OBAMA: "UNFETTERED SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL"
HURTS "PROSPECTS FOR PEACE"
BY CHRISTINE WILLIAMS
republished below in full unedited for informational, educational, and research purposes:
Obama is still accusing Israel of being the barrier to peace, as he refers to “Netanyahu’s government policies” with regards to “Israeli settlements.” He even went so far as to imply that friendship with Israel is adding to the problem:
“If that’s what qualifies as a good friend, then I think that we will see a worsening situation over time.”Nowhere does Obama condemn the goal of Hamas, the PA and Fatah: to obliterate the state of Israel, as stated in their charters. Nowhere does he refer to the fact that Israel has already given back 96 percent of the lands it won in past defensive wars. He says nothing about the fact that these concessions only emboldened Israel’s jihadist enemies to attack innocent Israelis even more.
Netanyahu has accused the Obama administration of colluding with the Palestinians when it abstained last month from voting on a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning settlements. On Tuesday, Netanyahu reiterated that claim, saying Israel had “solid information” that proved the U.S. was behind the drafting of the resolution.Right after the passing of the UN anti-settlement Resolution 2334, leaked documents revealed that the resolution was was orchestrated by the Obama administration. As Obama packs up to leave the White House, he leaves behind a legacy of betraying Israel and rallying support for the Palestinian jihad. As the clock ticks on his presidency, let’s hope Obama’s propensity to lash out against Israel does not lead to still more rash actions. Remember that the virulently anti-Semitic former President Jimmy Carter called on Obama to unilaterally recognise Palestinian statehood before leaving office.
“Obama Warns Against Support for Israeli Settlements”, New York Times, January 10, 2017:
JERUSALEM — U.S. President Barack Obama warned in an interview broadcast Tuesday that “unfettered support” for Israel’s settlement policies would lead to a “worsening situation” over time between Israelis and Palestinians.
The interview with Israeli TV program “Uvda” comes 10 days before Obama, who has been an outspoken critic of Israeli settlements, hands over to President-elect Donald Trump, who is expected to pursue a starkly different approach to the conflict. Trump’s election has buoyed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his pro-settler government.
“If the notion is that unfettered support for Israel or more specifically support for the Netanyahu government’s policies — no matter what they are, no matter how inimical they may be to the prospects for peace — if that’s what qualifies as a good friend, then I think that we will see a worsening situation over time,” Obama said during the interview, filmed in Washington last week.
Netanyahu has accused the Obama administration of colluding with the Palestinians when it abstained last month from voting on a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning settlements. On Tuesday, Netanyahu reiterated that claim, saying Israel had “solid information” that proved the U.S. was behind the drafting of the resolution.
The White House has denied the allegations, and Israel has not publicly provided evidence to back them up.
Obama defended the abstention in the interview, saying “I believe it was the best move for peace.”
Nearly 600,000 settlers now live in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories the Palestinians want as part of a future state. Much of the international community as well as the Palestinians view settlements as illegitimate and an obstacle to peace. Netanyahu routinely dismisses international criticism of the settlements, saying the conflict predates them.
While Trump has indicated a willingness to help broker peace, his election platform did not mention a Palestinian state and he has taken steps that show he plans to side with Israel. He has appointed an ambassador to Israel with deep ties to the settlements and he has pledged to relocate the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, a move likely to inflame tensions and anger the Palestinians….
