It’s no secret that the administration of the Big O, while if not “anti-Israel”, has certainly been “cool-Israel”, over the past eight years. The development of the settlements by Israel in the contested areas of the West Bank has always been a contentious issue since it began and the US has always, until now, used its veto power to quash any UN Resolution that condemned Israel for its actions. According to the latest news reports, a new element has been added. This time the US did not only refrain from vetoing the latest UN Resolution against Israel but actually worked behind the scenes helping to put together said Resolution.
A number of these now enlightened reporters have realized and have stated so in plain words that the UN, almost since its inception, has applied a double standard and has universally condemned Israel no matter what the dispute was about and at the same time has ignored almost all of the crimes and abuses inflicted upon Israel. These same UN member countries have as of late seen fit to condemn the US in any issue that may in any way be connected with Israel. In other words, if a UN member country is automatically “anti-Israel”, by definition it is also “anti-US”.
As to the issue of the settlements, prior US administrations have taken the position that this is not a matter for the UN to get involved in but one that should be between the Israelis and the Palestinians to work out among themselves. To this end, the Palestinians have been continually making accusations that they live in an occupied zone in which they have no right to travel or to vote and have no recourse to their plight which they say is completely the fault of Israel. Not only is the opposite of these allegations the truth, Israel has always been ready to meet with the legal representatives of the Palestinians, face to face, with no pre-conditions, to discuss any and all issues that separate the two – yet the Palestinians have continually to this day rejected the idea of such a meeting. And that is the truth.
Eight years ago, shortly after the election I attended a meeting of the New York Alumni Association wherein the woman sitting next to me turned and beaming from ear to ear asked me what I thought of our new President. Since she was Jewish I answered her thusly: “The Messiah he’s not and as to what I personally think, the jury is still out.” Her reaction was such that one would think that I murdered her grand children. Surmising that nothing could possibly alter her opinion I decided that it would be best not to pursue the discussion with her and to move to another seat. In view of the most recent events, perhaps now, the supporters of Israel, regardless of their political or religious affiliation, will finally come to the realization that the Big O does not now nor did he ever walk on water.