Livni: Israel expects strong U.S. friendship to continue under Obama

[caesu]

Livni: Israel expects strong U.S. friendship to continue under Obama

By Haaertz Service and News Agencies

Democrat Barack Obama's election on Tuesday as the 44th president of the United States was welcomed by Palestinian and Israeli politicians alike, who expressed hope that under his leadership the peace process would contininue and develop into something more tangible.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said Israel hoped the president-elect would maintain the U.S. friendship with Israel and commitment to peace talks.

"Israel expects the close strategic cooperation with the new administration, president and Congress will continue along with the continued strengthening of the special and unshakeable special relationship between the two countries," she said.

In a statement, she called the Obama's election "a mark of merit for American democracy."

"During Barack Obama's recent visit to Israel, and especially during the tour we conducted together in the city of Sderot, the people of Israel were impressed by his commitment to the peace and security of Israel," Livni said.

FM Livni also expressed her esteem for the honorable campaign conducted by Senator John McCain. "We thank Senator McCain for his long-standing friendship and look forward to continuing our close cooperation with him."


Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said he hoped that Obama would lead the U.S. along its current path of involvement in the Middle East peace talks, and bring forward the settlement President George W. Bush had vowed to see before the end of his term.

"We hope the president-elect in the United States will stay the course and would continue the U.S. engagement in the peace process without delay. We hope the two-state vision would be transferred from a vision to a realistic track immediately," said Erekat, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

In Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert praised Obama's victory as "historic and impressive. America has again proven itself an example to world democracies."

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu said Obama's victory represented an historic change for America, adding: "I am sure the new president will be able to bring peace to our region," he said.

MK Ophir Pines-Paz said Obama must involve himself with the peace process immediately at the start of his term. He also said, "the political system in Israel can look with astonishment and jealous at democracy in the United States. Obama's victory gives hope to billions in the world, as well as in Israel.

Other Israeli lawmakers praised Obama's election as a victory against racism. MK Shlomo Moula (Kadima), an Ethiopian immigrant to Israel, said: "This is a victory that arouses hope in all black people in the world and in Israel. I am full of hope that Israel won't wait 400 years for equality."

Israeli Arab MK Ahmed Tibi called Obama's victory a "defeat of racism... the American people have proven their grandness and have headed out on the dawn of a new day and a new world. We must always remember, 'only in the darkness can one see the stars."

MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud) said that Obama has already proven his "friendship to Israel... and his uncompromising commitment to curbing Iran's nuclear program."

National Union MK Aryeh Eldad, however, said that Israel should be apprehensive about Obama's victory, because "he is prone to buy the Arabs' favors with Israeli currency." Eldad said that the president-elect intends to pull his country's forces out of Iraq, a move that will endanger Israel gravely.

His fellow right-winger Zvi Hendel (National Union) said that "Israel's strategic dangers will not come from the American president, no matter what his name is, but from the leader elected in Israel.

At celebratory reception at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem Tuesday night, U.S. Ambassador James Cunningham said he could vouch Obama's support of Israel, for the advancement of the peace process and for Israel's security.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1034551.html

now only pray that Tzipi Livni gets elected on February 10th.
she is a very tough lady. ex-Mossad agent.

[Edward]

1st pick..
Rahm Emanuel Member Of United States House Of Representatives From 2003 And New Democrat Coalition


Rahm Emanuel was born on November 29, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois. This American politician was positioned as the Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives right from the year 2003 and represented Illinois's 5th congressional district. He is placed at the fourth position as a Democrat in the House after the Speaker namely Nancy Pelosi, Whip Jim Clyburn as well as Leader Steny Hoyer.

He landed up with a lot of popularity for his keen partisan approach as well as fundraising expertise. He as accompanied with Democratic Leadership Council President namely Bruce Reed did write the book called as The Plan: Big Ideas for America in the year 2006. Rahm Emanuel holds the membership of the New Democrat Coalition. He was the son of Benjamin M. Emanuel, who was a pediatrician as well as member of the Irgun in the 1940s and Martha Smulevitz.

http://www.encyclocentral.com/27553-Rahm_Emanuel_Member_Of_United_States_House_Of_Representatives_From_2003_And_New_Democrat_Coalition.html

During the Great Uprising (1936-1939) the Irgun carried out sixty attacks against Arab civilians and British soldiers, reflecting its world view that "political violence and terrorism" were "legitimate tools in the Jewish national struggle for the Land of Israel".[1] Irgun was described as a terrorist organization by The New York Times newspaper and by the Anglo-American Committee of Enquiry. Irgun launched a series of attacks which lasted until the beginning of World War II. All told, Irgun attacks against Arab targets resulted in at least 250 Arab deaths during this period.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Irgun_attacks_during_the_1930s


Irgun (Hebrew: ארגון‎; shorthand for HaIrgun HaTzva'i HaLe'umi BeEretz Yisra'el, הארגון הצבאי הלאומי בארץ ישראל, "National Military Organization in the Land of Israel") was a militant Zionist group that operated in Palestine between 1931 and 1948. It was established as a militant offshoot of the earlier and larger Jewish paramilitary organization Haganah (Hebrew: "The Defense", ההגנה). For secrecy reasons, people often referred to the Irgun, during that time, as Haganah Bet (Hebrew: literally "Defense 'B' " or "Second Defense", הגנה ב), or alternatively as Haganah Ha'leumit (ההגנה הלאומית) or Ha'ma'amad (המעמד). In present-day Israel, Irgun is commonly referred to as Etzel (אצ"ל), an acronym of the Hebrew initials.

The Irgun was the armed expression of the nascent ideology of Revisionist Zionism founded by Ze'ev Jabotinsky. He expressed this ideology as "every Jew had the right to enter Palestine; only active retaliation would deter the Arabs and the British; only Jewish armed force would ensure the Jewish state".[1] Initially, a central part of their efforts included attacks against Palestinian Arabs,[2] but it increasingly shifted to attacks against the British. Some of the better-known attacks by Irgun were the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem on 22 July 1946 and the Deir Yassin massacre (accomplished together with the Stern Gang) on 9 April 1948. In the West, Irgun was described as a terrorist organization by The New York Times newspaper,[3][4] and by the Anglo-American Committee of Enquiry.[5] Irgun attacks prompted a formal declaration from the World Zionist Congress in 1946, which strongly condemned "the shedding of innocent blood as a means of political warfare".[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irgun

World Zionist Congress

The platform of the WZO is the Jerusalem Program. The Zionist Council, meeting in Jerusalem in June 2004, adopted this text as the latest version. [9]

Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, brought about the establishment of the State of Israel, and views a Jewish, Zionist, democratic and secure State of Israel to be the expression of the common responsibility of the Jewish people for its continuity and future. The foundations of Zionism are:
- The unity of the Jewish people, its bond to its historic homeland Eretz Yisrael, and the centrality of the State of Israel and Jerusalem, its capital, in the life of the nation;
- Aliyah to Israel from all countries and the effective integration of all immigrants into Israeli Society.
- Strengthening Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state and shaping it as an exemplary society with a unique moral and spiritual character, marked by mutual respect for the multi-faceted Jewish people, rooted in the vision of the prophets, striving for peace and contributing to the betterment of the world.
- Ensuring the future and the distinctiveness of the Jewish people by furthering Jewish, Hebrew and Zionist education, fostering spiritual and cultural values and teaching Hebrew as the national language;
- Nurturing mutual Jewish responsibility, defending the rights of Jews as individuals and as a nation, representing the national Zionist interests of the Jewish people, and struggling against all manifestations of anti-Semitism;
- Settling the country as an expression of practical Zionism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Zionist_Congress#World_Zionist_Congress

Well not exactly a fellow born in Kansas with family roots dated back to the origination of the united states..
As well as Kenya I suppose..
Hugo Chazez is gonna love this guy.. 

[caesu]

many former Irgun members got later on high political functions.
best example is Menachem Begin. made peace with President Sadat of Egypt.
i think there are extraordinary opportunities for the peace process with Obama as President.
i might have too high expectations. but in Israel they are hopefull.
i doubt Obama (and Livni) wil let the settlers fool around with them.
a lot depends on the Knesset election in February.

only these Hamas terrorist bastards need to be driven out of the Gaza strip first.
how that's going to be achieved i don't know.

[Tater]

Israel Cautiously Greets Obama
by Hillel Fendel

Though the Prime Minister and other Knesset Members welcomed Obama's win warmly, some expressed the fear that Obama might lead policies that would leave Israel isolated.

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union) said, "We must be very concerned about Obama's victory. He plans to quit Iraq soon, and this will endanger Israel, and he is liable to pay in Israeli currency for various agreements with Arab countries. His declaration that he will talk with Iran essentially means that Israel is left alone on this front."

MK Esterina Tartman (Yisrael Beiteinu) said, "We must 'respect and suspect' the Obama administration. Israel must act assertively and smartly vis-a-vis our large friend, the United States, and we must formulate for ourselves a strategy for absolute defense of our existence as a Jewish state."

MK Nissan Slomiansky of the National Religious Party, said, "From the moment that he was elected, he is the President as far as we are concerned, period. All of our fears are no longer relevant, and we must not attack him, unless he proves himself to bear out our fears. In the end, it could be that our fears were unfounded; he will want to be re-elected, and possibly some good will come out of this."

Olmert: Special Relationship Will Strengthen

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert congratulated Obama, saying enigmatically, "Obama has proven to the entire world his skills and his leadership." Olmert did not fail to mention the special Israeli-U.S. relationship: "Israeli-U.S. relations are excellent, based on common values and interests, and are characterized by tight mutual cooperation. Both Israel and the U.S. have a common desire to continue to strengthen these relations and advance peace and stability in the Middle East. We have no doubt that the special relations that exist between us will continue to become stronger under the Obama administration."

Livni, Obama and Jerusalem

Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni stated that Obama's win is a "badge of honor for the American democracy." She noted that in Obama's visit to Israel this past summer, "and especially when he visited Sderot, Israeli citizens were impressed with him and with his obligation to Israel's welfare and security."

Livni did not mention that around that time, Obama also promised a Jewish audience that Jerusalem must never be divided - and then retracted the next day. It was also reported this week that Obama told Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that he supports taking eastern Jerusalem from Israel and giving it to the PA.

Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu, favored to become Israel's next Prime Minister in the elections three months from now, sent Obama a telegram: "You and the American people have brought about a historic change, and reminded the world what America stans for: the hope and promise of a better future. I am convinced that we will work together to achieve peace, security and growth in our region, and a better future for all of us."

Likud MK Yuval Shteinitz, whose views are generally hawkish, said that Obama "expressed his friendship with Israel when he said he supports defensible borders for Israel, and in his uncompromising obligation to stopping the Iranian nuclear threat."

Another Likud MK, former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, was asked if Israel has anything to be concerned about by Obama's election. "To say in advance that he will have a negative approach towards us," Shalom answered, "is a mistake, because in the end Obama understands that he is not just the President of the U.S., but also the President of the world."

Left-wing MKs were particularly welcoming of Obama's win. Labor MK Ophir Pines said it is "good for Israel and gives hope to billions all over the world, and in the Middle East as well." He expressed the hope that Obama would be involved in the Middle East peace process from the very beginning of his administration. Analysts say this is not likely to happen, given the economic crisis and other critical issues Obama faces.

Meretz party chairman MK Chaim Oron said enigmatically, "The American public chose the alternative of more responsibility, solidarity and partnership. Obama's election proves that real change comes only from leadership that does not blur its positions and is not afraid of saying the truth." 

IsraelNationalNews.com

[WhiskeyGirl]

Could this be part of the conspiracy?  A link to Jewish terrorist organizations?

Not Islamic terrorists?

A clever ruse?

[caesu]

Irgun was a Jewish militant group fighting the British and Arabs.
it got disolved and incorporated in the Haganah (Israel Defence Force) around the creation of the State Israel (1948).
members of Irgun founded Herut and later Likud rightwing party. Likud has been part of many Israeli governments.

[Auntiem]

     I pray God that the Israelis will continue to receive our support.  Those poor people just want to live in peace in the tiny country (state) that the half-dead, unwanted, unwelcomed by any country, survivors of the Holocaust were given.

    LEAVE THOSE PEOPLE IN PEACE!!!!

[Edward]

Israel is a nice place with some nice people..
But my education on the subject leaves me to believe there is far more to Israel then just some nice people who escaped the holocaust..
But believe anything that makes you smile..

[txlisa]

Israel is a nice place with some nice people..
But my education on the subject leaves me to believe there is far more to Israel then just some nice people who escaped the holocaust..
But believe anything that makes you smile..

Would that be "Stormfront" or Louis Farrakhan?

Lisa

[Rammstein]

Israel is a nice place with some nice people..
But my education on the subject leaves me to believe there is far more to Israel then just some nice people who escaped the holocaust..
But believe anything that makes you smile..

Would that be "Stormfront" or Louis Farrakhan?

Lisa

Never heard of that one (if I might be so bold as to respond), for me the US state department report on human rights was always enlightening to the situation on Israel and the occupied territories.

[Edward]

Not hard to search it out.. BBC has done many articles on the subject..
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=GGIC,GGIC:2006-22,GGIC:en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=russian+mafia+israeli&spell=1

Plus a friend of mine is palestinian and his brother is Israeli.
They both seem to believe that Israel is a russian state and not a jewish state....
They think Americans are under educated on the subject matter..
Once I searched it out..There are many many articles claiming the same thing..

Go figure..