OBAMA AND ISRAEL

As most of you know, I have long been a critic of President Obama’s attitude towards Israel and, by extension, towards Jews, in general.  I have published many blogs dealing with this topic.  There is no need for me to rehash them all now.  As the late Casey Stengel, former baseball player and manager, was fond of saying “you could look it up.”

The first thing one has to comprehend is that when a politician criticizes Israel, he or she is really criticizing Jews, as well, in code.  In this regard, I consider the two terms to be interchangeable.  This is not unlike Southern politicians in the 1950’s championing “states rights.”  Everyone knew they were speaking in code in support of segregation and “Jim Crow” treatment of African Americans.

Obama has exhibited his antipathy towards Israel at every chance.  For example, at every opportunity, he has cozied up to various Palestinian terror groups by making it clear that he wanted a more “even-handed” approach in the Middle East.  When Israel’s staunchest ally speaks of “even-handedness,” what is one to think?   Want more examples?  How about “dissing” Benjamin Netanyahu.  While in NY he wanted to confer with Obama at the White House regarding matters of state.  As I recall, Obama felt it more important to attend a fundraiser.  Are you serious?   A fundraiser was more important?   Obama could have easily rescheduled it.  What kind of message do you suppose that sent to the rest of the world?

In addition, we have seen Obama’s consistently conciliatory approach toward Iran, which has repeatedly vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the earth, Syria, Hamas, and Hezbollah, among others.  Obama is probably the most anti-Israel, anti-Semitic President in my lifetime, except, perhaps, for Jimmy Carter.

All of the foregoing, pales, however, beside the US abstaining from last Friday’s UN Security Council’s vote condemning Israeli settlements on the West Bank and demanding an immediate halt to any new construction.  In the past the US had always vetoed such resolutions to express its unwavering support of Israel.  Of course, an abstention has the same effect as lack of support.

The resolution not only demands a halt but urges “vigilant follow-up,” whatever that means.  Would or could that entail detailing UN inspectors or troops to the region to monitor and/or enforce it?  Who knows.  The fact of the resolution is bad enough, but, worse, there are indications that the US urged the resolution and, perhaps, even drafted it.

All American Jews who have given Obama/Clinton their automatic support now need to acknowledge their error and rethink matters.  If you are a Jew who cares about Israel (and I realize that not all Jews do) you must be more discerning with your votes prospectively and refrain from voting Democratic automatically.  To be sure, many Dems, such as Senator Schumer, have remained staunch supporters, but many others are not, and this action may embolden them.

CONCLUSION

I am literally at a loss for words to describe adequately the sense of outrage and betrayal I feel with respect to the significance of this resolution.  I don’t want to sound extreme, but in my opinion, students of history will recognize this for what it really is.  Beneath all the rhetoric, this vote is nothing more than another demonstration of the continuing persecution of the Jewish people.

I can almost understand the mindset of other countries’ leaders and the political, economic, social, moral, and religious prejudices that lead them to support the Palestinians.  But, the US is and has been the shining light of freedom and democracy in the world, the champion of the underdog.  It has been Israel’s only consistent supporter.  Without its support, Israel could not continue to survive.  In return, Israel is and has been our only reliable ally in the region.  We need each other.

As far as the UN is concerned, the less said, the better.  It is hypocritical beyond belief.  It issues condemnations against Israel and lectures us on our race relations, but it ignores the aggression and human rights violations of other countries, such as Russia, Iran and Syria and terrorists groups such as ISIS, Hamas and Hezbollah. Imagine, those countries lecturing us on human rights?

The UN has strayed from its original purpose considerably.  In some ways, it has become little than a propaganda tool.  Let’s hope the new Administration will put matters back on track.