Historians will some day piece together precisely what happened in Jerusalem last week.
WASHINGTON — Historians will some day piece together precisely what happened in Jerusalem last week when Vice President Joe Biden visited Israel to encourage renewed negotiations between the Israeli government and the Palestinians. Of a sudden, an announcement that Israel was proceeding with the construction of a small number of residential units —1,600 in a section of Jerusalem with over 400,000 inhabitants, roughly 181,500 being Jewish, and 229,000 being Muslim — was interpreted as a slap in the face to the United States. Historians will have to decide whether this was an Israeli insult to Washington. Or was it a low-level bureaucratic announcement, long in the works, that assumed undue significance owing to Biden’s visit? Or were partisan forces within Israel or perhaps within the Obama Administration manipulating the story? Other possibilities can be conjured with.
What strikes me immediately, however, is the dangerous furor that followed. It could have been avoided. As he was leaving Israel late Friday, March 12, the American Vice President had already made his displeasure clear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had apologized after insisting that the announcement had been made at a low level in his government and was not meant as a provocation. The good-natured American Biden appeared propitiated.
Then kapow! Secretary of State Hillary Clinton telephoned Netanyahu and raised hell for 43 minutes. Those of us who have followed her singular career know that Clinton’s language can be dangerously unrestrained when she loses her temper, as has most recently been reported in Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime. I hope she did not use the kind of language she used on campaign staffers in her presidential campaign, much less the billingsgate she uses on her goatish husband. Whatever she said, tensions between the United States and Israel, according to Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren, reached an intensity not experienced in over three decades. Within days of her phone call young Palestinians were emboldened to violence throughout Jerusalem — again tension not experienced in years and in this case quite bloody tension.
It is increasingly apparent that our secretary of state is better equipped to be secretary of war in some faraway land in some faraway time when war was not the dangerous threat to world peace that it is today. Frankly, President Barack Obama had better choices to serve as his secretary of state, for instance, the more experienced Mr. Biden. Truth be known, Secretary Clinton has heated up hostilities elsewhere during her short tenure.
When she was recently in Argentina, either from ignorance or after being manipulated by the Argentine president, Cristina Kirchner, Clinton used the Argentines’ name, “Malvinas,” for the contested islands our British allies call “the Falklands,” leaving the impression at a press conference that the United States is neutral in this dispute, a dispute that has cost nearly a thousand lives. The British press was furious. Honduran friends of the United States were equally furious when Hillary took the side of Hugo Chavez’s stooge, deposed President Manuel Zelaya, in the controversy he created by illegally attempting to remain in office.
As for the controversy over those 1,600 housing units in north Jerusalem, the fundamental problem is not Jewish settlements. Two Israeli prime ministers have offered comprehensive plans that would give the Palestinians virtually all of the West Bank and the division of Jerusalem with an international jurisdiction governing the Jerusalem sites held holy by Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The real problems are 1) acceptance of a Jewish state by the Palestinians and 2) resettlement of Palestinian refugees who have been abandoned by fellow Arabs since they lost their first war with the Jews in 1948.
Ironically, over the weekend, while Secretary of State Clinton was driving up tensions, a retired American investor, Michael Steinhardt, with vast experience in the region, published an imaginative plan in the Wall Street Journal for resettling the Palestinian refugees. It would involve an international coalition with the usual western powers along with China, Russia, and prosperous Arab countries. They would establish a fund to create new communities on the West Bank and in Gaza, providing infrastructure and means of employment.
Members of the coalition would take in those refugees unable to be settled in Palestine. Some of this has already been done in North America and Europe. The Israelis would be asked, as Steinhardt writes, “to take some [Palestinians], too — giving priority to those seeking to reunite with family left behind.” Moreover, “the Islamic nations would each be asked to take in small but significant populations of Palestinians, their co-religionists.” Finally, Israel would offer an apology, “taking its share of responsibility for these people’s displacement and hardship. And it would back up that apology by offering substantial, direct compensation to individuals for homes and land that have been lost.”
I am sure Michael Steinhardt would be happy to explain the whole plan to both Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Netanyahu — but no shouting.
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J Beumler| 3.18.10 @ 6:25AM
This makes wonderful, good sense which means the Obama Admnistration will ignore it...they prefer intimidation, coercion and humiliation also called the Chicago Way. Can't wait to see the Obama guys welcomed home for time and all eternity!
Alan Brooks| 3.18.10 @ 6:58PM
Mideast peace is an oxymoron:
a) talk peace, prepare for war.
b) build up stockpiles of weapons.
c) start a localized war to use ordnance.
d) repeat process.
Stuart Braun| 3.18.10 @ 8:08PM
The cited plan is a good one, but I take exception to the compensation item - I would approve it only if compensation were awarded simultaneously to the many thousands (maybe more than a million) of Jews who were expelled from Arab and Muslim nations after the establishment of Israel, accompanied by an apology by those nations for their actions.
Liora Zirkel| 3.19.10 @ 12:58PM
I was just about to make this point Stuart. Thank you - very well said. This is one of those 'inconvenient truths' that people love to forget.
Christopher Holland| 3.18.10 @ 11:14PM
It was going well until I read that Israel should apologise to the Palestininians and let them return. The refugees happened because the Arabs attacked Israel and lost. The Palestinians were offered their own state in 1947 and the chose war instead. They still choose war. Israel has nothing to apologise for. Defending your own life is not a cause for apology by anyone. Israel owes the refugees only the sympathy and generosity they get in return, which is nothing.
Joe Hamilton| 3.18.10 @ 6:56AM
HAGgary's tantrum confirms several things: 1. She is the most unqualified diplomat in memory 2. Dick Morris' accusation Hillary used to make anti-semitic comments directly to him e.g. "All your kind (Jews) care only about is money". Who said Haggary and President 57 States/Austrian speaking Obama didn't have anything in common?
Kenny| 3.18.10 @ 7:03AM
Hillary is an unhinged loonette. That she is haead of the State Department rather than doing federal time is an indication of how blind America has become.
Another indication is that the country voted in an actual Third Worlder as president and now we wonder why things falling apart.
Rudy| 3.18.10 @ 8:32AM
I have thought for years that this woman is lucky she's not in prison over Travelgate, Filegate, etc.
martin j smith| 3.18.10 @ 7:26AM
OK,never say never in regards some hypothetical "peace accord" that is actually workable.
But--in Biden and H. Clinton we are dealing with a combination of incompetent boobs and a pre-set idological mind set via BHO.
Various US presidents, B. Clinton to name a specific one involved himself with the Israeli Left to get rid of Netenyahu. Is this now a repeat performance. ? If I were a betting--which I am not--I would say yes that was part of plan to de-stable Netenyahu's government.
There have been many opportunities for peace agreements, blown off by the Palestinian Authoirty and more importantly the greater ( or lesser ) Arab World in the area.
Here is what I think is going on: The reason why no US president has confronted with Arab international community to recognize Israel as a sign of good faith ( borders to be negotiated) is the following: Fear of a greater War engineered by Russia and China ( who by the way are the real culprits via Iran's nuclear threat ). I have no doubt that are policies towards both of these countries from Clinton,Bush I and II, and now Obama are not wise. Oh, I do not mean threaten any war or anything near that. Its that " trust, but VERIFY thing". Plus the old boy Scout motto: "be Prepared. Those ideas seem to be lacking. Maybe : Speak softly but carry a big stick would be good too.
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‘Crisis’ in Israel-U.S. Relations : The Other McCain links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.18.10 @ 7:44AM
Let's face it. There is no way Hillary Clinton or Obama can come down on the side of liberty and freedom. They have too much invested in their collectivist politics. It's in their books and they won't change. Hillary is nothing but a big mouth with a pea sized dangerous brain.
Heatpacker| 3.18.10 @ 8:51AM
A constitutional representative republic provides too many constraints to the grand ambitions of megalomaniac, big-solution types like Shillary and the Bama. The people, damn their ignorant, traditionalist hides, keep getting in the way. And those Jews in Israel - so concerned about a minor detail like avoiding another Holocaust - how dare they behave like they live in a sovereign country!? They should bow to the Almighty Shillary - she who must be obeyed.
David Williams| 3.18.10 @ 8:13AM
"It is increasingly apparent that our secretary of state is better equipped to be secretary of war in some faraway land..."
Or even better, Minister of Culture in some Chickens**t Republic.
Nick| 3.18.10 @ 8:25AM
Do I really have to see a picture of Shrillary the Hut first thing in the morning?
Alert1201| 3.18.10 @ 8:46AM
I've forgotten what turd Hillary is. With all the focus on Obama's incompetent juvenile stupidity I've lost sight of how bad she really is.
higgins1990| 3.18.10 @ 8:48AM
All things considered, I'd rather have Dumbo as President than Hillary. Although this is really like a choice between two inoperable, lethal forms of cancer.
KyMouse| 3.18.10 @ 10:00AM
The Israelis know full well that it is impossible to be at peace with people who have sworn to destroy you. Read the Hamas charter.
Tom in Michigan| 3.18.10 @ 10:13AM
Another example (let's not forget the misinterpreted Russian language "reset" button and State's bumbling of the Detroit/Christmas/Crotch bomber attack, among other blunders) of the glaring incompetence of Hillary Clinton (whose claims to diplomatic credentials were a delusional lie about "landing under sniper fire" and taking undeserved credit for bringing peace to Ireland). Clinton was given the State job for two reasons: as payment for her and Mr. Bill's agreement to support the Obama campaign after she was out of the running and as payback to put her in over her head - as she's so aptly demonstrated - making her a cipher in terms of a 2012 run at the WH. The job also gets her out of Dodge so Mr. Bill can return to his "goatish" hobbies. All-in-all, a good deal for Barack and Bill but a bad deal for the US and her allies.
RAMIII| 3.18.10 @ 10:55AM
This entire Administration is a major DISASTER waiting to happen. These people are blind to everything except that which advances their own PERCEPTION of power.
In the end they will be like chaff that blows away in the wind. However while they are still rooted in our political structure they can do (and have done) tremendous damage.
dhfd | 3.18.10 @ 10:59AM
biologicalprotection Well done!
Paul Kotik | 3.18.10 @ 11:08AM
Bob Tyrell, and the otherwise laudable Mr. Steinhardt, are not alone in overlooking the grave innjustice done to the Jewish refugee problem - the Jews driven out of the Arab countries in the aftermath of Israel's humiliating victory in the 1948 War of Independence. The number of such Jews is approximately equal to the number of so-called 'Palestinian' refugees, who, we ought to remember, were not driven out by the Israelis but rather were incited by Arab leaders to vacate the battle zone temporarily, and promised an opportunity to loot the property of the Jews once the Arab armies had driven them into the Mediterranean. The Jews who had to leave Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Morrocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Algeria,Yemen, Libya, etc. were families who had lived in those countries for hundreds or even thousands of years, and were driven out by government-sanctioned mobs of killers. They left behind lands and propery in those Arab countries worth more than the net worth of the newborn Israeli state. Any settlement of the refugee matter that does not compensate these Jews cannot be a just settlement.
Roni Smith| 3.18.10 @ 1:11PM
THANK YOU PAUL !!! You are so right! I get so tired of people who write on this and only look at the Palestian side. They left believing they would come back to the spoils, as their leaders promised. But how many people remember that Jordan tossed them out because they were mostly Welfare people, living in the Maabarah? Thank you again.
loulou| 3.18.10 @ 11:11AM
Obama, the Mohammedan, is laying the groundwork for the destruction of Israel. He will use sanctions like the ones put on South Africa.
PS: He attended Occidental College as an Indonesian student.
davelnaf| 3.18.10 @ 11:12AM
I actually thought that Hillary as Secretary of State would not turn out to be the blundering disaster that she had all the temperament and ability to become until her Jerusalem settlement tirade. Her ‘reset’ mission to Moscow and her ‘Malvinas’ gaff seemed to be just Hillary as well-meaning ingénue. But her tirade at Netanyahu has more than pushed her over the edge, in my mind, as an incompetent disaster.
After a time, and particularly during a president’s second term, mistakes will be made because power corrupts. But Obama’s one year old administration appears to be otherwise bent on making policy choices, and hence mistakes, that are purposely destructive in their intent. Democrats in Congress beware.
Bob Miller| 3.18.10 @ 11:35AM
Maybe Hillary's been talking to Mrs. Arafat again.
Melvin| 3.18.10 @ 11:40AM
Hillary must be kept in perspective. Hillary Clinton is a Charlatan, cheat, and chronic liar. These are all qualities that are not requisite for being Sec. of State.
Her skills are more in tune with insider trading and stealing various pieces of White House furniture.
KyMouse| 3.18.10 @ 12:02PM
Today's Jerusalem Post online has an article about current children's television programming from the Palestinian Authority. One show, "The Best Home," tells children that they are living in "occupied Palestine." Another show shows youngsters a map of Israel that has the whole country labeled "Palestine," and urges them to "explore your country." And don't forget to strap on your bomb belt before you go, dears.
What peace is possible with such people?
Ken Roberts | 3.18.10 @ 12:42PM
A woman's name comes to mind and she spent several months in prison for ok lets just say not being savvy enough to avoid prosecution as Hillary has been; her name is Martha Stewart, I have pity for her as she is now in the doldrums of being older , but Hillary seems to get more obnoxious as she ages . To bad we have novices and idealogs in charge now as we will see more an more take over of this and that for the next three years , we certainly have an opportunity to change the landscape in Washington in November . No one should stay at home in protest this time, it got us Obama care last time.
Pingback| 3.18.10 @ 1:21PM
The American Spectator : Moving Past Hillary | Headlines Today links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Clinton Lovell| 3.18.10 @ 2:14PM
There is little remaining doubt as to where Mrs. Clinton stands on the "Jewish question". She has been quoted at length (with no denials) slandering Jews and spewing some pretty hateful things. In her husband's campaigns, the worst thing they could say about someone was that they were, "a dirty, rotten Jew" - the rest you have to figure out yourself.
We also know that Mr. Obama does not appear to have any "excess love" for Israel and we have seen Mr. Biden sound off in the past as to his displeasure with Israel. This sets the stage for problems.
The wonder here is not that there are huge problems, but that these problems haven't resulted in a larger rupture of relations. It makes one wonder why Jews in the United States are such huge supporters of the liberal cause. They have not demonstrated this much tone deafness in politics since Hitler rose to power in the 1930s.
What will it take this time? Does the state of Israel have to disappear in a ball of nuclear fire for them to realize that liberalism and progressivism means the end of their religion, culture and people?
Raving Rabbi| 3.18.10 @ 6:03PM
Thankfully, the G-d of Israel has protected them from their own folly.
Whether because of Psalms 116:6, "G-d is the Guardian of Fools" or Psalms 148:14, "the Children of Israel, the people who are near to Him.", the survival of Israel has been at least near-miraculous. (Sorry, I'm translating from the original Hebrew, so there may be small diversion from translated Bibles.)
Jews faithful to Jewish history and tradition didn't vote for Obama, those are mainly the people to whom Liberalism is their religion, and voting O was an act of self-sacrifice.
annie ladysmith| 3.19.10 @ 1:12AM
Dear Mr Raving, you so-called Jews are a very small part of greater Israel. Joseph was given the birthright blessing and there are many more of us than you. We also have the scriptures which we read and study for ourselves. The Almighty El Shaddai is our father and we serve him faithfully through his right arm, Jesus-Yeshua. Unfortunately we may have to meet sometime soon for YHWY says that in the end Judah and Israel will be reunited. This hasn't happened yet as all you've got in Palestine is a paltry 6 million Jews and so-called Jews, the good and the bad figs.But, you are a great scholar you can study all this yourself. I think G-d is tired of all of us but he has already fore-ordained who will get the job done for him. Being faithful to Jewish history (whatever that is) just won't cut it. Selah,selah.
Annie Ladysmith| 3.18.10 @ 3:29PM
This is all staged. They are all playing the sordid little bit parts for the directors behind the scenes. How can anyone, given the knowledge that is readily available to all, believe any of this pathetic play-acting by a witch, a good 'ol boy (who wouldn't have the sense to pour water out of a boot), an an extra in a Hollywood mafia movie?Biden/experience?? You must be joking! Israel is pulling the strings, if you are stupid enough to believe this charade then keep on thinking that one day we will get our constitution back.
Eric Damon| 3.18.10 @ 3:42PM
Does anyone, including Mr. Tyrell, really believe that Mrs. Clinton has done this without prodding from her ultimate bosses at the White House? If Mrs. Clinton was so instrumental and influenial, whay was Joe Biden in Israel in the first place, and not the Sec. State? I posit that Clinton's tantrum was on orders from the Big Boss Man at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue; put on a show about how angry we are and try to twist the Israelis into makinig even more concessions to the thuggish rulers of the "Palestenians". Hillary has had no real voice in this administration up until now, so why are we pretending that she is suddenly Miss Independent?
Hardcard| 3.18.10 @ 3:48PM
Thank you Mr. Tyrrell for your insight and common sense. h.clinton is a 60's radical progressive, she also is well versed in the Chicago-Way, althought she is an avis NY Yankee Fan. What's new?
Mike M| 3.18.10 @ 4:05PM
I say Monica Lewinsky would prove a better secretary of state. When things get tough as last weekend, she could always present everyone with one of her uniquely flavored cigars.
Meathead Stivic| 3.18.10 @ 4:15PM
Ms. R. Clinton needs to go ahead and step down from this sham of a position, get out of that sham of a marriage, and start her HILLARY IN 2012 campaign.
jeffrey| 3.18.10 @ 5:16PM
This shameful Hillary business with Israel is enough to make Barney Frank gag...if...he had a gag reflex.
Dan| 3.18.10 @ 5:50PM
Obama is a Muslim who will do everything in his power to damage Israel and Hillary's husband get millions from Arab leaders, so whose side do you think they will be on. Voter elected a non vetted community organizer to be president because they hated Bush and wanted to so how liberal they were by electing a black. The country will pay for this mistake for the next 50 years if we survive that long.
Idiot...| 3.18.10 @ 6:15PM
Dan Obama is not a Muslim. People did not vote for Obama because he was black. They voted for him because it was their preferred candidate. You sir are an idiot. Go back to your club house with your Ku Klux Kan friends.
WAKE UP| 3.22.10 @ 4:50PM
Idiot, I've just saved your message , just so I can look at in a li'l while and say "I wonder what happened to him?"
Because, my friend, Muslims, like rust, never sleep, and eventually they'll come for the useful Idiots like you too.
I'll see you back in this comments column come the day - if it still exists in world where free speech (and the right to be as blind as you) is already under threat.
megapotamus | 3.18.10 @ 6:38PM
Idiot, thank you for identifying yourself so readily. It is quite obvious that the Obies picked this fight with the Israelis as a sop to the other side of the controversy. These are not "settlements" in the term of art we have come to understand over the decades, are not in any regard illegal and the announcement was a non-event until Biden's implosion. This tantrum is an effort to throw rocks with the Palestinian thugs in the streets and thereby gain their good opinion. Yes, it is as simple as that. Team Obama has thoroughly taken the Arabist side and wanted it to be as public as possible. This is known as credentialling the "honest broker", which is to say that the US will make the same demands of Israel that the lunatic Islamists of Hamas do, regardless of the murderous actions of Hamas, Fatah and the numberless jihadis that spend their afternoons trying to immolate jewish babies. A real honest broker would recognize and forcefully state the simple truth that the Arabists have never... not once in the long malign history of the "peace process" kept any promise nor recognized in the merest fashion the dangerous concessions made continually by the jews. What must finally happen is that Israel must act in her own interests regardless of the mewling of their mortal enemies whether they are in Gaza or Washington. They must meet force with force; bombs with bombs and rockets with rockets. They must make the costs of jew extermination commensurate with its depravity. Only serious, thorough and sustained warfare on all identifiable belligerents will do this. Every rocket fired into Israel from Palestinian territories must be answered in kind and in proportion. I am thinking a proportion of one thousand to one.
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Nick| 3.18.10 @ 7:22PM
******ATTENTION-----AmSpec Website Admin.******
Please!
Remove that picture of Shrillary the Hut!
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neileunark | 3.19.10 @ 6:16AM
hello every one i think Hillary has to good knowledge about the us economy and she takes good decision in his life... i am agree with
KyMouse| 3.19.10 @ 8:36AM
The Jewish people have a God-given right to the ancient homeland in which they have lived for 3,500 years, because Abrahamic Covenant (passed on through Isaac and Jacob) is unconditional -- it was initiated by God Himself (see Genesis 15:17-18) and He obligated Himself to fulfill it. Even the sins of the Jewish people don't nullify it (see Deut. 4:29-31, Isaiah 41:8-9). Israel will fulfill the conditional parts of the covenant in the days when each of them knows the Lord (Jeremiah 31:34), because God will have put His Spirit in them, and they will walk in His ways (Ezekiel 36:25-28). The Jewish people's possession of Israel is "everlasting" (Gen. 17:8) and "for all time" (Deut. 4:40).
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Nobody| 3.20.10 @ 2:54AM
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Michele San Pietro| 3.21.10 @ 11:05AM
Hillary Clinton is simply a disastrous Secretary of State. The sooner she goes, the better.
mike| 3.21.10 @ 5:51PM
I am still waiting for someone to tell me why the Jewish Vote is overwhelmingly for Dem-O-Craps?
Been asking this question for a long time! It's like they are voting for the Destruction of their country?????
WAKE UP| 3.22.10 @ 4:46PM
You're all missing the point, which is: Why did Obama give her the job? Answer that, and everything makes sense.
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The American Spectator : Moving Past Hillary | 7 Article links to this page. Here’s an excerpt: