National Review Online has posted the following article. It is adapted from the weblog article I posted Tuesday morning, but there are a few significant differences, including an analysis of Netanyahu’s new strategy to rebuild U.S.-Israeli relations.
NETANYAHU TO AIPAC: STOP IRAN OR ISRAEL WILL
By Joel C. Rosenberg
“After the worst week in U.S.-Israel relations in 35 years, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to Washington Monday and gave a powerful and effective speech at the AIPAC gala dinner at the Washington Convention Center, warning the world to stop Iran — or Israel will — and respectfully but directly challenging the Obama administration on Jerusalem and the peace process….Netanyahu’s strategy in rebuilding U.S.-Israel relations is now clear. Reduce tensions with the president and executive branch if at all possible, but focus on speaking directly to the American people and strengthening the truly pro-Israel end of Pennsylvania Avenue: Congress….” [To read the rest of the column, please click here]
HEADLINES TO TRACK:
- Washington Post front page story reports the sharp contrast between how Netanyahu is being received by the White House (cold) and by Congress (hero): Visiting Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu received warm applause at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference on Monday night when he bluntly dismissed U.S. demands to end housing construction in the disputed part of Jerusalem. He was greeted as a hero when he visited Capitol Hill on Tuesday. But the administration has been strikingly muted in its reception. No reporters, or even photographers, were invited when Netanyahu met with Secretary of State Clinton Hillary Rodham Clinton and Vice President Biden on Monday or when he met with Obama on Tuesday night. There was no grand Rose Garden ceremony. Official spokesmen issued only the blandest of statements.
- Washington Post reports that Netanyahu meets with Obama in two meetings for total of nearly 2 hours, but no one has any idea what was discussed
- New York Times: Israel Absorbs Twin Rebukes From Top Allies — dramatic shift in how White House and 10 Downing Street are treating Israel
- Pelosi: Congress speaks in “one voice” in support of Israel
- AP: Israeli leader gets warmer welcome in Congress
- New York Daily News: Congress puts out red carpet for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- Politico: Israel has become a political primary issue
- Politico: Mike Pence: President Obama is ‘bullying’ Israel
- NYT: Netanyahu takes hardline on Jerusalem housing
- Washington Post: AIPAC crowd sides with Netanyahu, is cool towards Clinton and Obama administration: “AIPAC officials rallied to the Netanyahu government’s defense. The only rebuke they delivered Monday was of Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, their guest speaker. AIPAC Executive Director Howard Kohr, departing from his prepared text, took a swipe at Clinton for calling Israel’s insult of Biden ‘insulting.’ “When disagreements inevitably arise, they should be resolved privately, as is befitting close allies,” Kohr lectured. As Clinton waited backstage, he also informed her that the two nations ‘are allies, friends — they should treat each other as such.’ Further, he said, alluded to the housing construction: ‘Jerusalem is not a settlement.’ The lights went up, and the 7,500 in the hall jumped to their feet, applauding. Sensing an opportunity, the loyal opposition joined with AIPAC in taking Netanyahu’s side against the Obama administration. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), the Republican speaker at AIPAC’s dinner Monday night, seconded Kohr’s view that allies should ‘disagree quietly.’ Added Graham: ‘Howard said it best: Jerusalem is not a settlement! . . . No government in the United States should ever look at Jerusalem as a settlement!’ The place went wild.”
- Britain expels Israeli diplomat in passport row
Consider attending an upcoming event :
- “A Night With Joel C. Rosenberg” in San Jose, CA to help the ministry of Hormoz Shariat, “the Billy Graham of Iran”
- The 2010 Epicenter Conference in Philadelphia with Joel C. Rosenberg; fmr. Delta Force commander Lt.-Gen. (ret.) Jerry Boykin; Bible teacher Kay Arthur, Pastor Greg Laurie, Mosab Hassan Yousef (author of the book, Son of Hamas), and more
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