Susan Walsh/AP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responds to the applause after he addressed a joint meeting of Congress in Washington on Tuesday.
The Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement has been the preeminent issue defining foreign policy debates for decades. Negotiating a successful peace deal has evaded almost every modern President of the United States and this conundrum has now been even more complicated for President Obama this past week.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu loudly voiced his strong disdain for President Obama's position that Israel should return to pre-1967 borders, announced in his speech on the Middle East and North Africa last Thursday.
This was the first time a U.S. President officially stated a long-held position and the blowback has reverberated in Washington through negative reactions from Congressional leadership, including Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. It is no coincidence that every Washington figure addressed the AIPAC lobby these past several days.
President Obama’s diminished favorability at the U.S. Capitol became clear today when a joint session at the Congress received Netanyahu’s speech with more standing ovations than his State of the Union Address earlier this year: 29 versus 25.
Should the American Congress visibly stand behind a foreign leader instead of their President on such an important foreign policy issue?
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Ask the congressmen who is their Dady? The tax payer or Jewish Lobby? Since when the congress of the United States undermines their own president for the benefit of a foreign government whom after 20 years since Oslo still can't come up with a negotiated settlement while illegally land grabbing and building in Palestinian land? How long more should more than 7 million suffer so that these folks get to take more of their land?
Perhaps you've not heard about the freaking ARAB LOBBY! the very fact that you call it the "Jewish" lobby says it all. Oh, and for the record, the Palestinians have never ONCE done anything according to Oslo -- nor for the record, were settlements ever mentioned either. 7 million? You have ZERO credibility - where did THAT number come from?????
The only reason the GOP is concerned about Israel is they have taken a lot of money from the TV evangelists They are lobbying for Israel and the moderate Zionist movement .
The behavior of these congressmen is treasonous! They are supposed to be working for us, the American taxpayer. Bibi addressing our Congress should give Americans a clear picture of who is actually running this country. Time for a change, a big one. They could start by discontinuing all aid to Israel. They really don't need the money. Why should American citizens go on an austerity program for the Israelis or anyone else. Time for AMERICA FIRST!
Yeah, "America First!" Let's support the Palestinians who cheered on 9/11 and condemned our killing of bin Laden. Your logic is faulty at best.
Hmmmmm, still trying to see the LOGIC in your comment. Well...... I'll try to give some Vulcan logic to the topic.
First, I am under no illusions that if the State of Palestine will ever come to fruition, I am under no illusion that militant Palestinian groups will use the State to launch attacks against Israel. That being said, the United States as a mediator must appear to be unbiased, even at the expense of ruffling the feathers of Israeli's. So the question is why should Israel be for a Palsetinian State if its agains t their own self interest. Possibly, the creation of a Pal. State will give strength to the silent majority of both peoples.... and therefore, marginalize, to a limited exrtent, the militants. If Anwar Sadat can have a change of heart after losing his brother in war than almost anything is possible..
I have no interest in being part of the debate over Palestine. My concern is strictly for the citizens of the United States. I am concerned that Israel's needs appear to be more important to our congressmen than the needs of the people they are supposed to be serving. AMERICA FIRST has nothing to do with Palestine.
Israel is lobbying to keep getting that money since we are talking about cutting foreign aide.
Their reaction to Bibi indicates their ignorance of the negotiations that have been going on since Carter. The statement by President Obama was nothing new, and he was right on. Israel has been acting like a thorn in the side of the world for many years.
Their response also indicates the fact that there is a larger percentage of Jews in our Congress than their percentage in the population of the country, and they have a very powerful lobby. This is not to disparage Jews in any way. Just stating the facts. Israel is very fortunate to have been given land for their country after WWII. The Palestinians have been without a country for too long.
You don't like Bibi's speech because he raised some inconvenient truths. Israel is "fortunate" to have given land, as if Jews have had NO history in that area? Israel was "fortunate" to have had 6 million killed? Here's a clue - just because you believe something doesn't make it true. Palestinians could have had their own country - they chose to leave their homes in 48. israel had zero problem living side by side. Bibi said it best today -- He is more than happy to have a Palestinian country. It's the Palestinians (the very ones who CHEERED ON 9/11!) who refuse to acknowledge a Jewish State. Get a grip.
After being "heckled" Bibi stated, "if this was a country like Iran, that young woman would not have been allowed to do that. This is why I love Democracy! (Applause)
Well, if throwing that woman out of the Capitol building, blocking her freedom of speech and permanantly banning her from the chambers is 'Democracy'....well, I say the hell with your Democracy!
This is a complete slap in the face to this President. The people of this nation should be outraged! The cronies in DC know better. This President hasn't said anything different from what Dubya or Clinton said. Are the American people really that dumb?
Btw, That's strike two for that weasel Harry Reid. A lot of thanks for the hard campaigning the President put in for you. Remember the "Negro Dialect comment?"
Since Dubyah, we've adopted a habit of 'detaining' outspoken dissidents. Only the pre-approved should be allowed to hear the speech of our leaders and of our allies in the middle-east colonies. Bibi should not have to suffer the voices of the dispossesed. His, and Israel's, ears are to delicate to hear the tortured cries of those in the ghettos of Gaza nd what's left of the West Bank.
Thomas Derenthal
Peter Beinart had a great piece about this on The Daily Beast the other day. Far from making this a religious thing (I am from N. Ireland and have had enough of that crap!) he highlights the upcoming UN vote on the Palestinians' right to their own country. His point is that the President is trying to push the two parties back to the negotiation table by fixing a starting point of the 1967 boarders with land swaps. This would stall an upcoming vote in the UN which would if it took place, ultimately be a disaster for Israel. World opinion is not on their side and that is undeniable. Bibi could be making a big mistake.......
Peter Beinart is the new head of B'Tselem. However, NBC has seen fit to strip out any reference to B'Tselem in any postings on this blog.
You make it sound like B'Tselem is a terror group. They are a human rights group. Is there a conflict there? Am I missing something? He gives his opinion using the facts at hand.
To answer your question, Lawrence, "Should the American Congress visibly stand behind a foreign leader instead of their President on such an important foreign policy issue? In this situation, no. Obama spoke his truth. The Israeli leader is wildly out of line, and turned me off, even more, from further financial, and military support of the country. What does Israel offer the U.S.?
Israel offers nothing. This should be their problem, their negotiont with the Palestinians, from whom they have stolen land. Americans are tired of fightinf endless wars in the Middle East.
When do we do nation building in the U.S. of A.?
Bibi: Go The F Home. Foreign nationals do not parachute in and dictate foreign policy to America. Bibi and Israel: this is YOUR problem. There is no percentage in it for America. We are done supporting you blindly while your torture the Palestinians -
Bibi GO HOME!
Thomas Derenthal
This is America and I don't really have a problem with congress or any other group showing appreciation for a speech that might conflict with the presidents opening volley in yet another attempt by the US to resolve a seemingly intractible peace process .
I do have a problem with the idea that Israel is always right just because they are our ally in the middle east. Our defense of them as our ally, is the primary reason we have had such a contentious relationship with many of the Arab states because we are not seen as impartial in the peace process. Israel's refusal to negotiate in good faith for a palestinian state has cost us billions of dollars and American lives. This inability to heal the past and move forward in a real peace process leaves us to fight their battles to preserve the tenuous peace between Israel and the Arab world, our friendship is repaid with false promises to negotiate but the promises are not kept nor even acknowledged when they are reminded they made them. The boundries described by the president have been the foundation of every peace effort since Israel occupied the territories after the war in 67. I think the president is making a bold statement here, being our friend can not be taken for granted and being our ally is not a one way street. It is time to change or we may have to.
The continue support for Israel "Jewish state" is basically support an apartheid entity that enforces the discrimination against non-Jews. Our tax dollars have supported this regime, an abomination to our democratic values and civilized human treatment. The U.N. will vote for Palestinian statehood, this is general consensus of all the world except us. Watch the documentary that is the real truth that has been hidden by our media, commentated by our U.S. diplomats, Israeli Jews & Palestinians that prove that the Palestinian were driven out of their homes by violence and force: Here is another document by Philip Giradi that illuminates the AIPAC control over our foreign policy and politicians : .
The world will vote for Palestinian statehood, this due to the overwhelming evidence that Israeli state is only Jewish, failing any tolerance or respect to non-Jews. This will put U.S. foreign policy endangered by the obvious oversight of our so called support for democracy and civilized treatment that does not exist for Palestinians. This is documented by former American diplomats, Israelis (including Rabbis and ex-soldiers of 1948 war), Christians and Palestinian in the award winning film Also, Philip Giraldi (an ex U.S. intelligence officer) has the following document that has ten questions he would like to get answered from BIBI : . American citizens need to take back our country from foreign domination of our congress.
Should we be surprised that Congress reacted as they did? I'm not. However they are able to disparage the President, they will. It is more important for them to regain the White House, and they seem prepared to attempt that goal any disfunctionally devisive way that they can. I find them more morally repugnant at every turn. The new slogan should be: RECALL Y'ALL!
you people seem to forget when the president of mexico was bashing the az bill he had the same response because you people hate israel
Why isn't it a big story that the republicans are taking their hatred of Obama to new heights by appaulding a foreign government...Israel. Even Israel keeps its disagreements internal and present a united front when dealing with foreign governments. I think its dispicable. Also, ....Donald Trump is racist and constantly plays the race card. They...msnbc... so easily fires Keith Oberman who sins were far less severe than Trump but then refuse to even reprimand Trump. I will blog about this forever until enough attention is brought to bear about this hypocrisy.
Why are the republicans (old white people...more or less) more hostile to Obama...the first black President...then they have ever been to any president before him. Yes, Bill Clinton was almost impeached but their was that whole Monica thing. Obama has not had an affair. He has not taken kickbacks from Big Oil...(Bush). He did not institute waterboarding/torture. Obama did not vote to kill the american car industry when they almost went bankrupt but voted to save it. Obama did not start the war in Afghanistan or Iraq that cost thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. Obama did not vote to end medicare/medicaid...the republicans did that. Obama has not stated he did not care rather or not we caught Bin Laden...(no that was Bush too). Obama actually made the terrorist leader of Al Queda a priority and brought him to justice. I think some older whites are scared of the Big black boogey man that they are running so far to the right not realizing that they are running into the republican noose because many of them need medicaid/medicare. I think we saw in district 26 in New York where some of them started to wake up.
Please hire Keith back! I miss his expert analysis. I'm not sure who he pissed off at msnbc but its evident that theres more behind his being fired than what was stated. Normally, you simply apologize and keep on moving but that's not the case here. Donald Trump and certainly been far more offensive than Keith ever was but NBC has not fired him or stop the "Apprentice". Why? Money. Donald makes them too much money. How sad that the mighty dollar outweighs principle.
Obama is an embarrasment, to think I wsa duped to vote for this clown.
I just put you on pause....I just wanted to thank you for your comments on Obama and his stance on Israel. I thought I was insane...the vitriol and lies that were coming from all points was making me crazy. It was like I heard something that no one else heard, you know, that can make you crazy!!! I do not pretend to know the history of this issue, but you explained it to me very clearly. It makes me so angry that Bibi got all those standing O's, while President Obama got crap. For saying the same things!! An I thought I was nuts noticing that!! Thank-you Lawrence...I love you, and I love your saneness.Now, back to the show!!!!!
Dear Lawrence: I love your show. I like the directness and sincerity of your handling your interviews. I would like to write an article about Illegal Immigration and its terrible consequences. I am not talking about all illegals,mind you,....but there are a few of these individuals who are roaming free around the country wrecking havoc of our lives, our freedom of speech, our way of life here in the U.S.A.
The issue of IMMIGRATION.
Immigration is a good thing to consider,when our nation is ready to deal with the pros and cons of this situation,when it is regulated and we have the means to enforce the laws and weed out the bad elements of society.
Right at this moment,the way we know it,legal and illegal immigration is the way to endless negative possibilities whether we like it or not.
Considering that we have high unemployment rate,regardless of the percentages accounted for. 13 million U.S. citizens who cannot find a decent job,add 33 million illegal aliens that are being allowed to roam free in this counmtry. Is there a possibility that by allowing all these people to go anywhere they want, and do as they please,and the U.S. citizen not to have the right to question who they are or if they are documented,so that when anyone breaks the law,they would be,will be more easily identifiable?? and be held accountable?
There is another big problem we need to consider,and it is that of training and the abuse of children.
The problem is that these people are brainwashing children to have the wrong ideas as to how to survive in this world, and in the process corrupting them. Some of us are already experiencing the outcome of this situation,and I don't believe we have seen the worst of it yet. Do we need to bring these issues to our local authorities?? We have to proceed with caution. Some elements of our society may have already been infiltrated by organized crime. It's been a decade in the making if not longer. I would appreciate it if you acknowledge this message in your show,and see what is the reaction of the U.S. citizens/residents out there. We really need help on this one. We don't want to be paying property taxes to a ......Cartel in the future.
Please I wish to remain anonymous. I rate your show a 5 star!!!
Thank you
A concerned citizen.
I don't watch MSNBC as mush as I used to watch it because I resent the way Keith Olberman and Ed Schulz were treated compared to Donald Trump. By the way, my friends and I are all boycotting any show on which Trump appears. He said much nastier stuff about the President than Ed said to that mean hatchet woman Laura Ingraham.
I hope the right wing is not starting to take over msnbc because I watch msnbc and I would hate to have to go back to cnn.
Lawrence, I watched your remarks on the President and Netyanhu and I want to tell you that you are one of the best. Thanks again for setting the record straight.
Anyone who would support the Palestinians over the Jews should have their head examined. Just another nail the left is driving into America's coffin. Disgusting.
Good Lord, most of you libs go off the deep end if someone simply insults another race. Now you want the world to have sympathy for a group of people who won't be happy until they literally rid the world of another group of people. What is the matter with you people?