Obama to visit Israel within weeks
Obama to visit Israel within weeks | The Times of Israel.
( Obama is coming. Not cuz he likes Israel… We know he hates Netanyahu.
He’s coming to solidify his place in history. What the mindless “talking heads” refer to as his “legacy.”
You know, that place that Israel just handed him on a silver platter called “Fordow?”
I’m starting to get really scared with how far out I’ve positioned myself on Fordow. I simply can’t see any other explanation that makes any sense at all.
So I’m going with it. What’s the downside? Loosing credibility as the “Israeli security expert” that Foxnews called me?
The whole question is absurd. The real downside if I’m wrong is how fucked the world’s gonna be after Iran gets the bomb.
But sleep well, my brothers in arms…
This time, I’m right…. – JW )
Details were agreed in a presidential phone call to Netanyahu last week; US advance security teams already said to be in Israel and West Bank preparing for trip
President Barack Obama is to visit Israel and the Palestinian territories in the next few weeks, at the heart of a wider tour of the Middle East.
Israeli television broke news of the trip on Tuesday night, and said the White House had confirmed it would take place next month or in April, and that the details were agreed by Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a January 28 phone call. The two men saw an opportunity for diplomatic progress, the report quoted a White House official as saying.
Advance security teams are already in Israel and the West Bank preparing for the visit, the Channel 10 news report claimed. The trip would be Obama’s first to Israel as US president; he visited in 2008 as a candidate.
Emanuel Rosen, the station’s experienced diplomatic reporter, said the visit indicated that Obama believes Netanyahu is ready to try to make substantive progress in negotiations with the Palestinians. Indeed, the report said, it was likely that areas of agreement on key issues had already been reached between the American and Israeli leaderships, since Obama had indicated in the past that he would come to Israel only when he truly believed it would enable a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
The US, the report said, was pressing for a resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks “without preconditions.” That has been Netanyahu’s demand, while the Palestinians have demanded a West Bank settlement freeze.
The report said Obama had been considering a visit for later in the year, perhaps to coincide with an annual conference hosted by President Shimon Peres. The news that he was heading here as early as next month, the report said, underlined the sense of potential progress in the diplomatic arena.
The report said Obama would be making “a working visit” and would not be accompanied by members of his family. His Middle East trip would also include visits to Turkey, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia.
The news came on the day that Israel swore in its 120-member new Knesset, following elections two weeks ago which left Netanyahu poised to forge a new governing coalition.
In recent days, Netanyahu has spoken often of a desire to resume peace talks with the Palestinians, and directly called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to join him at the negotiating table. On Tuesday, in a speech to the new Knesset members, he vowed to steward a “prudent” diplomatic process, speaking of seeking agreements but also of maintaining Israel’s capacity to effectively protect itself against security threats.
Netanyahu and Obama have maintained a correct but sometimes obviously strained relationship over the years.
Last month, for instance, days after Obama was quoted as castigating Netanyahu for ostensibly turning Israel into a pariah nation and threatening its long-term survival, Netanyahu hit back by declaring that if he were to capitulate to demands for a retreat to the pre-1967 lines, “we’d get Hamas 400 meters from my house.”
According to Bloomberg columnist Jeffrey Goldberg, Obama had lately begun repeating the mantra that Israel under Netanyahu “doesn’t know what its own best interests are.”
The key focus of Obama’s reported criticism was Netanyahu’s settlement construction policies, which recently included plans for thousands of homes in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in response to the Palestinian Authority’s successful gambit to gain nonmember observer state status from the UN in November.
“With each new settlement announcement, in Obama’s view, Netanyahu is moving his country down a path toward near-total isolation,” Goldberg wrote. “And if Israel, a small state in an inhospitable region, becomes more of a pariah — one that alienates even the affections of the U.S., its last steadfast friend — it won’t survive. Iran poses a short-term threat to Israel’s survival; Israel’s own behavior poses a long-term one.”
Goldberg added that, as regards Netanyahu’s handling of the Palestinians, “the president seems to view the prime minister as a political coward, an essentially unchallenged leader who nevertheless is unwilling to lead or spend political capital to advance the cause of compromise.”
Goldberg said John Kerry, Obama’s nominee for secretary of state, wants to try to restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, but Obama “is thought to be considerably more wary. He views the government of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as weak, but he has become convinced that Netanyahu is so captive to the settler lobby, and so uninterested in making anything more than the slightest conciliatory gesture toward Palestinian moderates, that an investment of presidential interest in the peace process wouldn’t be a wise use of his time.”
A presidential visit would suggest, however, that Obama has reconsidered.
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WarSclerotic 
February 5, 2013 at 8:50 PM
“The news that he was heading here as early as next month, the report said, underlined the sense of potential progress in the diplomatic arena.”
Translation…to delay an impended attack by Israel. In other words, nothing will occur while Obama is ‘touring’ the Mideast.
February 5, 2013 at 9:32 PM
Dont be so sure.
February 5, 2013 at 8:56 PM
Steve, if my analysis is correct, he’s coming to solidify his share of the great victory that is approaching.
Much better to be remembered as the Prez who stopped Iran rather than the one who got suckered by it.
If I’m wrong, I have no explanation. Obama doesn’t need to come here to delay Israel taking action on Iran. He’s done it from DC for the last four years.
February 5, 2013 at 9:10 PM
I agree, but I feel no one is going to fire a shot while Obama is ‘jet setting’ around the neighborhood.
February 5, 2013 at 9:19 PM
Yes, but realistically Obama is going to be in the region, for what, maybe 4 days total? This can’t be considered to ‘block’ Israel from unilateral action.
I agree with JW, this is a significant move to make, especially since Obama’s in his final term. With Israel’s action against Syria last week, the potential explosion at Fordow before that, perhaps Israel and the US are preparing a final knockout blow to the Syrian-Iranian alliance by destroying Iran’s nuclear program.
I’m inclined to believe this military move will be much more surgical, tactical and overwhelmingly accurate than most assessments. With enough missile firepower, the Iranian nuclear program is toast.
Everyone knows the civil war in Syria has dragged on for far too long, and Assad is about as weak as he’s going to be before collapsing. I don’t think either Netanyahu or Obama genuinely fear Iran’s or Syria’s reprisal – especially if Assad’s chemical weapons sites are destroyed in a simultaneous U.S.-Israeli military attack against Syria and Iran.
February 5, 2013 at 9:33 PM
Agree with that.
February 5, 2013 at 9:40 PM
What the really after is the know how to switch Russian air defence systems on and off,if anyone in power is reading this dont give them the information.
February 5, 2013 at 9:15 PM
Fuck it, Steve. If the US is with us, time is much less of an issue.
February 5, 2013 at 9:34 PM
“Netanyahu also established March as a key month for Iran’s nuclear program”-Washington Post headline after Bibi’s UN speech.
“The White House has not released the date of Obama’s trip or details about Obama’s itinerary, but Israel’s Channel 10 reported that a visit had been scheduled for March 20.”-NBC
Coincidence?
Just throwing some raw meat in the ring for debat…that’s what I like about your site JW. Together we attempt to figure out what the hell is going in matters that will impact most of our lives. I feel it helps us maintain some control of our own fate. Unfortunately today, too many other people in control and I just don’t trust most of them.
February 5, 2013 at 9:21 PM
Video of the attack earlier today, was nothing big, just a shoe thrown
February 5, 2013 at 9:55 PM
Fuck the shoe!!!
The press made a megilah out of the one thrown at Bush.
So the F___ what? !
Obama is coming. Not cuz he likes Israel… We know he hates Netanyahu.
He’s coming to solidify his place in history. What the mindless “talking heads” refer to as his “legacy.” You know, that place that Israel just handed him on a silver platter called “Fordow?”
I’m starting to get really scared with how far out I’ve positioned myself on Fordow. I simply can’t see any other explanation that makes any sense at all.
So I’m going with it. What’s the downside? Loosing credibility as the “Israeli security expert” that Foxnews called me?
The whole question is absurd. The real downside if I’m wrong is how fucked the world’s gonna be after Iran gets the bomb.
But sleep well, my brothers in arms. This time, I’m right….
February 5, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Right or wrong JW, the reason I follow your site so closely IS your credibility and dedication to Israel, as well as your community of commenters who I consider my friends.
If I were a betting man, I’d give 2 to 1 odds you are correct. Heck, even Luis had to shave his beard over this mess.
Regarding our ‘fact finding’ mission, all I can say is, “Stay thirsty my friend.”
February 5, 2013 at 10:25 PM
Steve…
2 to 1? That’s a mission I’m more than comfortable with.
Like in any other unit, each of us does his job. On this site there are no promotions, no commendations, and no recognition or appreciation for any of us.
But if there were, I’m comfortable saying that I know you’ve earned all of the above from anyone that pays any attention here.
Thanks for your contributions from all of us.
Let’s all cross our fingers that my analysis is correct and the Iranian bomb can be archived along with our other nightmares. WITHOUT having to kill any more people on either side!!!!!!!
February 5, 2013 at 11:16 PM
Hello, Steve !
I see that you didn’t forget that little bet on my beard, which I shaved, but hey, lets not forget that we were right; the israeli reaction in Gaza arrived only one day too late for my beard to be saved.
And now, lets get serious for a while.
1. Sincerely speaking, we have heavy doubts regarding Fordow, even that our hearts wish that the internet reports on that would be accurate.
2. Regarding the Obama’s visit in the Holly Land, we think that more prosaic reasons are fuelling this visit. This is – we hope – his last cadence and he is feeling, like a good predator, the blood. Bibi will be, politically, very weak, because he doesnt have anymore the right closing supreme behind him. If Bibi will succeed to ”lego” his government, it will be rather an instabile government, and the Damocles sword of new elections will be upon his head all along this period.
3. With a politically weak Netanyahu, Obama will try to push the peace process in the region, in conformity with his agenda. Obama is ready to play this time as ”guests”, while Bibi is at ”home”. Obama is feeling very strong and the pressure on the israeli leadership will be atomic. We will not be surprised if great masses of people will go out and encouraging Obama to press their PM, Netanyahu.
Of course, there is also the imprevisible – this time is really french – factor , which means that one cannot predict how middle east will look in March. We don’t think anybody can say what and how will be next week here, in the region, either. With such fluid events and such a turmoiled region, Obama’s visit here looks to us like a mirage in the desert.
February 6, 2013 at 2:01 AM
The evil permeating the Middle East will not simply go away whether or not Frodow was toasted. Iran may have many unknown sights. They may get a bomb from North Korea or Pakistan. Israel should have dealt with this long ago when the issue was less complex. When the final reckoning comes, they’ll only be one winner! The longer Israel waits to act the, more damaging the outcome will be.
February 6, 2013 at 2:10 AM
Obama has now campaigned twice proclaiming that he will never let Iran get a nuclear weapon. Hopefully, he is coming to Israel to help plan the end of Iran’s nuclear program. I deeply distrust President Obama. I hope Israel does too.
February 6, 2013 at 4:48 AM
l think we can all agree Obama is an opportunist. If we view events surrounding Obama in this light then things may be a bit clearer. Anyone who would use murdered children to advance a leftest agenda of gun control is capable of just about anything. Now he’s advancing his so called right to kill American citizens with drones. Un-f*cking- believable! The man and his enablers are tyrants.
February 6, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Obama will try to checkmate Bibi, as we wrote yesterday . Today, we saw this :http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2274273/President-Obama-push-urgent-peacemaking-deal-Israel-Palestine-Middle-East-visit.html?ito=feeds-newsxml#axzz2K6sAE1UB
After he will have all the pions in place, Obama will launch a heavy attack at the weak position of Netanyahu. Unless Bibi will do something drastic, the expected visit from Obama will be a disaster for the israeli PM.
February 6, 2013 at 1:35 PM
the mail is never very reliable take what you read in it as a pinch of salt
February 6, 2013 at 12:19 PM
…And even now, as we speak, on Reshet Bet, Itamar Rabinovich is explaining why Obama will interfere directly with the peace process here and the Obama’s expectations from the israeli cabinet and why no peaches and blackberries will be given to Israel this time.
February 6, 2013 at 12:32 PM
I think the announcement was made now to forestall any Iranian or Hiz retaliation for what’s happened and/or what’s still to come.
I don’t agree with Luis that it’s a disaster waiting to happen. I’m glad he’s coming.
February 6, 2013 at 12:59 PM
The ”second coming” of Obama in Israel is seen, right now, by the majority of the israelis political observers as :
a. Direct involvement in the peace process.
b.A try, from Obama’s part, to interfere directly with the ”lego” of the israeli cabinet, because Netanyahu cannot show to Obama, in March, a narrow 61 right wing members of his cabinet; that simply wont work, and we agree with that.
We also don’t expect a disaster to happen to Israel when Obama will arrive, but rather high political pressure on Bibi, and you know what? He plenty deserves it because ”he who hesitates doesn’t deserve to lead”.
February 6, 2013 at 1:09 PM
Those political pundits aren’t dealing with a full deck, according to me. If they believed the Fordow event as I do it would be a whole different equation.
If I’m wrong about Fordow, as I said before, we’re in DEEP dodo…
February 6, 2013 at 1:14 PM
In the spirit of the discussion, we also read this :http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4341767,00.html
February 6, 2013 at 1:17 PM
… Especially, please notice that ”Obama will talk to the israeli public over the head of its leaders” which we have said already yesterday evening, before this article was published.
February 6, 2013 at 1:20 PM
Obama knows full well the deep distrust the Israeli public has in his policies. Nothing he says will change that, unless of course what he says isn’t what is expected.
I’m in the 2nd camp. Don’t know what he’ll say, but it won’t be “Trust me, go back to ’67 lines.”