Whether Obama wants to do anything about Israel is one question. Whether he would ever be allowed to do anything about Israel is another question. I suspect the answer to both is negative. I am more certain about the second question than the first.
At the moment Israel is putting two fingers up to him by spurring ahead with new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. I thought this was a grimly amusing piece from Sky News:
Under international law they are illegal, though Israel disputes this.
They are also a major obstacle to peace because they are spread out across the land that Palestinians want for their own state.
There are almost 500,000 Israeli settlers now living on occupied land.
Last year, their numbers grew three times as fast as that of the general population in Israel.
The Israelis say they have the right to continue what they call the “natural growth” of settlements, to allow for the increase in population.
A bit like “Murder is illegal, though Jack the Ripper disputes this. He says culling is required to reduce the female population.”
With bombing stepped up in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the US withdrawal from Iraq an obvious fake which sees weekly increments in plans for the number of US troops to remain, and detention without trial for Guanatanamo internees to continue indefinitely – somewhere – behind a smokescreen of rhetoric, I am struggling to think of anything Obama does better, other than not look a complete arsehole.
You would hope that the combination of a rhetorically liberal US Administration with the most openly vicious of Israeli regimes might lead to some change in the massive supply of US money and weapons that keeps Israel viable for all those irreligious ex-Soviets who moved there for an easy high standard of living.
But I fear you would be very disappointed.
MJ – I ain’t right about anything except loving my family and being a bit respectful of the fact that all wars are territory. Theory – uuurrgggh, well, if you want. But no – trade routes or decent farming. Religion’s lovely on Sundays.
The world’s being screwed and I don’t think there’s some strategy to this other than ‘do the best that you can’. Is it my fault that some chaps want to kick fuck out of each other for reasons other than accomodation?
I’m a rubbish economist but for most things – there’s only 3 things – land, food & water. David Milliband is seriously bad. I question his office too. He’s vain and stupid – whoo hoo…. uuurrrgggh. Darling’s a good bet?
More good insight here from the stunningly brave and hard working author of the In Gaza blog.
http://ingaza.wordpress.com/2009/05/26/israeli-forces-attempts-to-legitimize-pre-meditated-murder-and-land-annexation/
“….I am struggling to think of anything Obama does better, other than not look a complete arsehole.”
Oh, do you think he doesn’t then, Craig, with the record of his first 100 days to go on? Looks like a pretty good murderous, deceitful arsehole to me. Absolutely standard pocket-politician really.
International law! What international law?
” Under international law they are illegal, though Israel disputes this.” as regards the illegal settlements.
comment: If it were in Israel’s interests – given its track record, it would question that Barack Obama is the President of the United States of America.
What – law – or for that matter – international law – so far as Israel is concerned – the extensions beyond the 1967 borders – the illegal settlements –
the occupations and expansions of territory – and – what American President – the boy? – who – and – what international law?
“Video of Israeli armed police shutting down the launch of Palfest 2009:”…
http://tinyurl.com/mu72bc
I must say as a German the settlements and “natural expansion” diction remind me of Nazi expansionist plans, too.
I was not aware of the details behind the “Lebensraum” political and military goals – thank you for providing the link. Very interesting read.
Adapt it to Zionist ideology and to Arab/Muslim “less worthy” humans – and you have Israeli/Zionist expansion ideology and practice. All with the world watching and remaining silent.
The West Bank and the Israel besieged Gaza Ghetto are Occupied Territories according to international law and countless UN resoultions Israel has continuously ignored.Only “disputed” in The minds of Israel and her supporters.
It is important to note that these illegal settlements are exclusively Jewish,and are connected by roads that are also as exclusive.The IDF supports the whole ROTTEN system and is let loose on the captive Christian and Muslim Palistinian populace corralled in Israel designed reservations.The Aim is to make the lives of these Non Jews so insuferable as to drive them off their lands and bring in Jewish Israelis.
Now if you build an Apartheid Society not too many would argue it’s not wrong,but the Israeli model is Funded buy things like tax free Israel Bonds and other slippery financial intsruments with origins MOSTLY in these United States.
Furthermore,Israel receives over $10 million a day in US DOLLARS that we know of.Unique in the annals of US foriegn aid:US “CASH” is deposited in the Israeli treasury at the begining of each year,and the US tapayer pays the interest on that Borrowed money.Israel invests in turn that New money and collects interest.How sweet ’tis.
According to the Christian Science Monitor,the cost of Israel to the American TAXpayer has been over $1.3 TRILLION since 1973.