“The thing about Bibi is, he’s a chickenshit,” - Obama Admin Official

[Hudson Jones]

It looks like Netanyahu's arrogance has reached a boiling point with the Obama administration. Last week, Bibi's defense minister, who has openly insulted Obama and Kerry was not received by top Obama officials during his visit to the U.S. Behind closed doors is one thing, but this was the first time that the Obama administration has publicly shown their contempt for Israel's government, who has on numerous occasions not only verbally insulted the U.S. but has taken actions that undermined what Obama and Kerry have been trying to do in regards to the peace process.

Jeffery Goldberg, The Atlantic

The fault for this breakdown in relations can be assigned in good part to the junior partner in the relationship, Netanyahu, and in particular, to the behavior of his cabinet. Netanyahu has told several people I’ve spoken to in recent days that he has “written off” the Obama administration, and plans to speak directly to Congress and to the American people should an Iran nuclear deal be reached. For their part, Obama administration officials express, in the words of one official, a “red-hot anger” at Netanyahu for pursuing settlement policies on the West Bank, and building policies in Jerusalem, that they believe have fatally undermined Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace process.

[Shady]

Pretty petty stuff from the Obama administration. Acting like children. I'd expect more professionalism, but it's Obama. The real chickensh*t that likes to draw redlines like in Syria, and then ignore it.

[Topaz]

I wonder if the US taxpayers are still supporting the military over there??

[Hudson Jones]

Pretty petty stuff from the Obama administration. Acting like children. I'd expect more professionalism, but it's Obama. The real chickensh*t that likes to draw redlines like in Syria, and then ignore it.

What the Obama administration is doing is nothing like what Bibi's administration has done.

All of this started with Bibi insulting Obama, by directly campaigning against him. Then the constant childish, arrogant and insulting comments by his cabinet towards Obama and his staff. Now Bibi has said that he will be going directly to congress, who received millions in donations by AIPAC and other pro-Israeli lobby groups. Basically trying to side-step the president of United States.

I find it quite fascinating how quickly you're all over Obama and totally disregard the behaviour of Bibi - GOP's preferred U.S. president.

[bush_cheney2004]

Hello....Israel's support lies within the U.S. Congress and American voters, not President Obama, who is already a lame duck.

[Bonam]

The fault for this breakdown in relations can be assigned in good part to the junior partner in the relationship, Netanyahu, and in particular, to the behavior of his cabinet.

This quote is dripping with arrogance. Junior partner? A relationship between two countries is a relationship between two separate sovereign entities, there's not a "junior partner". Israel is not America's territory or protectorate or vassal-state. Is Canada the "junior partner" in international relations with the US? Is the UK the "junior partner"?

[Big Guy]

Israel has been propped up ever since its inception by Western powers intent on maintaining a democracy is the Middle East - a democracy which was dependent upon and controlled by the USA. Israel has grown into a formidable nuclear military power which is prepared to follow its own foreign policy depending if the doves or hawks are in control.

Now the American dog is starting to be wagged by the Israeli tail and it does not know how to handle it.

I firmly believe that Iran, and a friendly association with Iran is the only way for the West out of this Middle East quagmire. Can this be accomplished by continuing to finance Israel and allowing it to accelerate tensions through military invasions and land acquisitions? I think not. I think there is a limit to the tolerance of the USA and the rest of the West as to what it will allow Israel to initiate in the rationale of its own defence at the cost of the relations of the West with the Muslim world.

As Israel increases in size and power so does the hate of the Arab world towards the West.

It will be interesting to see in which direction the next USA administration leans.

Edited October 30, 2014 by Big Guy

[Hal 9000]

^^^^ I agree, we should allow Israel to be exterminated in the hopes of sucking up to the Muslims.

[bush_cheney2004]

If support for Israel is such a concern, some Canadians should worry more about their own "administration".

[On Guard for Thee]

If support for Israel is such a concern, some Canadians should worry more about their own "administration".

We are worried. Can we send Harper to you? You'd like him.

[sharkman]

Speak for yourself, soldier boy, Harper is effectively governing while Obama stubbornly refuses to negotiate and compromise so he can do the most basic things like get a budget passed. He seems totally unaware of the bitch slapping his party is going to get at the mid-terms, but hey, his golf game has never been better!

The childish sniping campaign that Obama's administration is carrying out on Israel is, however, a new low. It's politics by 10 yr olds. "I know you are but what am I?"

[Bonam]

Israel has been propped up ever since its inception by Western powers intent on maintaining a democracy is the Middle East - a democracy which was dependent upon and controlled by the USA.

Wrong in your very first sentence. Israel was not significantly supported by the USA until after the 1967 war. Helps to learn a bit of history before you talk about things you know little about.

[Big Guy]

I believe I understand enough about history to have a valid opinion. I also know enough not to take cheap shots at other posters, no matter if I agree or disagree with them. As to the accuracy of my statements, I will leave that to those who bother to read my posts.

But thank you for another opportunity to share. The UN has just again come out warning Israel about its land grabbing and aggression against the Palestinians. A rabbi has just been shot because of the controversial attempt to replace the Al-Aqsa Mosque with a Jewish Temple. The USA cannot continue to support Israel blindly with Netanyahu thumbing his nose at Obama. Israel appear not to need American support any more and is prepared to move on its own.

I still believe that the solution to the Middle East tension is Iran. It was once an ally of the West and can be so again. It will soon have a seat at the nuclear table. I believe that the USA and Canada should review its foreign policy as relating to both Israel and Iran and make changes to try to resolve those problems rather than exacerbating them with blind support of Netanyahu.

[bush_cheney2004]

... The USA cannot continue to support Israel blindly with Netanyahu thumbing his nose at Obama. Israel appear not to need American support any more and is prepared to move on its own.

This is false...the USA can and will continue to support Israel because of shared mutual interests and alliance. The U.S. did not dump Canada/NORAD and other bilateral agreements because of comments made by members of the ruling government or opposition.

[Topaz]

You guy don't have much of a choice when you have only two parties to elect a president and why have election and spend all that money, just put either the Dems in or the Cons, who ever turn its is.

[bush_cheney2004]

Actually, American voters have more choices than in Canada...just check a ballot sometime.

Israel and the U.S. shall remained joined at the hip for very practical reasons. U.S. policy for the region would be far more impacted by a unilateral Israel striking enemies at will without such consideration and coordination.

American voters support Israel more than Palestine. Canadians can't change that.

Edited October 30, 2014 by bush_cheney2004

[dre]

It will be interesting to see in which direction the next USA administration leans.

I think it will be about the same. Bush had all the same positions that Obama did... Bush told Israel the settlements were illegal as well, and counter productive to peace and tried to get them to stop. They told him to pound sand...

In a keynote address to Whitehall during his visit to London, U.S. President George Bush yesterday slammed Israel's settlement enterprise and the daily humiliations of the Palestinians and called for an end to construction of the separation fence

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/bush-condemns-settlement-policy-un-adopts-road-map-1.106252

But the aid wont stop... I dont even think the executive branch has the authority to stop it. And no matter what any US president says Israel will keep taking the land because they WANT it, and because while the international community might piss and moan nobody is willing to take any meaningful steps to stop them.

[marcus]

Israel and the U.S. shall remained joined at the hip for very practical reasons.

And it's the enormous amount of money from the AIPACs and the Adelsons which is the glue that keeps the hips joined.

Nothing else.

Israel's treatment of Palestinians, both inside the occupied territories and inside Israel would never fly in America.

This is why Israel continues to lose more support from Jews living in the U.S. Especially when it comes to younger Jews who are better connected to information and understand what Israel really does to the Palestinians.

Edited November 1, 2014 by marcus

[sharkman]

Palestine and Muslim "treatment" of Jews would never fly in America. I think Muslims living in the U.S. and elsewhere are pretty supportive of the suicide bombings, missile attacks, and crazy ass vehicle-as-a-weapon attacks.

[jacee]

Palestine and Muslim "treatment" of Jews would never fly in America. I think Muslims living in the U.S. and elsewhere are pretty supportive of the suicide bombings, missile attacks, and crazy ass vehicle-as-a-weapon attacks.

That's an uninformed and pretty ignorant remark.

/canadian-mosques-hold-remembrance-day-ceremonies-for-canadian-soldiers/

[Argus]

This quote is dripping with arrogance. Junior partner? A relationship between two countries is a relationship between two separate sovereign entities, there's not a "junior partner". Israel is not America's territory or protectorate or vassal-state. Is Canada the "junior partner" in international relations with the US? Is the UK the "junior partner"?

When one partner is paying the bills for the other, I'd say that makes the other the junior partner.

[Argus]

And it's the enormous amount of money from the AIPACs and the Adelsons which is the glue that keeps the hips joined.

It's also the enemy of my enemy is my friend. The US and Israel have mutual enemies in all those crazyassed Islamic groups. The money really isn't important compared to that.

[bush_cheney2004]

....Israel's treatment of Palestinians, both inside the occupied territories and inside Israel would never fly in America.

Yes it would....Americans support Israelis far more than terrorism minded Palestinians. Bombing terrorists is a good thing !

[sharkman]

That's an uninformed and pretty ignorant remark.

/canadian-mosques-hold-remembrance-day-ceremonies-for-canadian-soldiers/

What a load of tripe.

Your link has absolutely NOTHING to do with 1) The U.S., 2) Jews and Muslim treatment of them or 3) the bombings or attacks against Jews, which is obviously what I was referring to.

Your link is an obvious media photo op. The photographer is allowed in the inner worship room, and is kneeling in front of the Muslim as he's praying. Like that ever happens, and the other worshippers are carefully arranged so they can be placed in the picture. And where are the beard wearing Muslims? Hey, don't get me wrong, peaceful Muslims that don't want to kill anybody get a bad rap and it's nice that they get a sympathetic story in which to denounce the shooting on Parliament. Still it would be nice if these same peaceful Muslims would speak up on the whackjob Muslims attacking innocent Jews in Israel, or Iran's warmongering, etc.

Edited November 9, 2014 by sharkman

[jacee]

What a load of tripe.

Your link has absolutely NOTHING to do with 1) The U.S., 2) Jews and Muslim treatment of them or 3) the bombings or attacks against Jews, which is obviously what I was referring to.

Your link is an obvious media photo op. The photographer is allowed in the inner worship room, and is kneeling in front of the Muslim as he's praying. Like that ever happens, and the other worshippers are carefully arranged so they can be placed in the picture. And where are the beard wearing Muslims? Hey, don't get me wrong, peaceful Muslims that don't want to kill anybody get a bad rap and it's nice that they get a sympathetic story in which to denounce the shooting on Parliament. Still it would be nice if these same peaceful Muslims would speak up on the whackjob Muslims attacking innocent Jews in Israel, or Iran's warmongering, etc.

sharkman your claim is tripe:

I think Muslims living in the U.S. and elsewhere are pretty supportive of the suicide bombings, missile attacks, and crazy ass vehicle-as-a-weapon attacks.

It's ridiculously broad, generalized, a smear job with no supporting evidence.

.