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Last update - 10:49 01/11/2009
America, stop sucking up to Israel
By Gideon Levy
Tags: barack obama, peace process 

Barack Obama has been busy - offering the Jewish People blessings for Rosh Hashanah, and recording a flattering video for the President's Conference in Jerusalem and another for Yitzhak Rabin's memorial rally. Only Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah surpasses him in terms of sheer output of recorded remarks.

In all the videos, Obama heaps sticky-sweet praise on Israel, even though he has spent nearly a year fruitlessly lobbying for Israel to be so kind as to do something, anything - even just a temporary freeze on settlement building - to advance the peace process.

The president's Mideast envoy, George Mitchell, has also been busy, shuttling between a funeral (for IDF soldier Asaf Ramon, the son of Israel's first astronaut Ilan Ramon) and a memorial (for Rabin, though it was postponed until next week due to rain), in order to find favor with Israelis. Polls have shown that Obama is increasingly unpopular here, with an approval rating of only 6 to 10 percent.
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He decided to address Israelis by video, but a persuasive speech won't persuade anyone to end the occupation. He simply should have told the Israeli people the truth. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who arrived here last night, will certainly express similar sentiments: "commitment to Israel's security," "strategic alliance," "the need for peace," and so on .

Before no other country on the planet does the United States kneel and plead like this. In other trouble spots, America takes a different tone. It bombs in Afghanistan, invades Iraq and threatens sanctions against Iran and North Korea. Did anyone in Washington consider begging Saddam Hussein to withdraw from occupied territory in Kuwait?

But Israel the occupier, the stubborn contrarian that continues to mock America and the world by building settlements and abusing the Palestinians, receives different treatment. Another massage to the national ego in one video, more embarrassing praise in another.

Now is the time to say to the United States: Enough flattery. If you don't change the tone, nothing will change. As long as Israel feels the United States is in its pocket, and that America's automatic veto will save it from condemnations and sanctions, that it will receive massive aid unconditionally, and that it can continue waging punitive, lethal campaigns without a word from Washington, killing, destroying and imprisoning without the world's policeman making a sound, it will continue in its ways.

Illegal acts like the occupation and settlement expansion, and offensives that may have involved war crimes, as in Gaza, deserve a different approach. If America and the world had issued condemnations after Operation Summer Rains in 2006 - which left 400 Palestinians dead and severe infrastructure damage in the first major operation in Gaza since the disengagement - then Operation Cast Lead never would have been launched.

It is true that unlike all the world's other troublemakers, Israel is viewed as a Western democracy, but Israel of 2009 is a country whose language is force. Anwar Sadat may have been the last leader to win our hearts with optimistic, hope-igniting speeches. If he were to visit Israel today, he would be jeered off the stage. The Syrian president pleads for peace and Israel callously dismisses him, the United States begs for a settlement free ze and Israel turns up its nose. This is what happens when there are no consequences for Israel's inaction.

When Clinton returns to Washington, she should advocate a sharp policy change toward Israel. Israeli hearts can no longer be won with hope, promises of a better future or sweet talk, for this is no longer Israel's language. For something to change, Israel must understand that perpetuating the status quo will exact a painful price.

Israel of 2009 is a spoiled country, arrogant and condescending, convinced that it deserves everything and that it has the power to make a fool of America and the world. The United States has engendered this situation, which endangers the entire Mideast and Israel itself. That is why there needs to be a turning point in the coming year - Washington needs to finally say no to Israel and the occupation. An unambiguous, presidential no.

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      1.   Deja vu, one trick pony 01:57  |  Sam 01/11/09
      2.   Enough sweet talk 02:37  |  Scottish man 01/11/09
      3.   Gideon, Hillary is sandbagging President Obama... 06:38  |  BBSNews 01/11/09
      4.   Great article - Obama disappointment so far 06:41  |  Don Boston 01/11/09
      5.   And let us say, amen 06:43  |  David 01/11/09
      6.   American Opinion Re: Israel 06:50  |  HPL 01/11/09
      7.   Levy: stop being a traitor! 06:59  |  ginger 01/11/09
      8.   The flaw that is Gideon Levy 07:01  |  Nati Hans 01/11/09
      9.   Gideon Levy, the unique man! 07:05  |  Niva dos Santos 01/11/09
      10.   Re to #2 Scottish Man 07:07  |  Michael Dar 01/11/09
      11.   Gideon Levy could really save a lot of time and energy... 07:10  |  Jordan 01/11/09
      12.   scottish fool 07:22  |  schmulik the emes 01/11/09
      13.   Supposing u are all wrong!!! what then geniuses?? 07:28  |  chacham hanavi 01/11/09
      14.   The Obama peace plan - let Israel do whatever it wants! 07:35  |  Shiv 01/11/09
      15.   Jewish self-haters are the allies of Arabs. 07:41  |  B. Gold 01/11/09
      16.   Gideon is off his rocker 07:42  |  Jason 01/11/09
      17.   What a confused person 07:44  |  Meir M 01/11/09
      18.   Gideon Levy - stop sucking up to the Palestinians 07:52  |  Joe Sittizen 01/11/09
      19.   Gideon Levy - stop sucking up to the Palestinians 07:52  |  Joe Sittizen 01/11/09
      20.   #1 Err, Sam 08:04  |  Johnboy 01/11/09
      21.   Wrong Man, Mr. Levy 08:06  |  Walid 01/11/09
      22.   gidon levy 08:11  |  samuel gurewicz 01/11/09
      23.   Gideons monotonic rap 08:16  |  peace monger 01/11/09
      24.   Gideon Levy 08:17  |  Ralph 01/11/09
      25.   Exactly right, Gideon 08:20  |  stella westwell 01/11/09
      26.   Clinton just Blew US Credibility 08:33  |  Mark of Lewiston 01/11/09
      27.   Let Hamas and Fatah show us how Palestinians make peace 08:38  |  kid kosher 01/11/09
      28.   Wow! You are a very angry man Mr. Levy 08:38  |  Josh 01/11/09
      29.   Gidon tells it like it is. God bless him for standing for truth! 08:49  |  Ivar 01/11/09
      30.   Did an Israeli write this? Benedict Arnold in spades 08:51  |  Seymour Freedman 01/11/09
      31.   Hope you sent article to U.S. gov. 08:56  |  Fauna 01/11/09
      32.   Gidoen Levy for Israeli PM 09:23  |  Critic 01/11/09
      33.   Levy is 100% right. Israel needs some very tough love from the US 10:18  |  Cliff 01/11/09
      34.   Politics 10:19  |  Nathan 01/11/09
      35.   The United States and the "chain of evil"...... 10:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 01/11/09
      36.   # 17 Meir M What a confused person 10:57  |  Traude 01/11/09
      37.   SUCKING UP? Not telling Pals millions of refugees are not on. 10:58  |  PETER SM 01/11/09
      38.   to Sam #1 11:00  |  zeev 01/11/09
      39.   Another one for the list 11:01  |  Richard 01/11/09
      40.   Swiss crapps 11:37  |  arik 01/11/09
      41.   to Meir M #17 11:37  |  zeev 01/11/09
      42.   As if president Obama did not Suck Up to the Moslem world 12:05  |  Gil 01/11/09
      43.   gideon Levy 12:08  |  ILetzter 01/11/09
      44.   Plus ça change, plus c`est la même chose 12:08  |  Balian 01/11/09
      45.   Johnboy- Netanyahu accepts 2 states. He will not cheer it. 12:28  |  Sam 01/11/09
      46.   Traude. Well said 12:28  |  Joan 01/11/09
      47.   Zeev (#41) Have you ever read the preamble to the Mandate 12:30  |  Gil 01/11/09
      48.   Mr Levy 12:40  |  gorm 01/11/09
      49.   But isn`t that the favorite American past-time? 12:51  |  Gustav Larsson 01/11/09
      50.   Sooner or later Gideon will find a USA resolution against him 13:03  |  UK readers 01/11/09
      51.   Well said Gideon Levy 13:26  |  Marlene N. 01/11/09
      52.   #45 Sam, the Palestinians have been consistent 13:07  |  Johnboy 01/11/09
      53.   joe sittizen 28 13:32  |  potobac 01/11/09
      54.   Without US veto, UN would sort out this mess tomorrow. 13:53  |  Michael 01/11/09
      55.   An article a 5 year old could write better 14:06  |  Tony Harris 01/11/09
      56.   The Country That Wouldn`t Grow Up 14:07  |  Traude 01/11/09
      57.   Levy is right, but since no Israeli listens to him.. 14:12  |  Gray 01/11/09
      58.   Johnboy-Not all Likudniks or the Israeli right accept 2 states 14:20  |  Sam 01/11/09
      59.   Quite on the point, Gideon 14:45  |  inger 01/11/09
      60.   67% 15:21  |  A TRUE American 01/11/09
      61.   Another reason 4 Gaza Freedom March 15:37  |  Mich 01/11/09
      62.   No Response ? 16:06  |  The Teacher/Instruct 01/11/09
      63.   Israel 16:12  |  Angry Jewish America 01/11/09
      64.   america, stop sucking up to israel 16:18  |  shoshana 01/11/09
      65.   Niva dos santos and Jews 17:09  |  A TRUE American 01/11/09
      66.   We would, but the alternative ... 17:24  |  Jasper 01/11/09
      67.   Thank you Rich #59 17:31  |  yona 01/11/09
      68.   gideon, you`re dreaming 17:32  |  edgar 01/11/09
      69.   to "niva dos santos" on #9 17:35  |  Shmuelshachor 01/11/09
      70.   THANKS, GIDEON. 17:45  |  EL 01/11/09
      71.   gideon and cream cheese 18:05  |  Avi 01/11/09
      72.   America Stop Sucking Up To Israel 18:05  |  Rachel Hudson 01/11/09
      73.   Gideon Levy, Rush Limbaugh 18:19  |  Ron 01/11/09
      74.   #54 Michael....Kosovo is a mess 18:25  |  Lynn 01/11/09
      75.   #57 is exactly correct - disaster is coming 19:00  |  EGB 01/11/09
      76.   Great Article! The Turth Nicely Said 19:08  |  Ed 01/11/09
      77.   The sucking sound 19:11  |  Janice 01/11/09
      78.   #22 Samuel Gurewicz 19:15  |  Gianni 01/11/09
      79.   Obama has other fish to fry 19:16  |  Colin Wright 01/11/09
      80.   #62 Muleshagger 19:17  |  flyingdoc57 01/11/09
      81.   Clinton is a disaster 19:19  |  Keith T. 01/11/09
      82.   Re BBS News #3 `Gideon, Hillary is sandbagging President Obama... 19:22  |  Colin Wright 01/11/09
      83.   Gideon the clarivident once more 19:22  |  Peacefull Observer 01/11/09
      84.   daring to say it how it is 19:25  |  Carol Scheller 01/11/09
      85.   MR. Gideon LEVY. WHAT a truthful assessment 19:30  |  Amnon 01/11/09
      86.   #1, That is right Sam,The parties Must 19:32  |  Jon Doedo 01/11/09
      87.   Boycott Israel Now 19:33  |  Leon 01/11/09
      88.   Do those bitter words of Gideon sound familiar? 19:34  |  TonyL 01/11/09
      89.   who needs anti semitism when you have gideon levy 19:43  |  lara 01/11/09
      90.   dear semour-i`ll try to understand 20:05  |  pshita 01/11/09
      91.   Hamas & Fatah cannot make peace among themselves. How they can... 21:11  |  Vittorio 01/11/09
      92.   Truly, we should be tossing such an aggresssor overboard 21:19  |  Dutch 01/11/09
      93.   AMerica is not going to cut off its imperialist foot - Israel! 21:42  |  Maureen Ann 01/11/09
      94.   Re: "Only Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah surpasses him" 21:56  |  Miron 01/11/09
      95.   Traude 22:14  |  rich 01/11/09
      96.   Wize man 22:26  |  Ian Clegg 01/11/09
      97.   It`s all part of Obama`s great plan 22:29  |  Charlie 01/11/09
      98.   Gideon Levy, stop sucking up to the Arabs! 22:31  |  Swiss Racoon 01/11/09
      99.   america stop sucking up to israel 22:40  |  eve peters 01/11/09
      100.   Quo vadis, Obama ? 22:42  |  Disappointed O.voter 01/11/09
      101.   Wow 22:49  |  yeastbite 01/11/09
      102.   Sharp jerk on the leash brings POTUS to heal 23:05  |  ghostoflutherblisset 01/11/09
      103.   gideon just likes the attention...he`s just a kapo 23:07  |  jon 01/11/09
      104.   Do you let a friend drive Drunk? 23:10  |  Marc Leb 01/11/09
      105.   Gideon Levi supporters 23:15  |  Arieka 01/11/09
      106.   Actually, Gideon 23:19  |  Jackie 01/11/09
      107.   The Palestinian conundrum 23:21  |  Ari 01/11/09
      108.   To all those Gideon haters... 23:25  |  Libertad 01/11/09
      109.   gideon there is a house available for you in gaza 23:55  |  rich 01/11/09
      110.   #71 the answer is manifested in these talkbacks, yeastbite 00:06  |  eric 02/11/09
      111.   May America always remain Israel`s steadfast friend 00:08  |  Gina 02/11/09
      112.   #58 Sam, just listen to yourself 00:13  |  Johnboy 02/11/09
      113.   Levy - decency misapplied - no more intellectualizing 00:38  |  soeasytomakefriends 02/11/09
      114.   NOTHING WILL CHANGE... 00:44  |  Christopher 02/11/09
      115.   MICHAEL without US Veto,UN would pave the way for next war 00:49  |  PETER SM 02/11/09
      116.   Baloney, Gina! 00:52  |  hollingsworth 02/11/09
      117.   Wow is Right 01:03  |  Joe USA 02/11/09
      118.   Stop Gideon, don`t wake them up 02:14  |  Amir 02/11/09
      119.   Thanks, Gideon 02:20  |  Scott Ewing 02/11/09
      120.   Trying Czechoslovakia solutions in 2009 will give same result it 02:22  |  Alan SA 02/11/09
      121.   38~ Zeev: "Has it ever occurred to you ..." 02:26  |  Akram Zekaria 02/11/09
      122.   to Vittorio #64 02:53  |  zeev 02/11/09
      123.   Israel 03:06  |  D Jane 02/11/09
      124.   America, Stop Sucking Up to Israel,G. Levi 03:07  |  Yerah Gover 02/11/09
      125.   Problem is , United States is in Israel`s pocket. 03:36  |  groc22 02/11/09
      126.   America sucking... 03:37  |  Gene 02/11/09
      127.   America Sucking... 03:47  |  Gene 02/11/09
      128.   To Gina #73 `May America always remain Israel`s steadfast friend` 04:07  |  Colin Wright 02/11/09
      129.   Just say "NO"--to Gideon Levy 04:14  |  US CITIZEN 02/11/09
      130.   Us and Israel 04:50  |  Chris Griffin 02/11/09
      131.   No we can`t ( change) after all 04:57  |  Sammar 02/11/09
      132.   41-Zeev to Meir M-17. You can`t have it both ways. 05:03  |  Akram Zekaria 02/11/09
      133.   Johnboy - misrepresenting the PA`s position - probably on purpose 05:48  |  SDHD 02/11/09
      134.   America, stop sucking up to Israel 06:09  |  Rod Driver 02/11/09
      135.   Gideon Levy How many have you lost to Arab Terror? 06:47  |  david 02/11/09
      136.   Nathen Hale 06:58  |  alan the real one 02/11/09
      137.   Obama Has No Spine 07:10  |  Bill 02/11/09
      138.   #54 Michael, UN to sort it out 07:26  |  Sardaukar 02/11/09
      139.   the apparent ambiguity of obama`s middle-east peace effort 07:36  |  eric 02/11/09
      140.   israel and usa 07:47  |  jerome 02/11/09
      141.   Israeli democracy 08:10  |  Michael 02/11/09
      142.   Its the AIPAC, stupid.. 08:15  |  Jimmy 02/11/09
      143.   A decent thought 09:08  |  Daniel 02/11/09
      144.   to Gil #47 - 3rd try 09:17  |  zeev 02/11/09
      145.   Gideon Levy is delusional 11:27  |  Fred 02/11/09
      146.   Nati Hans Thank you for the truth. 11:47  |  Petra 02/11/09
      147.   It is America`s fault!! 13:57  |  Brigitte 02/11/09
      148.   And you missed to say... 14:20  |  Mladen 02/11/09
      149.   no.3 14:22  |  Samuel 02/11/09
      150.   No honest article like this is ever published in the US media 14:27  |  american observer 02/11/09
      151.   no18 14:29  |  Samuel 02/11/09
      152.   Saudi Arabia? 14:30  |  JGA 02/11/09
      153.   no.35 14:35  |  Samuel 02/11/09
      154.   no.57 14:46  |  Samuel 02/11/09
      155.   Americam Stop Sucking up to Israel 15:31  |  Hank Shrier 02/11/09
      156.   Israel Scorns and Mocks Obama in Any Case 16:00  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/11/09
      157.   It`s not that easy to just "stop sucking". 16:36  |  stk33 02/11/09
      158.   this article is on target, how can we in the US change this? 16:46  |  arik 02/11/09
      159.   Gideon Levy`s venom against Israel 17:28  |  DAvid Stoler 02/11/09
      160.   stop sucking up 17:53  |  j bruni 02/11/09
      161.   Gideon the Golan is Jewish land. 18:23  |  Steve Meyer 02/11/09
      162.   Gideon silent on Syrian fascism against the Kurds 18:25  |  Joel Susser 02/11/09
      163.   The Golan is historic Jewish land 18:26  |  David Stoler 02/11/09
      164.   Gideon admits he supports Palestinian terrorism 18:27  |  Regis Kelly 02/11/09
      165.   Swiss (Dino) and the "chain of evil"...... 18:31  |  David Israel 02/11/09
      166.   to DAvid Stoler #103 18:35  |  zeev 02/11/09
      167.   to M #17, some questions, if I may - 4th try 18:40  |  zeev 02/11/09
      168.   Bon Courage 18:45  |  Lara 02/11/09
      169.   to Akram Zekaria #87 18:56  |  zeev 02/11/09
      170.   Gideon Levy`s article on Israel vis a vis sucking up 19:11  |  Dalya Hakimi 02/11/09
      171.   Johnboy 19:21  |  Daniela 02/11/09
      172.   Gideon Levy 19:35  |  Yosef 02/11/09
      173.   Gideon, you hit a HOME RUN 19:55  |  William Parker 02/11/09
      174.   Please, Brigette 20:11  |  hollingsworth 02/11/09
      175.   As always , brilliant Mr Levy 20:16  |  gisele 02/11/09
      176.   what would aipac do? 20:28  |  mike flynn 02/11/09
      177.   Talmudic era synagogue 20:34  |  hollingsworth 02/11/09
      178.   I agree with American Observer 20:42  |  hollingsworth 02/11/09
      179.   to David Stoler #149 20:42  |  zeev 02/11/09
      180.   @ ginger (nr. 7) 21:44  |  A. Zimmermann 02/11/09
      181.   What would AIPAC do? 22:47  |  JHoward 02/11/09
      182.   Thank You Mr. Gideon! 23:33  |  Josh 02/11/09
      183.   171~ Zeev, the Golan ! 00:05  |  Akram Zekaria 03/11/09
      184.   Israel or Levy? 02:49  |  daat y 03/11/09
      185.   why doesn`t US media print Levy? 05:09  |  Bub 03/11/09
      186.   to Jason #16 - 3rd try 12:52  |  zeev 03/11/09
      187.   Israeli-USA-Obama Partnership Firm 16:33  |  vladek 03/11/09
      188.   US needs distance from Israel 16:42  |  JHoward 03/11/09
      189.   to A. Zekaria #183, right you are (2nd try) 17:35  |  zeev 04/11/09
      190.   The Obama effect 06:19  |  horka 05/11/09
      191.   189~ Zeev you are twisting facts ... 00:11  |  Akram Zekaria 07/11/09
      192.   156 15:09  |  Samuel 08/11/09
      193.   Gideo Levy 15:16  |  Samuel 08/11/09
      194.   BBS 15:19  |  Samuel 08/11/09
      195.   Gideon Levy 15:24  |  Samuel 08/11/09
      196.   108 15:29  |  Samuel 08/11/09
      197.   Gideon Levy 15:36  |  Samuel 08/11/09
      198.   Gideon Levy 15:41  |  Samuel 08/11/09
      199.   crimes against humanity 15:52  |  Samuel 08/11/09
      200.   to Akram Zekaria #191 - 2nd try 22:49  |  zeev 08/11/09
      201.   true 22:23  |  javed 09/11/09
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