Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Obama Meddling In Israeli Election?

It's no secret that our President has disdain and possibly hatred for Israeli Prime Minister, and friend to the United States, Benjamin Netanyahu. Since Obama took office he has been trying, unsuccessfully, to get Israel to stop expanding their settlements on the West Bank and give more land to the Palestinians. Netanyahu has refused Obama's demands and it is very obvious that Obama isn't happy about it.

There were rumors last year that Obama wanted Netanyahu replaced by Israel’s popular finance minister, Yair Lapid, founder and leader of the Yesh Atid Party. The Obama administration describes Lapid as 'a moderate who could be helpful in pushing the Israeli government into accepting the framework to create a future Palestinian state.'

Obama has always taken sides against Israel in their dealings with the Hamas backed Palestinians - even condemning Israel's military response to repeated rocket attacks by Hamas last year.

It has been reported recently that President Obama not only is wanting Netanyahu out but that a team of five American campaign experts (including Jeremy Bird, the Obama campaign's national field director) has been dispatched to Israel to help run the campaign against Netanyahu. The group is being bankrolled by an American funded organization, “One Voice,” and while they haven't named any one candidate (yet) they will back their slogan is "Anyone but Bibi."

"One Voice" describes itself this way:

"One Voice is an international grassroots movement that amplifies the voice of mainstream Israelis and Palestinians, empowering them to propel their elected representatives toward the two-state solution. The Movement works to forge consensus for conflict resolution and build a human infrastructure capable of mobilizing the people toward a negotiated, comprehensive, and permanent agreement between Israel and Palestine that ends the occupation, ensures security and peace for both sides, and solves all final-status issues in accordance with international law and previous bilateral agreements. The 1967 borders form the basis for the establishment of an independent, viable Palestinian state, with permanent borders and any modifications to be agreed upon by both parties. The Movement recognizes that violence by either side will never be a means to end the conflict."

However, if you look at their web page it is very decidedly pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel, at least concerning this conflict.

Last week the White House, still fuming over Netanyahu's upcoming visit to the U.S. Congress without Obama's (unnecessary) approval, announced that Obama would not be meeting with Bibi while he is here because "Obama doesn't want to influence the upcoming Israeli election." I guess sending a team, that includes your own national field director, to Israel to campaign against Netanyahu isn't really trying to influence the election....?

Of course the Obama administration will deny any knowledge of the campaign team until it becomes national news, at which time he'll say he learned of it on TV. But there is not doubt in my mind that this team is sanctioned by the President himself and that he will do anything he can to help Netanyahu's opposition win. Obama wants a leader in Israel who either agrees with him or that can be pushed around. Netanyahu is neither.

I hope and pray that Bibi is re-elected by the sane and committed people of Israel, that right triumphs over wrong and that good triumphs over evil in your nation. The American people are still your friends, regardless of who is in the White House. Just keep reminding yourselves, as we must do, that Obama won't be President forever.


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