Tensions with Israel continue to rise today, and according to Israeli Ambassador to the US Michael Oren relations between the two nations are at their lowest level since 1975, when the US was pressuring Israel to end the occupation of Sinai.
The anger coming from the Obama Administrations stems from last weeks official visit by Vice President Joe Biden. Meant to kick-start the indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the Israeli government announced a massive settlement expansion on the first day of Biden’s visit, effectively destroying the peace process and leading the US to believe the move was a deliberate “insult.”
The Palestinians have said they will return to the peace talks only if the Israeli government abandons the settlement expansion, which the Israeli government has already ruled out. The US has also demanded the building plan be canceled.
Israeli officials have repeatedly said this isn’t going to happen, responding with only the requisite apology for hurting the administration’s feelings. The State Department however is still insisting they want a “formal” response.
The demand is actually reminiscent of the Obama Administration’s tack on Iran. After months of Iran making its position clear, the State Department continued to demand a “formal response” because they didn’t get the answer they wanted. After several months the administration then sought more sanctions against Iran for its refusal to respond.
Though this comparison is likely only superficial, it does point to the Obama Administration’s tendancy to only hear the responses it wants to hear. With the Netanyahu government unlikely to ever backtrack on settlements, this could spell a long-standing feud.
BS, the US has changed no policies, not denied aid, not even demanded that the settlements be cancelled. Israel did the same thing 20+ years ago to James Baker under Bush senior. They *always* do this. US politician shows up, settlement gets announced, like clockwork.
This is just to give cover to Abbas so he can crawl back to the table. Now, I'd *love* to be proven wrong. Let me hear about aid being suspended for a couple years. Let me hear about the US opening talks with Hamas. Anything, come on, we're waiting.
I say let's "divorce Israel and keep our aid!
Cry me a river Eric!
Just to please the Arabs, honey bunch and then bombs away!
When the U.S. opens Full Congressional Investigations into the Attack on the USS Liberty, Israeli spying on us and their transferring of our secrets and technology to our enemies, questions Israel on It's Nuke weapons etc. then Israel will listen.
It is illusion zionists infiltrating white house and congress like cancer
I resent my tax dollars going to Israel. It's a case of the parasite killing it's host. Why should we borrow money from their parasite banks to GIVE them loans that are always forgiven? That have never paid one cent interest or principle back on these loans. The three BILLION+ handed them every could also be used here for our own needs.
The only reason the Sinai was returned to Egypt was because of the very good showing of the Egyptian armed forces in the 1973 war. This finally convinced the military elites in Israel that holding onto the Sinai would be more trouble then it was worth.
Anybody heard of the Rosenbergs? Jonathan Pollard? USS Liberty? Cairo Bombing? Friends indeed. Lets find some new ones, fast.