But the realities of the world set in all too quickly.
Ynetnews, the English on-line version of the Hebrew daily yediót aHronót (Hebrew for "latest updates") reported that "Abbas called for talks with Hamas government, denounced Obama's remarks on Jerusalem." This was on 4 June. Abbas wasted no time attempting to adjust to what appeared to be the new song out of the Obama campaign, "Hatikva". This was only one of many articles that noted the stunned feeling of Arabs round the world.
On 5 June, Sana Abdallah of the Middle East Times wrote that Obama's AIPAC speech shocked Arabs. He noted that, "millions of Arabs were able to watch the address to the powerful American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which was aired live on some Arab television networks, serving as a 'rude awakening' that the United States, regardless of its leadership, would continue to favor Israel at the expense of Palestinian and Arab rights."
Al-Jazeera chimed in on 5 June with Arabs shocked by Obama speech noting that,
"His comments appalled Palestinians who see occupied East Jerusalem as part of a future Palestinian state."
The response from Barry Obama should have been expected. Around midnight local time (6 June), The Jerusalem Post reported that Obama clarifies united J'lem comment.
It wasn't Obama who did the "clarification", by the way. According to the newspaper, it was a campaign aide. The un-named aide said Thursday that,
Obama believes 'Jerusalem is a final status issue, which means it has to be negotiated between the two parties' as part of 'an agreement that they both can live with. Two principles should apply to any outcome: Jerusalem remains Israel's capital and it's not going to be divided by barbed wire and checkpoints as it was in 1948-1967.' He refused, however, to rule out other configurations, such as the city also serving as the capital of a Palestinian state or Palestinian sovereignty over Arab neighborhoods.
It is no surprise that this left many Jews who were cheering wildly just a couple of nights ago rather cold. This is not their vision of a "united Jerusalem".
According to the Post, the Orthodox Union's Nathan Diament expressed disappointment a mere day after praising Senator Obama for these remarks. Similarly, Morton Klein, of the Zionist Organization of America, found this backpedaling "troubling".
By contrast, Congressman Robert Wexler, a Democrat from Florida, a long-time supporter of Obama, rejected the idea that the Illinois senator had been misleading with his comments. He basically repeated what had been said by the Obama aide. Americans for Peace Now, the American fundraising arm for Peace Now, a group of pro-Arab Israelis, was pleased by this clarification. According to them, Obama's clarification reflected their own position advocating shared sovereignty over Jerusalem.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Dan Miller
Ruvy,
Your friend Senator Obama seeks to have backtracked just a little wee bit on his position since some folks didn't like it.
Oh, well.
Dan
2 - Howard
I will take this opportunity to relay what the King James Holy Bible has to say about Samaria; and there is a big difference between the 20 or so versions that have been re-written over the years. The net effect of so many re-writes, obviously, is the confusion and rejection of the King James Holy Bible in its most accurate translation from the Greek/Hebrew. Most Christians of the latter America have never read any of the book, although they will claim they know all about it. The true Bible states that God forbids and disdain's people who juxtapose the sexual similarity between a man's body and a woman's body as the "same area". Deceivers and anti-Christs will explain that the meaning behind those verses mean the geographical region of Samaria. The language of the Bible speaks in metaphor and simile, known as Parable. The further meaning of the Parable explains how Same-areans, or uni-sexuals in modern heathenism, will return to the dirt they stand on for eternity. So, Sodom and Gomorrah America, have at it while you can.
3 - Lee Richards
Let's make Israel the 51st state, Iraq the 52nd, and Sodom and Gommorah 53 and 54.
Then we'll have a stronger military, more oil, and 2 more Disneylands for deceivers, anti-christs, uni-sexuals(?) and heathens.
While we're at it, let's offer to trade the Clintons for Bin Laden.
Problems solved, everybody happy.
4 - Zedd
Ruvy,
No other country gets the attention that Israel gets in American politics, from Obama or anyone else. What else do you want?
You are reaching with this one.
Also, why is it good to hold American politicians hostage; where people have to nervously kiss up like they are dealing with the mafia. The bullying is terrible and needs to stop.
5 - Dr Dreadful
Dream on, Ruvy... dream on.
6 - EH
Please correct your quote. Barrack said:
"And Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and it must remain uhm.... divided!"
7 - Al Barger
Ruvy, if you were picking out an American politician for president who would be properly and genuinely supportive of Israel, who would it be?
8 - RJ Elliott
#7:
Al,
Maybe Joe Lieberman? Or Abe Foxman?
I find it baffling that an Israeli Jew (and a former American citizen) would hold such a negative view of the US.
Bush recently traveled to Israel and basically pledged all of America's might in support of Israel. McCain has seemingly spent half his campaign denouncing Iran for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's lunatic comments about Israel. And even Barack Obama throws red meat to the AIPAC crowd.
The United States sends billions of taxpayer dollars in military aid every year to Israel. The United States is often practically the only friend Israel has in the UN, vetoing anti-Israel resolutions quite regularly.
And AIPAC is considered one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington DC.
What exactly do you want from us, Ruvy?
9 - Clavos
"(and a former American citizen)"
Not "former," RJ.
He plans to vote in November.
Said so right here on BC.
The other night.
10 - Dr Dreadful
Says so as the punchline of this very article, actually.
11 - RJ Elliott
Okay. Change that to "former, long-time resident" of the US. Whatever.
Isn't dual citizenship sort of troubling, since it can create a conflict of interest in such voters?
12 - Dr Dreadful
No conflict of interest in Ruvy's case. His POV is articulated very clearly in the article and his numerous past comments about Obama.
13 - Clavos
"Isn't dual citizenship sort of troubling, since it can create a conflict of interest in such voters?"
Troubling to whom? I'm a dual citizen, as are both of my siblings; it's legal and recognized by both of the countries in which I can vote (Mexico and USA).
I vote my conscience; so far, with no conflicts (for me), though I'll admit some of my compatriots from either country might and do, look askance at some of my positions, but that would probably happen even if I only had one passport.
One cool thing about two passports: I get priority treatment entering both countries; I just use the right passport.
14 - Cindy D
ROFLOL @#3 Lee
You've got my vote Lee.
15 - Dr Dreadful
One cool thing about two passports: I get priority treatment entering both countries; I just use the right passport.
Well, I don't have dual citizenship, but I do enjoy using my British passport at Heathrow and my permanent resident card when returning to the US... I get to use the quick line at both ends. Tee hee!
16 - Baronius
Also, to clarify, Obama was talking about Jerusalem, New York.
17 - Jet in Columbus
With that particular poster Cisco, but he's been re-banned after he slipped under the radar today.
Let the be peace across the landlll
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhoooooooooooooooooom
18 - Dr Dreadful
I've heard of praying to Gods, angels, spirits, animals, trees, idols, icons, deceased relatives and Elvis, but praying to a sermon??? Now I know the world has gone crazy. Oh my sainted aunt...
19 - Baronius
I dunno, Doc. The phrasing makes sense to me. Just as you sing along to a favorite song, you'd pray to a particular prayer. That's why you get the shouted "amens" during a sermon as you would at the end of a prayer. The sermon is a prayer.
As for dual citizenship, the idea has always bothered me. Ruvy has no loyalty to the US. His home is Israel. I don't understand why he'd want to be called an American. He anticipates a showdown between his two countries, and has no qualms about which one he'd support, so why retain US citizenship?
Third topic: Ruvy, you want to judge McCain and Obama as anti-Israel based on their associations. That's not fair. You couldn't assemble an advisory staff or a campaign without some variation of opinion. By your account, you can't assemble a government *in Israel* that's pro-Israel. No one's asking you to entrust Israel's fate to James Baker. Look at the candidates and decide.
20 - Ruvy
Avi,
You don't pray to a sermon, you listen to it - it's like a d'rashá that a rabbi gives.
Beyond that, I have no clue what kind of prayers are recited at the Obamas' former church, but, if you are really curious, their web-site is in the article.
Dr. Dreadful can be picky with his English (so can I) and you did make a tiny usage error....
Hope you enjoyed Shavuot, aHí. Did you have some good cheesecake, at least?
21 - Ruvy
Great comment, Howard.
The only problem with it is that the authoritative name of Samaria is Shomrón. The Hebrew is the authoritative version of the Bible, as it was written almost entirely in Hebrew with some portions of the Book of Daniel and the Scroll of Esther in Aramaic. Everything else is just a translation. Since you are likely Hebrew-challenged, I use Samaria for your sake. In Hebrew, "same area" is otó shétaH,, and "same aria" is otó shir.
Another Parable parabolically disposed of in the circular file....
22 - Ruvy
I see I messed up yet another HTML code in the previous comment. Ce est la vie.
Moving onwards:
Brother Al asks, Ruvy, if you were picking out an American politician for president who would be properly and genuinely supportive of Israel, who would it be?
Assemblyman Dov Hikind of Brooklyn in the NY State Assembly.
Baronius writes,
As for dual citizenship, the idea has always bothered me. Ruvy has no loyalty to the US. His home is Israel. I don't understand why he'd want to be called an American. He anticipates a showdown between his two countries, and has no qualms about which one he'd support, so why retain US citizenship?
I worked a full forty quarters in the United States, and am entitled to Social Security. I don't really think I'll see a dime out of the money, but just in case I'm wrong, I don't want to jeapordize receiving it. We cashed in our pensions to move here. We've gone from economic security to economic insecurity. It's just a thin reed in the fire, but we are both entitled to receive the money, if it is still around....
I don't really want to be called an American, though. I'd be just as happy to be called a Jew and leave it at that. That's how I'm listed on my Israeli ID card.
after the standard complaints about how much the American government "gives" the State if Israel, RJ Elliot asks,
What exactly do you want from us, Ruvy?
I'll repeat the end of the article, so that maybe you will understand it. If you think that the American government "supports" Israel, you probably won't, but we'll try it again anyway. Miracles do happen.
If Obama wins the American election, though, he will be just what the doctor ordered for those of us who want to rid Israel of American puppets who ruin our lives threaten our security and ultimately endanger the Jewish entity that has finally arisen here after two thousand years of exile and persecution by foreigners.
McCain will glad hand and lie through his teeth - just like Obama did to AIPAC - and Israelis will believe him. He'll be able to carry the lie off a lot better. By contrast, Obama will be the personification of the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish policy of America's oil and banking establishment. And military reservists, the backbone of Israeli society, whose lives are endangered every time the IDF throws them into foolish assaults in Gaza, and misuses them in military offensives in Lebanon, while Israeli government power-holders hide in bunkers, will finally become disgusted with the thieves and incompetents who ruin their lives.
And they will finally do what is necessary to break the yoke of oppression on our necks, so that we can build our homeland in dignity, and with G-d's help, peace.
So, I'm not condemning Obama at all. I'll be voting for the guy. He is, ironically, "the great black hope".
Read it carefully, RJ. The thieves and incompetents who ruin our lives are puppets of your government, and will not be ousted without a "rising of shire". Ask Doctor Dreadful to explain that reference for you if you do not understand it.
23 - Dr Dreadful
I see what he was getting at now, Baronius. I just didn't read it that way for some reason. It's kind of like the verbal equivalent of that shadow picture which is a vase if you look at it one way and two people talking if you look another. You can't blame me. It seems pretty easy to get things wrong today. I also didn't get the memo about how it's now antisemitic to poke fun at someone's English. Crikey, now I think about it, I disagreed with Clavos over the weekend as well. D'you think I should get therapy for my irrational hatred of Mexicans?
24 - Ruvy
Jet,
I read a whole load of JOM's comments in my inbox on e-mail, where the comment editors don't go, and for once he wasn't going after me. In fact, it appeared that he might have even been agreeing. At first. But as I started reading how the discussion deteriorated, I can see why he was re-banned....
25 - Ruvy
Baronius,
A sermon may be the prayer of the priest before the congregants. You would know this better than I. If the congregants holler "amen!" obviously they are endorsing the prayer.
In a synagogue, a drashá is an explanation. Sometimes rabbis veer away from strictly explaining and move over to advocating things, and the congregants will shout amén v'amén! - a heavy endorsement of what the rabbi is saying, and if you want, you can stretch what the rabbi says into being a prayer. And sometimes, it is.
But a rabbi's job is primarily to be that of a teacher, and not a "pastor" as Americans understand it.