Barack Obama, Israel, and Rahm Emanuel’s Father’s Intemperate Remarks

Pawns in the End Great Game

We the West have never given the Arabs an even shake since the 1914 Sykes Picot Agreement. Wilson fought this but was to sick and had to be brought home from the 1919 Paris Peace Conf. Israel was created to fill the void in the power vacum in the Middle East left by the British with the decline in Colonialism. The Jews were a pawns in the sratigic game, dispite Disraeli's 19th century aims for Zionism.As for Rham Emanuel, well lets hope he can keep President Obama on a course where Israe is not distroyed and No Arab or Persians states either... The future of Human Kind could be in some very unstable hands! The Fist World may well be genoside the Third and Fifth Worlds. Apocalypse and Armagedon could be self fullfuling prophacies.

What's wrong with being pro-Israel?

Yeah, the father's comments were embarrassing, bad, and racist. (Though not a terrorist, as Abu Tariq says as he tries to rob the word of meaning.)

I have to disagree with the opinion piece however. What is wrong with being pro-Israel? Israel is an ally of the US. Would it be wrong to be pro-Britain or pro-any-other-country? Of course not. "US interests come first!" you say. Of course they do! But being pro-Israel is in the US's interests. To suggest that being pro-Israel means that one is to be against the "Muslim neighbors" is stupid. But since he brought it up, lets look at those neighbors. Hamas seeks Israel's destruction and genocide of Jews, and the PA and Fatah do as well, though they say so only in Arabic and not English. Lebanon is divided, but the South and much of the government is controlled by Hezbollah, who harbors the same goals as Hamas and Fatah. Jordan has a cold peace with Israel, which counts for something. Egypt also has a cold peace, but lets in as many weapons to Hamas as it can get away with (and counterproductive to itself I might add). It's good to have Egypt and Jordan allies with or good relations with the US, but choosing between those two and Israel (a choice which the US is not required to make, again I don't know why the author think this, btw), Israel is clearly more deserving of being an ally.

The US and Israel both stand for the ideals of freedom and democracy. They give all citizens equal rights (and all Arabs within Israel's borders have been offered citizenship), and illegalize discrimination based on race, color, sex, or sexuality. Also, Israel is on the front lines of the battle that the whole West faces against Radical Islam. Hezbollah, Hamas, and Al Queda and all Radical Islamist terrorists have some differences about ideological details and who their primary targets are, but all want to see a world under the rule of Radical Sharia Islam.

@Dandashy:

Most American Jews probably would consider themselves Americans first. But that shouldn't matter. The first Amendment gives every person the right to practice his or her religion, and so if someone holds their Religion above their country, why would there be a problem? With Jews, not. Jews who support Israel do not do so out of religious obligation but because Israel is worth supporting. (With those who feel killing infidels is part of religion, on the other hand, there is an issue.)

Jews bought land from the Pals, it was not stolen. There is no collective Palestinian land, as the Palestinians didn't have a collective self-identity distinct from other Arabs until the middle of the twentieth century.

Aid to Israel is a lot, but most of it is fed right back into the American economy as Israel is required to spend it on American products. It also helps equip Israel to defend itself, as Israel is probably the most militarily outnumbered country in the world. If it did not have technical superiority, it would not be here.

Looking for an Amercian Jew among Jewish Amercians.

I am still searching for for an Amercian Jew that would not think of himself as a Jew first and an Amercian next, for conveniance sake.

It is a fact that the Jews in the US have achieved a complete hegemony over US foreign politics in the ME. While John Farrell and Rham Emmanuel have served on a kibbutz, none of them gave a iota of thought that the property they are serving on is owned by a Palestinian refugee dispersed around the world.

We are allowed to speak of Israel's Jewish character but can we whisper of a Christian United States of Amercia.

A settlement or kibbutz is created on Palestinain, courtesy of British Mandate. It is still done under our noses every day , even as we read those lines.The quartet is made a joke out of.

As for the AID to Israel it dwarfs the Whole world combined when looked at from pe rcapita perspective.Israel creation was morally wrong towards the whole world when the Palestinainas and the Arabs were marginalized and the Jews were given a false hope too.The support to Egypt and Jordan is a help to the ruler and not the populace.

Is this the "change" we were promised?

I know Mr. Rahm Emanuel should not be held responsible for the remarks made by his terrorist and racist father and I’m also aware of the benevolent work that Mr. Rahm did in the Peace Process but we must not forget that Mr. Rahm was raised a Zionist who, at least when he was young, harbored hatred for ALL Arabs and Muslims. Has Mr. Rahm changed? He must prove that to us before we can entirely forget his heinous past.

Lobbyists controlled this election from start to finish!!!

PACS are groups of lobbyists and donations and the biggest PACS were on the Democrat side. Obama did not stop the flow of lobbyists money in fact it wholly paid for the DNC convention and will pay a portion of the Inauguration as well, we the people have been duped by a silver tongued devil. By the way it was the most expensive in history.

Saudis?

Interesting that you would say "but it is one thing for you and me and Rahm's dad to tilt for Ireland or Israel over the Brits or Saudis." I believe that the Palestinians, not the Saudis, are the group affected most by the Israeli state. To avoid mentioning them seems quite strange to me.

Outragreous

Not only were the comments of Emanuel senior utterly despicable, but the fact that you did not denounce him in your remarks is outrageous. It is one thing to be pro-Israeli, it is another thing entirely to imply that Arabs are good for nothing but being servants. The fact that this story has not gotten more press, shows just how bias the American media is with regards to Israel. And as you stated, it is not in America's best interest to be bias.

Assocations

People must be mad to think of this as "everyone has a father". The father of the incoming Chief of Staff is talking US foreign policy to FOREIGN press? That is insanity. The words of a parent, child, or sibling for better or for worse must be addressed strongly. The elder Emanuel needs to be put on a leash if his son is going to be in the very innermost circle of the White House.

Agreement

Entirely aggre with comment posted above, "Zionism in the white house". Obama is amazing but appointing Emanuel as chief of staff was his biggest flaw yet.

Zionism in the White House

Emanuel will have a pro-israel affect on the white house, in my opinion that being a negative affect. The fact that emanuel's father was part of the Irgun shows that he was brought up by a zionist parent, obviously influencing his thought process and his ideas, which will show in his policies. Israel doesn't need any more help, we give them billions every year, but neither does Saudi Arabia or the UAE. However countries such as Lebanon, Jordan, and PALESTINE (counrty or not, believe what you want) do need US aid. For example we should connect and become allies with the Lebanese government before Hezbollah does, however supporting israel and giving them more money is pure stupidity.