The president of the United States

The president of the United States is a sophisticated individual, he knows how to chose his words, he’s a man who desires to amend his past mistakes. His first term of office was not blessed with a deep understanding of the Middle East. His unfortunate speech at Cairo university did not reflect depth not withstanding his - what I considered a desperate - demonstration in knowledge of Islam and the importance of the sidakka. During his visit to the Middle East he then ignored Israel. 

Unfortunately this attitude created a snowball of tensions between the president and the prime minister of Israel, who does not recall the pendulum the US foreign policy vis a vis Amarica’s most important ally in the US - Hussein Mubarak.

The success of the US in stopping the bloodshed in Syria is not the most glorified page in this country’s policy. No depth is required for anyone to understand that the US is acting almost like Chamberlin in it’s approach to Iran and the existence of North Korea which inter alia also testifies to the restriction and inabilities of the UN.

What had become “the student's speech” in Jerusalem should have been foreseen when the organizers in purpose resolved to exclude those students who might be politically leaning to the right. Thus for example representatives of the university of Ariel (located beyond 67 borders) were not allowed to participate in this event. The president did not speak in the Knesset as he wished to speak to the people over the hands of the politicians, over the hand of the prime minister. A very impressive thinking. However did he speak “to the people” or to the selected ones who would say “Amen”, those selected with care by the US embassy? 

The president did not wish to speak to the Knesset as many in this house would find some of his remarks disagreeable. Alas, the president knows that the Knesset represents precisely the thinking of his adversaries, not “the selected students” by the embassy. The most distinguished hall was inflated by the embassy with students leaning to the left. The bravodo, screams of approval whenever the president mentioned the need of a Palestinian state and the criticism of the settlement justifies the above statement.

And the president was wrong and frankly I am not sure he understands the Middle East. President Obama deviated from the screamed speech in order to share with the audience a meeting he held with 15 years old Arab boys near Ramallah. The president stated his confidence that if the Israeli parents of this Jewish students listeners met these Palestinians boys these parents would want to see these boys successful in life. I agree whole heartily; however the president should ask himself if there’s reciprocity, would the parents of these Palestinian boys want to see these Jewish students successful, regretfully many would not.

Let us see how much hatred against the Palestinians is taught in schools in Israel or in the schools in the settlements. None. On the other hand what is the level of hated in Palestinian school both in Gaza and in the West Banks. 

Does the president know for example that in schools around the Palestinians autonomy they teach the "Protocols the Elders of Zion". The president calls for penalizing settlers harming Palestinians. I wholeheartedly agree. But I still find a distinction between uprooting an olive tree ( an infuriating event) and slaughtering a whole family, or verifying a death of a slaughtered toddler by shooting him from close range to his head. The president should indeed challenge the question, are the settlement actually the obstacle to peace? I invite the president to find out how many Palestinians would like a two state solution. 

Abu Abbas - who until today did not withdraw from his “research” denying the holocaust - or did he listen to Jibril who suggested that one state for Jews and Palestinians should suffice. such thinking was recently expressed in the NY times and the Economist. The president substantiated his speech by quoting many Israeli leaders, alas referring to the minister Netanyahu, the president simply called upon the students to pressure its leaders as its leaders would not make peace unless pressured by them. I wonder why a similar statement was not made in Ramallah? Prime Minister Netanyahu, in variance to his political principles agreed to a two state solution and welcomed an immediate opening of direct negotiations. What declarations were heard from Abu Abbas that contained a hint of his desire to reach an understanding that sends any encouraging message to Israel. The right to return to pray the 1967 Israel? The demand of release of children murderers?

Barack Obama

What the president fails to understand is the difference in approaches to the Palestinian - Israeli conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinian Arabs. Israel fears terror. We do not run away from it we fight it, we do not hate the Palestinians. I as a believing Jew who likes history, submit to you that if the Palestinians will have a high standard of living it will positively effect the entire region, even Israel. Political chaos adjacent to the boundaries of a political entity will always "pour out". 

Thailand learned a bitter lesson during the civil war in Cambodia; Cambodia itself had to go through a bitter lecture during the war in Vietnam. Israel was exposed to problems during the civil war in Lebanon, Pakistan pays a bitter price due to the political chaos in Afghanistan. The Palestinian does not fear Israeli terror, he is not threatened by a group of settlers invading his home and slaughtering his children, he simply hates the Jews. Many want Arab continuity all the way to the sea. All the president needs to do is to listen not only to the men in the street, even to their leaders. Arafat following his meetings with Yitzchak Rabin and his vague declarations of recognizing Israel called for a jihad against that country.

The president is right. Peace is the most important aim but it does not begin with the freezing settlements and it does not begin with criticizing the settlers and not mentioning the human animals who blow up buses in centers of cities. It begins with education, education, education. It begins by not teaching the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It begins by not encouraging four years old to desire to by Shahid and kill Jews. It begins by telling the truth. By not denying the importance of the wailing wall or the Tomb of Rachel for the Jews. Shakespeare once wrote "to thy own self be true the rest will follow like night the day''. Maimonides was more accurate by stating ''act trustfully because it is the truth and good will finally come''. 

This is what the Palestinians should study. But if the emphasis will be on the uprooted trees (outrageous act) necessitating severe punishment, but ignoring slaughtering children, if the emphasis is on the extension of settlement and not on the recognition of the state of Israel, if people fail to appreciate the catastrophic result to Israel by implementing the right of return then there’s a serious problem of emphasis.

Israel released terrorists, Israel agreed to a two state solution, Bibi even froze constructions in the west Bank. Do remind me what gesture was offered by the Palestinians? You do not know? Interesting! Neither do I, neither does the president.

Not all is negative. Israel has a debt of gratitude to Barack Obama for many things. The cooperation in many aspects between the government of the US and Israel under the baton of Barrack Obama is definitely a very impressing page. As an Israeli I am so grateful - but this should be remembered.

In the legal field we are accustomed to state "justice should not only be done but should also be seen''. In International relations, diplomacy should reflect the same principle. Fair diplomacy should not only be executed but also be seen as we have learned ''life and death are in the tongue''. So the president was a most welcomed guest in Israel and all of us should know how to say thank you. But his students speech disappointed me. But if he is as sorry as I am, let this be ''half a condolence'' - hardly.

Zalli Jaffe