The White House's condemnation of Israel's East Jerusalem construction - something that was explicitly allowed under the temporary freeze Clinton hailed as "unprecedented" - triggered brutally harsh language from the Vice President and an extended tirade by the Secretary of State. So given Obama's claim that the Palestinians were "condemned in the same way" for inciting riots, just because they were pissed off about Jews being Jewish in Jerusalem...
Obama insisted that despite the highly-public criticism of Israel by various U.S. officials, including Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the U.S. is being fair to both sides. "Yesterday, when there were riots by the Palestinians against a synagogue that had been reopened we condemned them in the same way because what we need right now is both sides to recognize that it is in their interests to move this peace process forward," Obama told Fox.
... you'd think that the US's stance was an unequivocal and pointed criticism of Palestinian behavior. Not so much it turns out:
Speaking to reporters Monday, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said there were American concerns "about the tensions regarding the rededication of a synagogue in the Jewish quarter of the Old City. And we are urging all parties to act responsibly and do whatever is necessary to remain calm."
Since I've been hammering away at them on Twitter, it's only fair that I direct you to the NJDC's much-delayed explanation of how their pro-Israel candidate turned out to be such an anti-Israel hack. Apparently it's your fault. Pointing out that the Democratic President is undermining US-Israel ties "abandon[s] the bipartisan history of strengthening U.S.-Israel ties."
It's the "partisans" who are using "unconstructive rhetoric" who are at fault. If you would refrain from pointing out that Obama's detonating the US-Israel alliance then that would be just like Obama not detonating the US-Israel alliance.
Because the NJDC's pretend world is the same thing as the real world.
References:
* WaPo: "Biden Flunked" On Israel Trip, Needlessly Alienated Netanyahu [MR]
* Compare And Contrast: Israeli And Syrian "Insults" To Clinton [MR]
* President Obama on Israel: Friends can disagree [Politico]
* Palestinians riot to protest synagogue reopening [CNN]
Mere Rhetoric
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NJDC - NATIONAL JEWISH DEMOCRATIC COUNCIL
March 17, 2010NJDC Calls on American Jews, Partisans to “Move Away From Inflammatory, Unconstructive Rhetoric”
Listed in: Israel, NJDC News, Press Releases
Marc R. Stanley, Chairman of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) and Michael M. Adler, Chairman Emeritus of the National Jewish Democratic Council, today jointly released the following statement:
As Americans who love Israel and deeply support the U.S.-Israel relationship, we strongly believe that we must pause, take a deep breath and reflect on what we actually know - and quickly move away from the inflammatory, inaccurate and unconstructive rhetoric that is all too prevalent.
One thing we know is that despite the situation surrounding the announcement of new housing units in East Jerusalem last week, the reality is that the bedrock of the U.S.-Israel relationship remains as solid as ever. We have every reason to believe that what Vice President Biden said so eloquently on Thursday remains true today - that “the cornerstone of the relationship is our absolute, total, unvarnished commitment to Israel’s security.” The Vice President also echoed President Obama’s commitment that this administration is “determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons,” and this similarly remains true today. To clarify matters further, Secretary of State Clinton repeated just yesterday, “We have an absolute commitment to Israel’s security. We have a close, unshakable bond between the United States and Israel.”
Unfortunately, we also know that some are engaging in over-the-top rhetoric for partisan gain, while others are speculating wildly or assuming facts not in evidence. Some Jewish organizations have used inflammatory rhetoric, while at least a few politicians have engaged in purely partisan attacks of the worst kind - at the cost of the essential U.S.-Israel relationship. Those who would abandon the bipartisan history of strengthening U.S.-Israel ties to engage in reckless rhetoric are advancing only their own ends - at the cost of Israel’s security, and at the cost of the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Now is the time for cooler heads to prevail, and for close friends to discuss how to strengthen this critical partnership directly and privately, working together as strategic allies and friends. We call on all American Jews to help us achieve these ends and work in a bipartisan fashion to add strength to an already strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
