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Jewish Leaders Blast Clinton Over Israel Criticism
Zuckerman, Lawmakers, Local Jews Say Secretary of State Not the Hillary Clinton They Used to Know; Hillary Pressuring Israel to Speed up Aid to Gaza
NEW YORK - In a swift about face from her views as New York's senator, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is now hammering Israel over its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks as US Middle East envoy George Mitchell looks on during a press conference following talks at the State Department in Washington. Clinton called for "an independent and viable" Palestinian state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as the goal of a negotiated settlement with Israel. (AFP/Nicholas Kamm) As First Lady, Clinton raised eyebrows when she kissed Suha Arafat.
Since she was then seeking a Senate seat the resulting brouhaha caused her to "re-think" her positions.
"I'm a very strong supporter of Israel," Clinton said back in February 2000.
On Thursday, as Secretary of State she had yet another about face in the form of angry messages demanding Israel speed up aid to Gaza. Jewish leaders are furious.
"I am very surprised, frankly, at this statement from the United States government and from the secretary of state," said Mortimer Zuckerman, publisher of the New York Daily News and member of the NYC Jewish Community Relations Council.
"I liked her a lot more as a senator from New York," Assemblyman Dov Hikind, D-Brooklyn, said. "Now, I wonder as I used to wonder who the real Hillary Clinton is."
Clinton's decision to hammer Israel comes as the Clintons and President Barack Obama are planning to give the Palestinians $900 million toward the rebuilding of Gaza in the wake of the Israeli offensive that was sparked by Hamas rocket fire.
"We are working across the government to see what our approach will be," Clinton said.
"I don't believe that we should be in a position at this point to do anything to strengthen Hamas," Zuckerman said. "We surely know what Hamas stands for as I say they are the forward battalions of Iran."
For some, Clinton's change of position is upsetting.
"I feel it's unfortunate that they don't continue the policy of the Bush administration, which was much more pro-Israel," said Akiva Homnick of Jerusalem.
"I happen to have a lot of family who live in Israel and I feel, personally, when you are dealing with people who are very strong against you, you have to stand up to them," said Tami Davudoff of Kew Gardens.
"Hillary had Mrs. Arafat here and she invited Mrs. Arafat for lunch when she was the first lady," added Babak Chafe of Great Neck. "She is pro-Palestinian 100 percent, really. Of course, we always knew it."
"The easy way to make a peace agreement is to pressure Israel because you can't pressure the Arabs," said Solomon Loewi of Monsey, N.Y.
All this could lead to a chilly reception when Mrs. Clinton arrives in the Middle East next week.
The new U.S. envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, arrived in Israel on Thursday with a mission to inject new life into peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
- Posted in
233 Comments so far
Show All"in the wake of the Israeli offensive that was sparked by Hamas rocket fire"
Yes, this problem is so simple.
I can't wait to read all the venomous posts and accusations here later today.
But you would agree that the Palestinians, as fellow human beings, have rights too, won't you? And that, as fellow human beings, they may have legitimate complaints against Israel's treatment of them and should be respectfully listened to? And that our government shouldn't be blindly one sided? You would agree with that, wouldn't you? For violence, and theft, take many forms.
The ceasefire was broken by Israel's killing of 6 Palestinians on 4 November (the world was somewhat distracted by another event that day), after which Hamas started firing rockets again, the number of missiles having fallen to one or two a month before then. Israel's offensive was being planned for 6 months before it actually started - they just wanted a casus belli.
BTW hooray for Hillary. It's high time the US government (and the European governments too) stood up to these bullies.
That's right, secretarybird, give it a name, the true name.
Um, what sparked the Hamas rocket fire? Oh yeah, nothing. They just felt like shooting off some homemade rockets. Simple anti-Semitism.
How dare she ask for help for Palestinians? She even kissed one! To the gas chambers with her!
"I don't believe that we should be in a position at this point to do anything to strengthen Hamas," Zuckerman said. "We surely know what Hamas stands for as I say they are the forward battalions of Iran."
------------------------
Mr. Zuckerman, please sprinkle your wife and children with white phosphrous as they sleep tonight.
When you see their flesh melt down to the bone you may have a clue that you sound like a complete ass.
Agree -- and unfortunately we also know what Israel stands for under right-wing
religiously fanatical control. Where, oh where, are the liberal/progressive,
peace-loving Israelis?
"Mr. Zuckerman, please sprinkle your wife and children with white phosphrous as they sleep tonight."
The US has to stop arming Israel -- and any aid that goes to further militarizing
Israel!
"According to all myth, the female - not the male -- gives life"
On a related note, Joel Kovel of Bard College was terminated last week for speaking out against Zionism:
http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2009/02/103616.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnVltpdSpZo
m156, Joel Kovel is obviously not the first one to lose his job for speaking out on this matter:
Arun Gandhi (grandson of M.K. Gandhi) Quits Peace Institute in Flap Over Blog Posting
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/25/AR2008012502802.html
From "Zionists Out of the Peace Movement":
Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas K. Gandhi and the president and co-founder of the M. K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, is being raked over the coals for remarks he made recently on the Newsweek/Washington Post site, "On Faith."
http://zionistsout.blogspot.com/2008/01/arun-gandhi-on-jewish-identity-violence.html
Of course, it can be pointed out that had he been in a Muslim country and spoke out against some Arab or Islamic policy, he may have been murdered. Then again, academic freedom is (supposedly) standard here, unlike in some other parts of the world.
I believe our Secretary of State should be paying attention to Countries that are of more critical importance to America. Mexico would be a good place to start since it presents a major crisis in the making.
Uh, they're migrating to north of the border. Isn't that country getting depopulated these days?
Its not the immigrants that are causing this problem, thses folks are hiding among them. My Latino friends tell me the illegals are scared to death of them.
Ahh Thomas ... thats right. The fact that we have pumped trillions into creating this monster State in the middle-east so as to further our agenda means nothing nor does the fact that this monster State commits war crimes worthy of the Nazis. We created these monsters and we continue to support them. And you suggest we wash our hands off because American lives are not being lost ? Or is it because your hometown of Texas is seeing an increase in Mexicans ? What gives ? You cant seem to shake your inner Texan out despite months on CD ?!!
Heartily agree. Further, the situation in Mexico is also created by our
phony Drug War which has given us a new prison industry and reason to
invade other countries -- while Afghanistan under our command has reached
new peak levels of drug production! As a British commander noted . . .
"The US loves to sell drugs!"
"According to all myth, the female - not the male -- gives life"
riddimboy
Well my friend, we in Texas have had plenty of experience with Mexicans coming across the border to work for as long as I can remember and before. I have no, let me repeat no desire to shake my inner/outer Texan in any way.
I am proud of my State in many ways, not so in others. But I'd prefer to be a Texan any day just as I'd choose to be an American.
As to the Middle East and Israel...the problem of the Palestinians (which we did not create no matter the denials)it is a matter of priorities.
Mexico is in far worse state than the Palestinians, 6000 killed just on the border last year, violence everyday, and it is beginning to spill over into our country all along the border.
I suggest we pay attention to a problem that is far more imminent and far more problematic than the Palestinians. Or first things first if you prefer. Because the media is ignoring it doesn't mean its not there.
And as to your reference to "hometown of Texas is seeing an increase in Mexicans" We have had Mexicans coming acrioss the border to work and plenty of Mexaican Americans here all my life. we have been dealing with the costs of illegal immigration since it balloned from 1986. The cost is staggering... But that is a seperate problem. The Mexican drug pushers are already in your town.
I'd suggest that its time to take care of our problems first.
I suspect you might find a fair number of Mexicans that believe your part of Texas is on the wrong side of the border.
Another perverse point of view vis a vis this statement:
"As to the Middle East and Israel...the problem of the Palestinians (which we did not create no matter the denials)it is a matter of priorities."
We most certainly DID help to create it (U.S. first to recognize it upon 1948 declaration of Independence - Int' recognition being the actual means by which actual statehood is achieved. Without recognition by OTHER sovereign states there is no state). Worse, and without belaboring the point, we certainly have sustained it for all these years with massive infusions of cash, PEOPLE (immigrants from U.S. who maintain U.S. citizenship and voting rights) and especially weaponry.
And this statement:
"Mexico is in far worse state than the Palestinians, 6000 killed just on the border last year, violence everyday, and it is beginning to spill over into our country all along the border."
First, please site a reliable source for that figure. Second, one death is too many. Palestinians have been dying and disposessed for over 60 years and did nothing - NOTHING - to the Jews that disposssed them of their homes with the acquiesence of the rest of the world because it had a guilty conscience over the sacred Holocaust - which the Palestinians had nothing to do with and Americans and Europeans failed to do anything to prevent in their war.
Mexico. Mexican's should be given Texas and all its war criminal former presidents as a gift. Maybe Mexico would prosecute the bastards.
Apples and oranges... And both are travesties... The Israel/palestine issue is a foriegn policy issue, and Mexico, especially Texas, is a domestic one since the Alamo, and even more so since Nafta/FTAA...
One thing is held in common...
However either real estate was stolen from the original inhabitants, an attempt to give it back to the original inhabitants would create more harm than good... By escalating the situation... I am not an apologist, but a realist...
A sane realist is more than welcome among Utopian dreamers.
You are correct...apples and oranges, except that my point was Mexico is far more important to the US than the Palestinian problem is. It is alredy reaching into most cities.
I agree, although this is not a new development... It has been happening since the 80's when the CIA flooded the ghettos with crack... Gangs from Mexico and El Salvador have been rampant for a few decades, they are fighting over distribution rights and turf wars...
These gangs and cartels are pretty low on the totem pole, it is the international crime syndicates that control most of the production of cocaine and heroin, who launder it through Wall street and stash it in the Cayman Islands or wherever... They use the DEA, military contractors, and corrupt government officials like judges and cops as a protection racket and target their competition...
The escalation of the conflict in Mexico is being used as justification for the continued militarization of the border states, and use of SWAT teams and mercenary firms like Xe to conduct raids and "restore security" to the region...
Actually, I have to defend the Texan a bit here. I heard the number is more like 7000 dead, and it is true we have not been paying sufficient attention to what is going on there. It could become a very ugly situation for the Southwest.
saphne
I thank you. I'm glad someone out there is paying attention. Its going to become a problem for more than the Southwest I assure you.
dwg
"I suspect you might find a fair number of Mexicans that believe your part of Texas is on the wrong side of the border."
You would. But you would be wrong, just as they are. If we gave it back it would have to be to Spain because the Aztecs they took it fromm no longer exist. And Spain had it before the Mexicans.
"We most certainly DID help to create it (U.S. first to recognize it upon 1948 declaration of Independence - Int' recognition being the actual means by which actual statehood is achieved."
Actually if you look tyou will find the problem was created by the Arab attacks on Israel in 48/49 and a lesser amount added after they attacked again in 67. I don't believe we encouraged those attacks. As to the right of return, its no different than with Jews in some Arab countries.
Though there is no precedent in international law that I know of for forcing a country to repatriate hostile belligerents, there are other examples where they left willingly and were assured that the eviction was a temporary security measure. In particular, the residents of Ikrit and Birim have been trying to return to their villages along the Lebanese border since 1948, but have not been allowed to do so despite repeated rulings of the Israeli supreme court.
But in any case, saying that the Palestinians did nothing is simply not correct. Never was. There are two sides to this conflict. But the Palestinians involved now are second, third, even fourth generation Palestinians that had nothing to do wwith those actions. They are innocent and the brunt of this is falling on them.
I'm not arguing for Israsel, but don't use faulty logic to condemn anyone.
"Palestinians have been dying and disposessed for over 60 years and did nothing - NOTHING - to the Jews that disposssed them of their homes"
You'd better check your history on that, the original refugees in 48/49 certainly did join the attack by the armies Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq on the Jewish state and before while the British Mandate was still in effect in 47. British army records from the time confirm this. They also confirm some other things that the Arabs say. Like most things there really are two sides to most problems.
"First, please site a reliable source for that figure."
U.S. Border patrol, AP, CNN, Mexican TV states more, but I'd favor the Border Patrols figure.
And while I would agree that one death is too many anywhere, my point is that Mexico is a more imminent problem for us and certainly a more important one. Certainly a more dangerous one.
"Mexico. Mexican's should be given Texas and all its war criminal former presidents as a gift. Maybe Mexico would prosecute the bastards."
This one I have a problem with, if as I suspect you are being sarcastic,I'd say, not funny (though, if you mean it seriously, its probably the most ignorant remark I've seen on CD...well close anyway.
Yeah, I hear you and I pretty much felt that way until 911. Not only do I believe our unquestioning support of Israel was a driving motivation of the attacks, I also believe Israeli intelligence knew the attacks were going to happen and chose not to tell us. This problem is a stinking abcess that must be taken care of or it will end up poisoning everything. Our support of Israel allowed it to get so out of hand so we need to be intrumental in solving it-- or at least making it somewhat manageable so they can handle it themselves.
Thomas,
The "war on Drugs" a medical problem exacerbated by the War part is what supports the "War on Terrorism".
So actually your distraction brought me to realize that they are related.
They both go hand in hand and is why the financial system has collapsed ...it is a War economy based on debt when now Money can only be created out of un-payable exponential growing Debt.
Your "Mexican problem" is basically People getting killed by criminal gangs competing for the Marijuana market, the largest cash crop in the world and if we taxed it just at say 1 dollar a joints worth, the revenue could probably pay for the best health care...
The plants would save the top soil and give oxygen and we could manufacture practically anything with the oil and fiber.
Tom Jefferson knew it was a National security Issue to grow and use Cannabis.
The two problems can be solved together.
The trick is to tell Zionist Israel that the free lunch is over...
Then with the largest peace offensive in history the US sets up peace talks with the leaders of any terrorist group that is a threat.
Once this is done the "war on terrorism" will become a discussion and debate for the world to find a better way to plan for the future.
We are all living on the same spaceship but acting like we are on different planets.
Nice distraction from the article... the NY Daily News would like that too.
I'd simply suggest we need distraction from the things that are not as important to our country as others.
Do you ever wonder why CD never runs articles dealing with many other subjects than this? I do. But you are correct its a comment off topic. But they never deal with this most important topic here.
"Do you ever wonder why CD never runs articles dealing with many other subjects than this?"
The implication of this "question" is an outright falsehood and anyone familiar with CD's day-to-day offerings knows that it is.
q
I'm fairly familiar with CD's day to day offerings. When is the last time you saw an article on our problems with Mexico? How many articles dealing with this subject?
I don't tell lies. I find your implication that I do, offensive to say the least.
Rereading what I posted maybe you took it to mean that I was saying this is the "only" subject posted here, in that case, I stated it poorly.
I feel far too many articles dealing with Israel and the Palestinians and Global Warming are published here while ignoring other subjects like Mexico that I believe are more important to our country. Aging, Industrial policy and the lack therof,more asrticles dealing with new direction.
You can disagree with me, but thats my opinion.
Good observation, Thomas More.
It would be constructive to devote a little more of our grey matter to finding and honing solutions to our many challenges.
I really like the concepts put forth by Dr. David Korten, for example.
With his ninety minute address at Trinity Church on Wall St. (of all places), Dr. Korten shows that he has, at least, given holistic solutions some very serious consideration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3QJJcgAwi4
am i missing something here? clinton calls for israel to speed up aid to gaza and some dumbass rich american zionists go nuts? wtf? "clinton hammered israel"; why do i seriously doubt that statement? why not quote exactly what she said?
what can you say about this cbs article? it's a string of non-sequiturs and inflamed rhetoric w/no factual content or context whatsoever (outside of the infamous, horrible "kiss"). julius streicher would be impressed.
Yea...I'm with you on this one.
This article smacks a lot of propaganda.
Much as I would love to believe that Hilary really IS getting tougher on Israel it will take more than a breathless article of plattitudes to convince me this is true.
I think there was a very short quote, probably taken out of context, from Hillery. I think one would have to search the web to find out exactly what she did say.
"kissing" was yesterday's terrorist fist bump. reminds me of the scene in judgement at nuremburg w/max von sydow interrogating julie garland about her kissing a jewish friend....
julius streicher would be impressed.
------------------------------
Good reference.
We need to use his name as often as possible and attach it to all the modern day propagandists.
Yes, allow a crack in the dam and the whole structure may come down. So an extremely strict enforcement is required.
We're going to see a lot of that in the Obama years. At least I hope so. Not just regarding Israel but of some mighty shibboleths here in the United States.
Hillary Clinton asks for aid to Gaza, and the Zionists label her an anti-Semite!
Its about time Hillary . Shouldnt we feel some culpabality for the WP weapons dropped on civilians ?? Perhaps we could save a few bucks discontinuing arming the Israeli's .You can bomb the world to pieces but you cant bomb it into peace.
George Carlin said: "The planet will shake us off like a bad case of fleas".
That's when the world will see peace.
At least that was Cheney's plan, and I suspect it is McCain's plan too.
And he was right, as usual. We are a failed species.
In the context of the horror that is the situation Israel is perpetuating in Gaza and the West Bank, the term "Jewish Leaders" is an oxymoron. The words "Jewish Leaders" should be reserved for those Jews and Jewish organizations that are bringing ideas and actions that can really LEAD to a resolution of this open wound on the body politic of the planet.
Cameiros
One more time.
Peace will only come to the Middle East when Israel
no longer exists.
I disagree. Peace will come to Israel when war is no longer profitable.
if by "israel" you mean the gov't that defines citizenship in terms of religion/race, then yes.
Amen!
Dream on dude. Not happenin any time soon. I got news for u Amerindians say the exact same thing about the European occupiers ( most of us)of North and South America. Jews on the other hand actually have lived in Israel since ancient times!
Am I missing some thing here?
"I don't believe that we should be in a position at this point to do anything to strengthen Hamas," Zuckerman said. "We surely know what Hamas stands for as I say they are the forward battalions of Iran."
I thought that Hamas, like most Palestinians, were sunni muslims while Iran is predominantly Shia and certainly Iran's government is dominated by the Shia's.
He is possibly conflating in his mind Hamas and Hezbollah...who are certainly Shia and certainly did get support from Iran during the Lebanese war a couple of years ago.
Am I correct or am I ignorant (not out of the bounds of possibility)?
Or is Zuckerman the ignorant one (and he get's quoted in the press...I don't).
If Zuckerman is displaying this high degree of ignorance then I'm reassured. The Zionists have not bothered to learn anything about their enemies, therefore they are ultimately doomed.
You are right .. however for the run-of-the-mill Zionist living in NY, such subtle differences dont matter. If Iran is arming Hamas then kudos to Iran for having the cojones to do the right thing.