Obama: US support for Israel 'ironclad'

**Kropotkin** · 22nd May 2011 07:02 PM

Obama: US support for Israel 'ironclad' - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Barack Obama, the US president, has rejected Palestinian plans to seek statehood at the United Nations, and said Washington's commitment to Israel's security is "ironclad".

Obama was speaking at the annual policy meeting of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the main pro-Israel lobby in the US, on Sunday amid unprecedented tumult in the Middle East and new strains in US-Israeli relations.

"No vote at the United Nations will ever create an independent Palestinian state," Obama said.

"And the United States will stand up against efforts to single Israel out at the UN or in any international forum. Because Israel's legitimacy is not a matter for debate."

On Thursday, the US president for the first time publicly called on Israel to accept a return to territorial lines in place before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, with mutual land swaps with Palestinians, to frame a secure peace.

The formula was rejected by Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who told Obama at a White House summit on Friday that the 1967 borders were "indefensible".

That prompted Palestinian officials to say that they would seek recognition for Palestinian statehood in the UN General Assembly in September.

European Union states, UN diplomats say, are looking increasingly favourably on the idea of recognising a Palestinian state.

However, any statehood vote would have first to be approved in the UN Security Council, where the US - which insists on a negotiated peace accord - has a veto.

I guess Obama had to perform his penance to the Zionists at AIPAC for his crime of almost suggesting something reasonable a few days ago.

**USA-1** · 22nd May 2011 07:15 PM

I can't see anyone taking the blame for this necessary and obvious backpedal other than Barack Obama himself, he didn't "have to perform" as you put it, CHA. He could have stood his ground and reiterated his position rather than 'perform' again. This was just a colossal mistake, why announce in public what you think the borders should be for the nation of Israel, the day before the Israeli Prime Minister arrives? Why not suggest this to Netanyahu first....in a Presidential manner in appropriate negotiation or proper diplomacy, as in behind closed doors.

He's backpedaling now because he can, other than we GOPers, no one is going to take him to task, you seem to put the burden on those making Obama do Penance.

Accountability is important.

**jackalope** · 22nd May 2011 07:25 PM

He didn't backpedal, or perform penance. If you guys, or the article author didn't know Obama only reiterated today what he said on Thursday, then all y'all weren't listening. Listen again to Thursday's speech, you'll find the references to efforts to embarrass Israel at the UN in Sept will fail.

Don't worry though, Obama had to reiterate what he said about the 1967 borders with agreed to swaps as well.

Apparently neither side's supporters can listen objectively.

Any characterization of this speech as a backpedal is a massive failure on the part of the one doing the characterization. Obama strongly reiterated, and further made plain, exactly what the position of the United States is, both on the 67 borders, and on the UN vote to recognize Palestine as a state.

**jackalope** · 22nd May 2011 07:26 PM

Originally Posted by Oldschool

I can't see anyone taking the blame for this necessary and obvious backpedal other than Barack Obama himself, he didn't "have to perform" as you put it, CHA. He could have stood his ground and reiterated his position rather than 'perform' again. This was just a colossal mistake, why announce in public what you think the borders should be for the nation of Israel, the day before the Israeli Prime Minister arrives? Why not suggest this to Netanyahu first....in a Presidential manner in appropriate negotiation or proper diplomacy, as in behind closed doors.

He's backpedaling now because he can, other than we GOPers, no one is going to take him to task, you seem to put the burden on those making Obama do Penance.

Accountability is important.

Accuracy and truth are important.

**USA-1** · 22nd May 2011 07:28 PM

Lance Armstrong....couldn't backpedal this fast.

**Rasselas** · 22nd May 2011 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by jackalope

Accuracy and truth are important.

They are. When someone accuses a public figure of saying different things in speeches days apart, the easiest and best way to prove the point is the put the salient words from the two pieces back to back and show the difference.

**Dr.Knuckles** · 22nd May 2011 11:10 PM

Support for Isreal is ironclad?

Well yes, obviously. I mean that hasn't changed in my life time. It has been ironclad administration after administration for decades.

I just don't understand why.

WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?

Why?

The death toll is in the stratosphere, the number of lives ruined is in the millions. It's been 65 years of pain and heartache and violence.

Maybe it SHOULDN'T BE IRONCLAD!

Well Obama. I guess you're on your own. I think that's the fat lady singing.

Or maybe more appropriate, "well, educated, worldly, urban Americans... you're on your own again."

**jackalope** · 23rd May 2011 04:41 AM

Originally Posted by Rassales

They are. When someone accuses a public figure of saying different things in speeches days apart, the easiest and best way to prove the point is the put the salient words from the two pieces back to back and show the difference.

I thought about getting the quotes, but I was watching the tornadoes thread, waiting to see if prag had any more news. The silliness of this thread, and the seriousness of the other, was too much of a clash for me, so I left it.

**jackalope** · 23rd May 2011 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by jackalope

He didn't backpedal, or perform penance. If you guys, or the article author didn't know Obama only reiterated today what he said on Thursday, then all y'all weren't listening. Listen again to Thursday's speech, you'll find the references to efforts to embarrass Israel at the UN in Sept will fail.

Don't worry though, Obama had to reiterate what he said about the 1967 borders with agreed to swaps as well.

Apparently neither side's supporters can listen objectively.

Any characterization of this speech as a backpedal is a massive failure on the part of the one doing the characterization. Obama strongly reiterated, and further made plain, exactly what the position of the United States is, both on the 67 borders, and on the UN vote to recognize Palestine as a state.

Originally Posted by jackalope

Accuracy and truth are important.

Originally Posted by Rassales

They are. When someone accuses a public figure of saying different things in speeches days apart, the easiest and best way to prove the point is the put the salient words from the two pieces back to back and show the difference.

As suggested by Rassales, here is what Obama said about the UN vote for a Palestinian state on Thursday, and here is what he said about the UN vote for a Palestinian state on Sunday. As I said earlier, if the article author, or whoever, didn't know that far from backpedaling, Obama reiterated on Sunday what he said on Thursday. As he did with land swaps and 67 borders, so he did with the UN vote on a Palestinian state. He made more plain exactly what the position of the United States gov't was on these issues.

This was actually a question in my mind before Obama's speech on Thursday. I wrote that somewhere here on this forum - that I didn't know if the US planned to vote no on the Palestinian state UN vote. That question was answered conclusively for me when Obama spoke on Thursday.

Sunday at AIPAC:

And those are the facts. I firmly believe, and I repeated on Thursday, that peace cannot be imposed on the parties to the conflict. No vote at the United Nations will ever create an independent Palestinian state. And the United States will stand up against efforts to single Israel out at the United Nations or in any international forum. (Applause.) Israel’s legitimacy is not a matter for debate. That is my commitment; that is my pledge to all of you. (Applause.)

Thursday at State:

For the Palestinians, efforts to delegitimize Israel will end in failure. Symbolic actions to isolate Israel at the United Nations in September won't create an independent state. Palestinian leaders will not achieve peace or prosperity if Hamas insists on a path of terror and rejection. And Palestinians will never realize their independence by denying the right of Israel to exist.

**Divine Wind** · 23rd May 2011 06:53 AM

Obama: US support for Israel 'ironclad' - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Barack Obama, the US president, has rejected Palestinian plans to seek statehood at the United Nations, and said Washington's commitment to Israel's security is "ironclad".

Obama was speaking at the annual policy meeting of American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the main pro-Israel lobby in the US, on Sunday amid unprecedented tumult in the Middle East and new strains in US-Israeli relations.

"No vote at the United Nations will ever create an independent Palestinian state," Obama said.

"And the United States will stand up against efforts to single Israel out at the UN or in any international forum. Because Israel's legitimacy is not a matter for debate."

Glad to hear it. The bias, and obvious antisemitism, of some in the UN has always been a problem. Any lasting peace in the Middle East has to be worked out by those who live there, not those with political agendas to push.

I think some nations are not antisemitic as much as they are anti-US and oppose Israel simply because we support it.