Posts Tagged ‘East jerusalem’

Joe Lieberman’s “enemies” aren’t America’s

March 16, 2010

The flap intensifies over Israel’s announcement of
plans to build 1600 new homes in East Jerusalem. After strenuous objection from Joe Biden and the State Department , Prime Minister Netanyahu apologized for the timing of the announcement but not for the substance,  telling the Israeli Parliament that construction of Jewish housing in Jerusalem was not a matter for negotiation.

The New York Times quotes a senior administration official as saying, “What happened to the vice president in Israel was unprecedented. Where it goes from here depends on the Israelis.” But the Israelis seem intent on continuing to expand into East Jerusalem and more broadly into the West Bank.

The U.S. is in a difficult position, caught between the uncompromising Israeli ally on one side and  (more…)

Advertisement

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Ethics-general, International, Politics | Leave a Comment »

Anti-Defamation equals “Don’t mess with Israel”

March 13, 2010

The Anti-Defamation League’s website says its purpose is “to stop the defamation of the Jewish people and to secure justice and fair treatment to all.” Apparently this includes supporting any Israeli expansion—like the plan announced this week to build 1600 new houses in East Jerusalem—and opposing any criticism of Israel by the U.S. government.

Thus, Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement yesterday (March 12):

We are shocked and stunned at the Administration’s tone and public dressing down of Israel on the issue of future building in Jerusalem.   We cannot remember an instance when such harsh language was directed at a friend and ally of the United States.  One can only wonder how far the U.S. is prepared to go (more…)

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Ethics-general, International, Politics | 2 Comments »

Profile in Courage: Joe Biden in Israel

March 9, 2010

It’s never good politics in America to criticize Israel. It’s especially not good politics to criticize Israeli plans for East Jerusalem, which lies at the epicenter of the Israeli/Palestinian dispute.

Doubtlessly the Israeli government was counting on this when they announced a plan to build 16oo new homes in East Jerusalem. Biden’s trip was supposed to demonstrate American support; indeed Biden’s planeside remarks pledged a total U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and declaring that the bonds between the United States and Israel were “unbreakable.”

The Israeli Interior Ministry picked today to announce their expansion plans, in full defiance of the Obama administration’s plea to suspend building to give peace talks a chance. They must have figured that Biden would be too polite a guest and too much in awe of America’s pro-Israel sentiments to complain.

Not our Joe! Here’s how the leading Israeli daily, Haaretz, described Biden’s reaction:

“I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units (more…)

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in Ethics-general, International, Politics | 8 Comments »