knesset election by suggesting to Israelis that voting for right-wing parties will further strain US-Israel relations and isolate the Jewish state.

NetanyahuOn Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu politely suggested that the American administration butt out.

“Only the Israeli people will determine who best represents the State of Israel’s vital interests,” Netanyahu said during a tour of the Gaza security fence. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| January 15, 2013
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Obama: Israel doesn’t know what’s in it’s own best interests

Obama said repeatedly, “Israel doesn’t know what its own best interests are….Netanyahu is so captive to the settler lobby,”

By Gil Ronen

 

The Atlantic‘s Jeffrey Goldberg, writing in Bloomberg View, has revealed that U.S. President Barack Obama said repeatedly recently that

Barack Obama

Barack Obama – Reuters

When informed about the Israeli decision to approve construction plans in the E1 area, “Obama, who has a famously contentious relationship with the prime minister, didn’t even bother getting angry,” wrote Goldberg. “He told several people that this sort of behavior on Netanyahu’s part is what he has come to expect, and he suggested that he has become inured to what he sees as self-defeating policies of his Israeli counterpart. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| January 10, 2013
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Obama Picks Orthodox Jew as Treasury Secretary

Jack Lew, an orthodox Jew with strong ties within the Jewish community, is Obama’s choice as Treasury Secretary.

By Annie Lubin

 

U.S. President Barack Obama is set to appoint White House chief of staff Jack Lew as Treasury Secretary on Thursday, an orthodox Jew with strong ties within the American Jewish community.

Obama will name Lew as Secretary of Treasury

Obama will name Lew as Secretary of Treasury – Reuters

Lew is an observant Jew who attends Congregation Beth Sholom in Potomac, Maryland.

When asked about how he would be able to balance his religious beliefs and the high profile job of being in the President’s cabinet, Lew aid that having already worked with Obama as his Chief of Staff, he knows that the President is very respectful of his faith.

Continue Reading »
Category: Jewish News | Tags: ,
| December 19, 2012
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Washington Post challenges Washington’s Pentagon candidate

Joining several senators objecting to Chuck Hagel’s nomination as defense secretary, the Washington Post wonders if his extreme positions on critical issues (Iran, Israel) won’t serve as an obstacle to Obama’s policy

Yitzhak Benhorin

 

Though US President Barack Obama has yet to officially name Chuck Hagel as the defense secretary’s successor, several pro-Israel senators have already announced their objection to his nomination and said they would act to prevent it.

Chuck Hagel Photo: AP

Chuck Hagel – Photo: AP

On Wednesday, the Washington Post joined the opposing voices in an editorial claiming Hagel was not the right choice for the position.

The reason stated by Washington Post was Hagel’s radical stand on Iran and the Middle East, which was clearly evident when he repeatedly voted against enforcing sanctions to halt Iran’s race obtaining nuclear weapon and doubted the use of force to compel it to negotiate. Continue Reading »

Category: Jewish News | Tags: ,
| November 26, 2012
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Negotiations in Egypt begin hammering out cease-fire details with Israel & Hamas

US links end to munitions smuggling to easing security restrictions on Gaza

Washington’s unequivocal support of Israel’s right to self defense is key element in making cease-fire possible.

By HERB KEINON

 

 

Washington understands well that Israel’s restrictions on the Gaza Strip are related to arms smuggling, and that a total relaxation of the restrictions would necessitate assurances that arms stop pouring into the enclave, a senior US official said Monday.

IDF vehicle patrols along Gaza border fence - Photo: REUTERS

IDF vehicle patrols along Gaza border fence – Photo: REUTERS

 

The official’s comments came as Egyptian mediators began separate talks Monday with Hamas and Israel to flesh out details of last Wednesday’s cease-fire.

Continue Reading »
Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , , , ,
| November 25, 2012
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U.K. to Washington: Take more active role on peace agreement for the Mideast

British FM William Hague warns the White House that now may be the ‘final chance’ for a 2-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

By Reuters

 

British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Sunday urged the United States to take a more active role in seeking a lasting settlement between Israelis and Palestinians, warning of a “final chance” for a two-state solution.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Barack Obama and Mahmoud Abbas in 2010. The deal with Lieberman, who calls Abbas

 

Eight days of fighting between Israel and Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled enclave of Gaza diverted U.S. President Barack Obama’s attention to the Middle East as he toured Asia on his first trip abroad after this month’s election.

Hague told the BBC it was “time for a huge effort on the Middle East peace process”. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| November 20, 2012
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No U.S. Veto on Ground Op, Says Ambassador Oren

Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren, says Washington will fully support Israel, whatever it decides to do.

By Gil Ronen

 

Israel’s Ambassador in the United States, Michael Oren, told IDF Radio Tuesday that there is no American veto on a possible ground maneuver by the IDF in Gaza.

President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama
Reuters

“Washington’s support in any step Israel takes is full,” he said. “Obama spoke twice with the prime minister and called our situation ‘unbearable.'”

Minister of Home Front Defense Avi Dichter refused to say Tuesday whether Israel and Hamas are headed toward a ceasefire or more intensive hostilities. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| November 20, 2012
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Leading US media say Israel wining battles, Hamas wins war

Where as Israel’s operation is apparently strengthening Hamas’ following, leading US media outlets say Israel’s military victory may further decrease Mahmoud Abbas’ power

 They say the operation is also distracting attention from the crisis in Syria

By Yitzhak Benhorin

 

While Israel‘s day-to-day life is being disrupted by rockets and sirens, some US media outlets have already crowned Hamas as the winner of the current conflict.

Hamas politburo chief Mashaal. Current Palestinian leader Photo: EPA

Hamas politburo chief Mashaal. Current Palestinian leader – Photo: EPA

Veteran diplomat Aaron Miller wrote in the Foreign Policy magazine that Hamas won the war and “it doesn’t really matter if Israel wins the battle. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
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