Israelis Root For Clinton; Palestinians Are Behind Obama

[Purveyor]

JERUSALEM -- It might not be worth any delegates at the Democratic Party nominating convention, but it appears that Hillary Clinton has a big lead in the informal Tel Aviv primary, while Barrack Obama is poised to sweep Ramallah.

There's arguably nowhere else in the world, outside of the United States itself, where the outcome of the presidential elections is seen as so important. Whoever wins the White House will inevitably preside over some form of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, as even the initially reticent Mr. Bush has.

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Many Palestinians are hoping that Mr. Obama just might be the type to break the mould and takes risks with the long-standing U.S.-Israel alliance. Both sides see it as automatic that another Republican president would back Israel, but the Democratic race is being watched with anxiety.

"I am in pain over Obama's loss last night," Ramallah businessman Mahmoud Ibrahim said, referring to the New Hampshire primary.

"We Arabs want a different president, not the remnants of Clinton or Bush. Hillary Clinton's views regarding Israel are well known. She supports Israel totally and if she wins, we will have to suffer through another period of biased American policies," Mr. Ibrahim said. The Haaretz daily newspaper has been running an occasional feature called The Israel Factor, in which it asks an anonymous panel of current and former Israeli government officials, as well as prominent American Israelis, to rank the various presidential candidates in terms of how good each would be for Israel.

---EOE---

http://www.theglobeandmail.com:80/servlet/story/LAC.20080110.MIDEASTPRIMARY10/TPStory/TPInternational/America/

[xultar]

1. Obama supports Israel. Period.

Obama supports Israel. Period.
Barack Obama's big speech on Israel is now over, and as expected, the candidate made no secret of his support and dedication to the special relationship between the U.S. and Israel. "My view is that the United States' special relationship with Israel obligates us to be helpful to them in the search for credible partners with whom they can make peace, while also supporting Israel in defending itself against enemies sworn to its destruction," were Obama's words to Haaretz last week. Today, he sounded as strong as Clinton, as supportive as Bush, as friendly as Giuliani. At least rhetorically, Obama passed any test anyone might have wanted him to pass. So, he is pro-Israel. Period.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/rosnerBlog.jhtml?itemNo=832667&contrassID=25&subContrassID=0&sbSubContrassID=1&listSrc=Y&art=1

Here is another
How Barack Obama learned to love Israel
Ali Abunimah, The Electronic Intifada, 4 March 2007
http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article6619.shtml

first met Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama almost ten years ago when, as my representative in the Illinois state senate, he came to speak at the University of Chicago. He impressed me as progressive, intelligent and charismatic. I distinctly remember thinking 'if only a man of this calibre could become president one day.'

On Friday Obama gave a speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in Chicago. It had been much anticipated in American Jewish political circles which buzzed about his intensive efforts to woo wealthy pro-Israel campaign donors who up to now have generally leaned towards his main rival Senator Hillary Clinton.

Reviewing the speech, Ha'aretz Washington correspondent Shmuel Rosner concluded that Obama "sounded as strong as Clinton, as supportive as Bush, as friendly as Giuliani. At least rhetorically, Obama passed any test anyone might have wanted him to pass. So, he is pro-Israel. Period."

Israel is "our strongest ally in the region and its only established democracy," Obama said, assuring his audience that "we must preserve our total commitment to our unique defense relationship with Israel by fully funding military assistance and continuing work on the Arrow and related missile defense programs." Such advanced multi-billion dollar systems he asserted, would help Israel "deter missile attacks from as far as Tehran and as close as Gaza." As if the starved, besieged and traumatized population of Gaza are about to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Obama offered not a single word of criticism of Israel, of its relentless settlement and wall construction, of the closures that make life unlivable for millions of Palestinians.


Handy dandy Obama Israel google search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=obama+israel&btnG=Google+Search

[MethuenProgressive]

3. You mean he supports just some of the people living there, yes?

Just some, yes?

[lapfog_1]

5. Both Hillary and Obama are supported by AIPAC

though Hillary has long had ties with them.

[xultar]

6. DING DING DING.

[niceypoo]

2. Im sure the repukes will be all over this if Obama gets the nod from dems

But who cares? The republicans will lose no matter what. I say, let the republicans collapse in a foaming at the mouth, bigoted, feeding frenzy, see if I care.

[xultar]

4. YOu believe that crap? A candidate who does not support Israel fully will not get elected.

By support Israel I also include candidates who criticize Israel...they will not get elected either.