I heard a poll reported on Israel radio (the “Hakol Diburim” show) yesterday where they asked Israelis “who would you rather have as President-Hillary or Obama?”. (I imagine the polling was done before Obama’s remarks about the Likud). The results were
Hillary 62%
Obama 22%

So apparently Israelis ARE concerned about Obama.

believe me nobody takes direction from Israel.

AIPAC certainly doesn’t take direction fr. the Israeli gov’t. But it is profoundly influenced by certain sectors of the Israeli political scene–the far-right nationalists & Likud which are farther to the right than the Israeli gov’t–at least the current one. If Netanyahu wins the next election then AIPAC WILL be taking direction fr. Israel; or at least doing Netanyahu’s bidding.

I believe you are going to see a strong reaction to this

Indeed there will be…fr. you, Rosner & the Likud. That’s it. No one else in Israel will give a crap, nor should they.

Most Israelis, as you yourself have admitted, do not view your ideas for what Israeli policy should be as representing their viewpoints

That’s preposterous & I’ve said just the opposite. The majority of my views are accepted by the majority of Israelis.

if Obama is adopting them

I assure you Obama is not “adopting my views.” His views are his own & influenced by his own view of the conflict. As president, he will implement a policy close to Bill Clinton’s with some nuances perhaps. This will annoy you no end no doubt. But you are a supporter of the settler movement & yr views are by no means representative of the avg. Israeli. Obama’s policies will be acceptable to the majority of Israelis.

I am becoming more convinced daily that Obama will not be able to win against McCain.

Being the respected political observer you are I accord you utmost deference & whatever you predict will undoubtedly happen. From yr mouth to God’s ears, as it were (!).

Hillary also criticized him for apparently saying that he was [sic] “unconditional engagement” with countries like Syria and Iran.

As usual, you mangle reality. What Obama said was that he was in favor of talks with Iran & Syria “without preconditions.” He did not say he was in favor of “unconditional engagement” & I don’t even know what this means.

a Jimmy Carter-like policy of appeasement of hostile regimes.

Aw c’mon. You’re full of hot air. His policy will be similar to Clinton’s as I already wrote. Except for a few disastrous mistakes like Rwanda & not pursuing Bin Laden muscularly, Clinton’s foreign policy was first-rate; as will be Obama’s if he is elected.

two of AIPAC’s high ranking members

They were staff members and not the highest ranking though not the lowest either.

our Zionist/Corporate controlled media.

Oh God…must we go there? This borders on hysteria.

the Mossad spies that followed the hijackers around the United States in the year before 9/11. 9/11 of course made the Iraq war for Israel all possible.

How dreary. Are you channeling Ward Churchill?

And by ethnic lobbies, I do not mean just AIPAC - there is the very powerful Cuban Exiles lobby which has been exerting very effective pressure on US politics about their single issue interest - Cuba economic blockade.

While it is true that it is legal, and Mr. Silverstein and Mr. Scott Ritter believe in the freedom of speech taken to the extreme of lobbying on behalf of a foreign government, I do not.

My personal view.

Re: AG
AmericanGoy is my calling card - *I* call myself that.
Feel free to google me.

Cheers everybody!

Obama clearly understands this - as do progressives like Richard and myself do believe that the end to a safe secure Israel is through negotiations and peace. The neo-con idea of eternal war - particularly with Iran will only add to more bloodshed, and insecurity.

I would expect that many Israeli’s understanding of the nuances of American politics, and AIPAC’s role in it have as deep un understanding of my own understanding of the nuances of Israeli politics (ie I don’t feel that I do have a deep understanding). It doesn’t surprise me at all that they would misunderstand Obama’s comments.

But Obama has worded exactly what I feel. Too many American Jews are EXTREMELY ignorant of the most basic elements of Israeli politics and easily buy into the pro-Likud=pro-Israel arguement. I’m sick of what the neo-cons have done to US foreign policy the last 8 years - and the only hope for all of us is to find someone with the guts to un-do it. I think Obama is the most likely candidate for that. Clearly McCain is the opposite (and Clinton probably somewhere between the two…)