The More the World Changes, the More it Stays the Same

I just watched a video of President Obama speaking at a synagogue in Washington, DC celebrating Jewish American Heritage month. He said all the right things (more or less) in a funny and compassionate way. He does have some excellent speech writers for sure. This liberal Jewish audience applauded him vigorously much the way cattle eat heartily before going to slaughter.

Be very wary when he starts his speech with: 'I've got Israel's back.'
It always ends the same way. Because of his 'love' of Israel, he needs to do what he thinks is right. His deal with Iran will surely help protect Israel from a nuclear Iran, in his mind. The US constant pressure to make Israel give up more land to the Palestinians in order to formulate another peace deal is surely what he thinks is best for Israel. Now maybe he has genuine good intentions. I really don't know and I really don't care that much either. What I do care about is Israel's safety. And I always try to consider what is ethically and morally the right thing to do.

First point: Judea and Samaria (aka The West Bank) belongs to Israel legally. If they chose to give it away to their enemies and thereby commit national suicide is another point entirely. Let's be totally honest. If the US administration respected Israel's legal title to Judea and Samaria, Netanyahu would not even be talking about 2 states for 2 people.

Point two: Back to Israel's safety. As a Jew who's parents suffered through the Holocaust, when I say never again, I really mean it. I don't need a speech writer to press me to say those words. Without Israel I have no safety net and neither do the millions of Jews living through out the world whether they realize it or not. As long as Israel remains strong, militarily, economically, culturally, ethically and morally, we are safe. As long as Israel focuses on its Jewishness, we will be safe.

So thanks Obama for attending shul in Washington and saying some nice words about Judaism and Jewish Americans. But I did not need to hear your ongoing diatribe about what you think Israel should do with their Arab neighbours. I found it most insulting. Kind of like the speech a boss gives to his employee just before firing him. 'John, I think you've done an excellent job here and I've always valued your work effort. It's because of your hard work ethic that I think you'd be a better fit working at another firm. Take good care (and get lost).'

Like most people, it's important to listen to what they say. But it's even more important to watch what they do. It's time liberal Jews stop listening to him and pay attention to what he is doing. And what he is doing is throwing Israel under the bus. That was his intention well before he became president and it hasn't changed since.