President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, warned Israel that their “moment of truth” has arrived. Israel must accept Emanuel’s Two State Solution demand with Palestine or forfeit U.S. help in dismantling Iran’s nuclear program. See photos and a video below.
Rahm Emanuel
According to the Jerusalem Post, Emanuel made the comments in a “closed-door meeting…with 300 major AIPAC donors.” According to IsraelToday:
Speaking at the annual Washington conference of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), Ynet quoted Emanuel as insisting that the ability to confront Iran and reach a diplomatic solution over its defiant nuclear program was solely dependent on progress toward the birth of “Palestine.Emanuel said that with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu scheduled to meet with U.S. President Barack Obama later this month, Israel now faces a moment of truth – it can either acquiesce to international demands and in return have its most serious threats dealt with, or maintain the status quo and have those threats persist.
So our White House is telling Israel to accept the two state solution demand: Palestine as an official state without acknowledging the right of Israel to exist. That position has been untenable to Israel in the past, and recognizing Israel has been untenable to the Palestinians. The call for the destruction of Israel is written into the Palestinian Charters and Constitution. The elephant in the room is Israel’s right to exist, not, as the mainstream media would have us believe – Israel’s presence in the West Bank and so-called Palestinian “refugees.”
There is the argument that Israel is “occupying” Palestine, but that is not an honest argument – it is a politically correct argument. For some background on how Israel was granted their homeland, and how much of that homeland was taken from them, and how they fought to keep terrorism off their soil, read The Angst of Supporting Israel.
Today is a new day, so I’ll grant that there is the possibility that Hamas and the PLO might actually accept Israel to gain a homeland through the two state solution, but history has proven over and over that this is not a scenario on the radar. Nothing is impossible but this might be the closest thing to it.
The White House, with Rahm Emanuel at the wheel, seems to think they can triumph over the roiling anger in the region. The history of the various peace processes, peace quartets, peace road maps, etc., has been a winding, endless highway, filled with insurmountable potholes. After all these many years, if the United States will not protect Israel’s right to exist…then what? What happens to our allied relationship with Israel? Hamas and the PLO continue showing up at the negotiating table as faux participants, and that’s why the peace talks of the past last about as long as the short-lived cease fires in the area.
Israel’s new Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, says a three-track approach is needed to address Palestine’s political positions, economic conditions and security. He has acknowledged the need to greatly improve the quality of life for Palestinians, but has made no promise to negotiate a dual state solution, and probably will not until Israel is recognized as humans with a right to live in their homeland.
One of the finest Jewish bloggers, and columnists, Sultan Knish has a penetrating essay posted. If you are interested in the region and this staggering new development, read Obama’s Plan to Destroy Israel.
On the campaign trail, Barack Obama expressed frustration with Palestine for their continual obstruction of all peace talks, and he promised to take that position to the White House. Hear his comments in the video below. But something has changed. Emanuel and the White House plan to drag Israel into the bargain, and short of that, the U.S. abandons Israel. The beginning of an agreement is simple: Palestine recognizes Israel, loudly and clearly. Everything else can be worked out and Israel has said they will honor all the commitments to peace agreed to from past Israeli governments. The two state solution demand can work. The ball is in Palestine’s court.
Israel (Photos)
Israel Two State Solution (Video)
Photos: www.wenn.com
Rahm Emanuel Photo Credit: Carrie Devorah/WENN.com
May 5th, 2009 at 9:50 am
It is so refreshing to not hear America being so arrogant like we were the last 8 years. You go Rahm.
May 5th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Really, WTF is wrong with this guy ?
“President Obama’s Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, warned Israel that their “moment of truth” has arrived. Israel must accept Emanuel’s Two State Solution demand with Palestine or forfeit U.S. help in dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.”
Say hello to WW3.
Did he forget that Iran has sworn to kill the other “satan” ? Ya know…us ?
I’ll give it Jesse Jackson, he was right when he said that if Obama won the White house Israel could kiss away any support from the US.
May 5th, 2009 at 11:06 am
The beginning of an agreement is simple: Palestine recognizes Israel, loudly and clearly.
I absolutely agree. It’s hard to blame Israel for their reluctance to consider the formation of a Palestinian state, given Palestine’s total refusal to recognize Israel.
Why are the Palestinians so concerned with disparaging Israel that they are willing to sacrifice their own nation for the sake of their continued snub? Talk about petty and counterproductive.
May 5th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Just a guess, but I don’t think that Obama’s genuflecting, kissing, bowing, back patting and general naive a$$-kissing is going to do anything but tell our enemies that we are a bunch of patsies. All you pink-fingered, liberal punks stand by. You are going to get the chance to give something back to your country.
May 5th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
The truth is “Palestine never misses an oppurtunity to miss an oppurtunity” Palestine does not want a two state solution they want it all.
Remember the Clinton years…
Mr. Emmanuel please read your history, and do not betray Israel like we did with Native Americans.
Do not forget, Israel we can trust. Iran will deceive America and our Allies, by false co-operation. Iran will bomb Americas intersets when their weapons are developed -there not a credible nation.
May 5th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
I suggest Obama get his act together in the middle east, and soon. More than just the threat of the Taliban, Pakistan could well erupt into a situation that will invite opportunities for radical militias and insurgencies like the type we saw in Iraq. If we see a simultaneous effort from Iran aimed at Israel along with whats happening in Afghanistan and Iraq ( even though its shaping up fairly well) the entire middle east will become very unstable to say the least.
If I’m correct Obama just dropped 900 million in the lap of Hamas so they could rebuild or add to infrastructure. Add that to this statement from Emanuel (liberal jews are the ultimate oxymoron)and it paints a picture where I eventually see Netanyahu being left with little choice but to crank it up in the face of the Palestinians and telling the Obama administration to take their aid and shove it.
A two state solution ?
Plain utter idiocy. A two state solution if I remember correctly gives Palestinians the right to vote in certain Israeli regional elections, does it not ? Why on earth would Israel want to invite the opportunity for a majority of Palenstians to eventually be created where they could slant future elections in their favor ? Another thing that makes no sense is to promote a Palestinian state that is allowed to create commerce and a market that would eventualy allow for revenues that would allow Hamas to only buy bigger and better weapons from Iran ? Any friggen idiot knows that the Palestinians are a homidical/genocidal/suicidal society that has claimed over and over again that its only purpose is to kill every Jew on the planet and yet for decades now both parties refuse to take this fact into account and move forward ignorantly as if any of the repeatedly failed a tried solutions in the past will ever work.
Its flat out insanity. These people need to be dismantled and shipped of in segmnents to the respective communities that this group originated from. Palestinians are an invented people with origins that come from at least 4 or 5 neighboring middle eastern states. These neighboring states need to be made to own up to the responsibility that these are their people, starting with the Saudis on down to Egypt, Syria etc and stop thic crap that the Palestinians are their oown people. They are not ! They are simply a gang of Jew hating radicals that organized 60 years ago with one purpose and one purpose only.
THERE IS NO PALESTINE !
May 5th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Revised: The truth is as a commentator once said :” Palestine never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.”
May 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Micky: when you get a minute, let me know how you REALLY feel:-) Just kidding of course. I agree with every word, and especially the reality of your last sentence.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
To everyone here: thanks for discussing this very important issue. No matter your opinion, this needs to be on the front burner.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
George Washington on Israel
“A passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. Sympathy for the favorite nation, facilitating the illusion of an imaginary common interest in cases where no real common interest exists, and infusing into one the enmities of the other, betrays the former into a participation in the quarrels and wars of the latter without adequate inducement or justification.” ~George Washington Farewell Address
“The nation which indulges toward another habitual hatred or habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interests.” ~ George Washington
“Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
May 5th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
micky, Bush was also a backer of the two-state solution. The solution itself is not a left/right thing. The argument is on how to got about getting there. The right wants to give Israel as much time as it feels comfortable and on its own terms. The left feels like the conflict will go on unending and dragging America down in the process, so is pushing for a quicker resolution.
The two-state solution is backed by both parties. Please frame argument accordingly or redirect anger at both parties.
May 5th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
“this needs to be on the front burner.”
Yea right.
Those that wish us dead will get more a$$ kissing and positive consideration from this administration in one day than the attention sh*thead gives Israel in a year.
Maggie.
As human beings were supposed to tolerate insufficiencies in certain areas no matter whos in charge, but that tolerance should be next to nothing when it comes to issues like this.
I’m scared, and I dont scare easily. I’m afraid the next four years is just going to be another staging platform for every radical element in the middle east and even here on our soil. The ignorance and naivety in place that will allow this to happen is there without a doubt. These camel jockeys are laughing their arses off right now telling each other;
“Abdul ! you watch !, in 4 years, just like last time, those stupid americans are gonna get so fed up with these democrats that they’ll elect another republican administration for us to attack”
May 5th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Rob.
If you read my post carefully I placed blame on both parties.
Please read closer of opt for cranial glutal removal surgery
May 5th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
In addition I will say that there is irrefutable evidence that the left has fanned this ridiculous 60 year war on a scale the right cant even touch.
The right has more often than not backed Israels right to defend itself than the left has. Whereas the left has constantly been the bleeding heart advocates for a murderous genocidal community.
Dont even go there bro. I have 4 holocaust survivors in my family, one still alive, and I am all to well educated on this issue to get into a generic spat with those who are fed a$$ first unrealistic idealism.
May 5th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
“both parties refuse to take this fact into account”
Well, I stand corrected. I missed that amongst the Obama complaints.
The left certainly does think Israel has a right to defend itself.
For the rest, I will defer to you on as this is not an area I’m well versed in and you apparently are.
May 5th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Israel certainly has a right to defend herself, and the right to exist. Both parties agree with that. Both parties want a solution. There approach is not that dramatically different, although here we are seeing a change no doubt.
Micky, I understand your passion about this, but you make it sound as if there is no other side or perspective that is legitimate than your own. Try understanding others perspectives, and you will probably understand your own better. Substantivley, that means recognizing that Palestine also has a right to exist and defend itself. My bet is that you do not believe that.
I do not think it is true that Palestinians do not exist. There are a great deal of cities that have been in Palestine for centuries. It was once part of the Ottaman Empire, and one of the places that persecuted Jews were invited to come during the inquisition. In fact, Palestine is a term that dates back to ancient Roman times. I guess you are probably right that militants from all over the middle east have moved there since the start of the Israeli state. But if you are making the argument that the people native to the area have less of a claim or even equal claim than the Jews, I think you are sadly mistaken.
What is done is done, so they now need to co-exist. It is people that think it can’t happen that make it not happen.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Rob,Justin. Sorry.
The fact is that Hamas and the Palestinians enjoy way more support from the left than the right.
Please, dont try to bulls*t around the fact that liberals coddle these murderous punks more than any party besides Hamas itself.
“that means recognizing that Palestine also has a right to exist and defend itself. My bet is that you do not believe that.”
Absolutely not.
All you’re saying is that the Palestinians have a right to engage in the persistent attack they’ve launched on Israel for the last 60 years and have said so themselves will not stop til every Jew is dead.
Palestine does not have the right to exist upon the death of an entire nation of people.
Since when do we sanction pragmatic genocidal movements that allow one nation to exist over another ? HUH ? Since WW 2 Germany ? Since the Obama administration ?
” do not think it is true that Palestinians do not exist. There are a great deal of cities that have been in Palestine for centuries. ”
Spare me the history lesson. Palestine no longer exists. It is now a handful of sovereign states autonomous in their own law and governments.
You cant just popcorn fart an old disbanded nation out of your a$$ for murderous expediency. Well, I guess as long as liberals exist you can try while having the luxury of someone backing it as legitimate.
“that the people native to the area have less of a claim or even equal claim than the Jews, I think you are sadly mistaken. ”
Israel was designated to the Jews by the UN, the British in accord with the Balfour declaration not to mention its biblical claim also. Since WW 2 the Palestinians intentionally reneged on agreements granting Israel sovereignty and have launched countless genocidal attacks on them since.
There are billions of Muslims in this world and hundreds of millions of Arab Muslims in the middle east with any number of Muslim states that could settle this very simply by acclimating these people back to their states of origin instead of force feeding a two state solution on two peoples who reject it constantly, which would be like oil and water if attempted anyway.
Are their innocent Palestinians who could care less about killing Jews ? Of course. But the numbers don’t justify what the majority of Palestinians wish upon Israel.
Tell me.
How many times are we and the rest of the world going to keep trying the same old failed policies over and over and over again killing millions more until we realize it JUST WONT WORK ????
This idealistic bullsh*t has to stop already, its insane.
Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. “Insanity”
All the meanwhile Iran builds its own nuke arsenal while at the same time N. Korea builds much the same weaponry for sale to the highest bidder which God only knows could end up being Syria or Iran ?
Wise up gentlemen. This has been going entirely too long for anyone to think anything less than a swift kick upside the Palestinians head is in order.
Dont buy into this crap that if the Palestinians just had this or that or that poverty is what breeds their contempt. These Mein Kampf graduates could have the everything in the world and still wouldn’t be happy until every last Jew is dead.
Do you all understand that ?
But, I digress, maybe not.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
“What is done is done, so they now need to co-exist. It is people that think it can’t happen that make it not happen.”
Not everything needs to happen, nor should it.
What is it with you liberals ? HUH ?
Always trying to cram your idealistic utopias down everyones throat.
Whats next huh ?
Are we going to see United Nations nationalize the world into one big community where it creates world wide hate legislation that makes it illegal for Israel to feel the way it does ?
A governmant giving everyone the direction for their lives in all areas of morals, ethics, thoughts, world business, agriculture, science, women, children etc, and having sanctions against those that “dont get along “?
May 5th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Hey Maggie !
Are you the same Maggie over at Faultline ?
May 5th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Micky, yes, I am the same Maggie at Faultline. Faultline was my first mentor when I began blogging and continues to be.
BTW, I have something to add to this discussion but must finish another task first. I’ll be back.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:44 pm
Cool.
I’ve been meaning to ask for a couple weeks now after someone there gave you a heads up on something, but wasnt totally sure since they left out the “N” in your last name.
May 5th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Just curious, if no independent Palestinian state, and given the arab neighbors are not going to take in the palestinians much less carve off a piece of real estate to give them, what is the answer?
May 5th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Micky:
“What is it with you liberals ? HUH ?”
I am not a liberal, and far from it. I am suggesting the most widely accepted approach, which doesn’t involve genocide of the Palestinians.
“Israel was designated to the Jews by the UN”
The UN gave only part of Palestine to Israel. It was a two state solution. The only other solution is to kill all of them. They are not leaving voluntarily.
Suggesting that we be civil in our approach, even if that INCLUDES using force TO PROTECT ISRAEL, is not Utopian.
Your proposition sounds more akin to Mein Kampf, as your ideology is completely centered on the Palestinian people, who you consider less than people. You sound like you want to destroy them.
LET ME BE CLEAR. YOU ARE DEMONIZING MY POSITION, WHEN I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PRO ISRAEL, AND DO NOT ACCEPT THE TERRORIST BEHAVIOR OF THE PALESTINIANS, AM TOTALLY SKEPTICAL OF THEIR CULTURE OF HATE, AND AM IN FAVOR OF USING FORCE TO ENFORCE ORDER.
IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU ARE A BIT RADICAL ON THIS POSTITION, WHILE I AM A MODERATE. AS LONG AS YOU ADMIT THAT THEN OKAY.
May 5th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
“spare me the history lesson.”
Ahh yes, you make a false statement about Palestine, history not on your side, so you don’t want to hear it. That makes sense.
May 5th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Hey Justin … don’t confuse them with facts and rational thinking.