Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s speech to Congress has not eroded Democratic support for Israel everywhere. With the speech now in the past, there has been more regarding the controversy of how the speech was arranged instead of what was said in it. For one Democrat, it is indisputable that the Prime Minister’s speech was alarming, convincing and momentous.
Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-NY) was extremely impressed by his speech.
“It can only be for political reasons that you just cannot admit what the Prime Minister said and did, the reaction that he got and the latest polls’ results is unbelievable . . . the Prime Minister accomplished unbelievable things.”
When asked how he saw this speech weighing on Israel’s relationship with the Democratic party, he could not see this becoming a long-term issue.
“The relationship between America and Israel is going to be just fine. There have been so many bumps in the road in the past. I remember very clearly when Prime Minister (Menachem) Begin decided to bomb the nuclear reactor in Iraq. I remember the editorials in all the papers. I remember Ronald Reagan, who was a great friend of Israel, publicly criticizing Israel.”
“If the Prime Ministers of Israel led Israel based on what the Presidents of the United States said, that would be disastrous for the people of Israel. The President of the US does what is in the best interest of the people of the US; the Prime Minister of Israel does what is in the best interest of the people of Israel,” said Hikind.
Regarding President Obama, he felt the degree of pressure and antagonism he has reserved for the Prime Minister has been uncalled for.
“When you undermine the Prime Minister of Israel at such a critical period, you undermine the security of Israel and you undermine the people of Israel,” said Hikind.
He went on to say that such overt and constant isolating of Israel for criticism was an invitation for anti-Semitism, as if Israel received particularly harsh treatment because it should receive such treatment. He compared the Obama administration’s rhetoric about the Jewish State to Jimmy Carter’s, who he thought was insurmountable in his hostility to Israel.
“I never thought that I would say that I long for Jimmy Carter. I could never imagine any president being less friendly to the people of Israel, but I have to say that President Obama is now in the lead.”
“For six weeks, nearly every single day, there was another comment from the White House or a member of the administration aimed at undermining the Prime Minister. I admire him more than even before, to go through all these nasty political attacks (some of them behind the scenes from senior White House officials).
“To be able to control himself and to deliver the kind of speech that he delivered, God was clearly with him that day.” Read more at Arutz Sheva.
{Matzav.com}
Carter’s hostility to Israel wasn’t apparent until he left office. He was actually a significant improvement over Ford. George H. W. Bush was also worse. But the worst ever was Eisenhower, who actually threatened Israel with UN sanctions.
Regarding “undermining the Prime Minister” we have to remember that the entire speech idea was by John Boehner trying to undermine the President, who continues to support Israel at the UN and in military matters.
As President, Obama may be more hostile to Israel than Carter was, but for a “Lifetime Achievement Award” nothing comes close to Carter’s book which calls Israel “Apartheid” and justifies Arab suicide bombing terrorism against Israel.
Oy lerasha oy leschainoh cut from the same cloth
“The President of the US does what is in the best interest of the people of the US; the Prime Minister of Israel does what is in the best interest of the people of Israel”
Exactly. Very well said. Obama/Kerry should not butt in to affairs affecting the security of the Jewish state of Israel. This is unprecedented. Israel doesn’t tell the US how to run their security of its people.