GOP Candidates Assail Obama on Israel

[hue]

Source: Associated Press

By BETH FOUHY and KASIE HUNT Associated Press
NEW YORK September 20, 2011 (AP)

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry on Tuesday criticized the Palestinian Authority's effort to seek formal recognition by the U.N. General Assembly and assailed the Obama administration's broader policies in the Middle East.

In a speech in New York, Perry pledged strong support for Israel and criticized President Barack Obama for demanding concessions from the Jewish state the Texas governor says emboldened the Palestinians to appeal for U.N. recognition.

"We would not be here today at this very precipice of such a dangerous move if the Obama policy in the Middle East wasn't naive and arrogant, misguided and dangerous," Perry said in a speech in New York. "The Obama policy of moral equivalency which gives equal standing to the grievances of Israelis and Palestinians, including the orchestrators of terrorism, is a very dangerous insult."

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/perry-slam-obama-israel-14561374

[Democat]

1. Regardless of your position on Israel, does this Perry quote sound like treason?

"I also as a Christian have a clear directive to support Israel"

Replace "Israel" with "China" or any other country and imagine any Democrat or Republic who wants to be president of the United States saying that their religion dictates that they support another country above America.

[Owlet]

2. Sure does.

Where in Christian dogma or Scripture does it say that a Christian is required to support the State of Israel? I guess I missed that part in Sunday School.

[Blue_Tires]

6. he just needs to emigrate there, then...

What if JFK said he had a clear directive to support the pope when he was running??

[alp227]

3. Perry to criticize on Israel, speak against UN recognition of Palestinian Authority

Source: Associated Press

NEW YORK — Wading into a tense foreign policy dispute, Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry is criticizing the Palestinian Authority’s effort to seek a formal recognition of statehood by the U.N. General Assembly.

In a speech scheduled in New York on Tuesday, Perry pledges strong support for Israel and criticizes President Barack Obama for demanding concessions from the Jewish state that Perry says emboldened the Palestinians to seek recognition by the U.N.

“We are indignant that certain Middle Eastern leaders have discarded the principle of direct negotiations between the sovereign nation of Israel and the Palestinian leadership,” Perry said in excerpts of a speech provided by one of his aides to The Associated Press. “And we are equally indignant that the Obama administration’s Middle East policy of appeasement has encouraged such an ominous act of bad faith.”

In a statement before Perry spoke, GOP rival Mitt Romney called the jockeying at the United Nations this week an “unmitigated diplomatic disaster.” The former Massachusetts governor accused Obama’s administration of “repeated efforts over three years to throw Israel under the bus and undermine its negotiating position.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/perry-to-criticize-on-israel-speak-against-un-recognition-of-palestinian-authority/2011/09/20/gIQAyVSJhK_story.html

[hue]

4. This demonstrates Perry's decisions are religiouly biased.

Once again the Christian fundamental doctrine interferes with or skews Perry's world view.

...Perry said in a speech in New York. "The Obama policy of moral equivalency which gives equal standing to the grievances of Israelis and Palestinians, including the orchestrators of terrorism, is a very dangerous insult." Talking about Obama's "policy of moral equivalency" being a "very dangerous insult" I have to ask, to whom???

I think Perry's mental framework and language is very dangerous!

[Democat]

10. Does he plan to put his religious views above what's best for the country?

If that's his position, then he has no place near the White House.

[tanyev]

5. I challenge Rick Perry to find Israel on an unmarked map.

[Blue_Tires]

7. thank you...i was about to type that

but it's red meat for the base...that's all they care about

[Scurrilous]

8. Meanwhile...

'Obama is the best thing Israel has going for it'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4124518,00.html

New York Magazine dubs US President Barack Obama 'first Jewish president'; says Jewish community's perception of the president is warped

<snip>

"Barack Obama is the best thing Israel has going for it right now," the New York Magazine's cover story declared on Monday.

The in-depth feature said that Obama's policies regarding Israel were the diplomatic equivalent of "tough love" – which it said Israel needed, despite its reluctance to accept it.

The magazine exposes the immense frustration felt by White House officials by what it calls the Jewish perception of Obama as the most anti-Israel president since Jimmy Carter.

"Barack Obama is the best thing Israel has going for it right now. Why is that so difficult for Netanyahu and his American Jewish allies to understand?" the magazine wonders.

The feature goes on to detail Washington's frustration and fury over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal behavior towards Obamas, as well as with his obstinacy vis-à-vis the American president's Mideast vision.

The frustration, the article said, was shared by Vice President Joe Biden Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and former Mideast envoy George Mitchell; all of whom "were apoplectic with (Netanyahu) whose behavior over the past two years had already tried their patience."


The Tsuris

http://nymag.com/news/politics/israel-2011-9/

Barack Obama is the best thing Israel has going for it right now. Why is that so difficult for Netanyahu and his American Jewish allies to understand?

[Supersedeas]

9. the vote on Palestinian statehood should be interesting.

[tammywammy]

11. On the radio tonight they referred to Perry's position on Israel as

"to the right of Netanyahu."