Despite it all, Bibi still deserves a chance

[bemildred]

Nobody has caught me saying a good word about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Not during his first term and not during his second one. In a "conciliatory conversation" between his two terms, mediated by his friend Dr. Gabi Picker, Bibi accused me of contributing to his downfall as prime minister.

I'm not retracting what I wrote then, nor what I'm writing during his current term. Bibi doesn't invite me for personal consultations and doesn't work his magic on me. I didn't predict that his appearance in Congress would be "the speech of his life," which means I wasn't disappointed. What was written in his mind's eye was perfectly executed - from the standing ovation in Congress to conveying the message to U.S. President Barack Obama that he has not withdrawn from the principle of two states for two peoples.

In retrospect, no dyed-in-the-wool Herutnik - someone from the forerunner of Likud - supported two states for two peoples. Prime Minister Menachem Begin, who won the Nobel Peace Prize along with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat, did everything in his power to prevent any mention in the Camp David Accords of the Palestinians' right to a state. Even Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who evacuated the Gaza Strip settlements and spoke of the need to awake from the dream of a Greater Israel, didn't say two states for two peoples.

Bibi is the first Likud leader to utter the specific words "Palestinian state," and he expressed his willingness to negotiate in order to establish it - first in the Bar-Ilan speech, and now in his speech to Congress, which has been dubbed Bar-Ilan 2. Tzachi Hanegbi, the guy who had to be dragged down from the roof during the evacuation of the northern Sinai in 1982, has said he agrees with every word of Bibi's, even though he's a member of Kadima.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/despite-it-all-bibi-still-deserves-a-chance-1.365644

[Never Stop Dancin]

1. the article is correct

Obviously Israel cannot afford more fools like Rabin or Barak who would give away the store for nothing in return.

That would be national suicide.

I'm as liberal as they come on American issues, but politics stops at the water's edge.

[LeftishBrit]

2. 'Fools like Rabin'?

Good grief.

'politics stops at the water's edge'

What does that even mean?

[Never Stop Dancin]

3. I always make my point

not everyone wants to sit on the fence, trying to be friends with everyone.

If you are a Zionist and pro-Israel, please just say it. We'd all like to see you come out of the closet.

[wuushew]

4. Dude at least change your avatar

The POTUS's statements should make you very angry as an unrepentent zionist.

[Never Stop Dancin]

5. oh he didn't really mean those statements

It was all 16 dimensional chess.

[Recursion]

6. That phrase is a "wonderful" gift from the British Empire to the rest of us

Sort of like "The wogs start at Calais".

It basically means that everyone should have to agree with the loudest hawks all the time, to show "unity".

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. for all of his nonsense, Bibi is actually one of the less warlike zionist leaders

Barak or some other goon from Labor or Kadima would have launched a couple wars by now; Bibi's hubris always seems to keep a strange lid on things.

[Never Stop Dancin]

8. none of this is Bibi's fault

Bibi tried to complete the circle of peace back in the '90s as PM, but in return all Israel got was a triangle of terror (Lebanon + WB + the Gaza = triangle). Then the PA kept going to the UN to try to throw Israel under the diplomatic bus, while the world watched Israel's agony with indifference.

[Alamuti Lotus]

9. and don't forget the sea deathwagon of fear, at least two of those so far..

sorry, too much over-the-top hasborhetoric to compose a serious response.

[Pirate Smile]

10. Ugghh. People defending Bibi here is nauseating. He is a disaster for Israel and the US.

He is as horrible a RW hack as most of the Republicans in Congress & running for President.

Bibi is to Israel what Bush & Cheney were to the US - a global calamity.

[Never Stop Dancin]

11. It's a fallacy

to compare everyone with Bush. It's the middle east--you haven't lived it. Never judge an Israeli.

[Pirate Smile]

12. Excuse me - "Never judge an Israeli"? So you expect us to just salute whatever Bibi does and say OK.

Ridiculous.

Edit to add - He is a liar. He repeatedly pushed a claim regarding President Obama's position that was flat out a lie - just like the Republicans. He did it to Obama's face in the Oval Office in front of cameras and you defend him. He is part of a RW smear campaign against Obama and you defend him. Pathetic.

He is isolating Israel even more in the world and alienating their friends and allies. He is leading them toward a train wreck - and he is dragging the US along with him. Petraeus is right. It is hurting the US too.

[Never Stop Dancin]

14. If Bibi was so bad

then Dem congresspeople wouldn't have given him multiple standing ovations?

[Pirate Smile]

15. LOL. Congress, oh geez, that's another story and, yes, he is that bad but the Congress

is pitiful on this issue and everybody knows it.

[LeftishBrit]

13. Never judge ANY Israeli?

While I certainly don't approve of those who judge all Israelis just *because* they're Israeli, that doesn't mean that all Israelis are perfect and have the right to do whatever they choose. Any more than all Americans, British, Palestinians, etc.