Kadima: Netanyahu-led Israel would clash with Obama

[MicroBalrog]

Kadima: Netanyahu-led Israel would clash with Obama
By Mazal Mualem and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents

Kadima is capitalizing on Washington's new administration in its campaign for the premiership against Likud chairman MK Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that a Netanyahu government will lead to a clash between Israel and the United States.

Livni said privately on Saturday that "people forget what happened to this relationship when Bibi was prime minister, and they have to be reminded."

Livni said the visit Wednesday of Obama's new envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, was "an opportunity for Israel." The United States wants to be involved and bring about a solution to the conflict. The pressure it brings to bear will be directed at those who reject the process. Israel will have to chose whether it is on the side that promotes the process or rejects it; otherwise there will be an unavoidable rift with the United States," Livni said.

Kadima is considering using in its campaign spots excerpts from a book by Dennis Ross, special Middle East coordinator under former president Bill Clinton and expected to work with the administration as a special peace envoy. One excerpt from the book, "The Missing Peace," describes Netanyahu as insufferable and states that that after Ross and Clinton met with him, the U.S. president felt Netanyahu thought he was the power, and that the Americans were there to do his bidding.

Sources close to Netanyahu dismissed Kadima's "Obama campaign" and called it "very superficial" and indicated that Kadima was "desperate." The sources said that unlike Livni, Netanyahu had a deep understanding, developed over many years, of the American administration and its central figures.

Senior Likud figures said Livni's advisers were actually helping Netanyahu in their "Obama campaign." "Clearly the public has moved to the right after the war in Gaza, so it will also want a tough leader who will protect Israel's interests vis-a-vis the Americans," they said.

Sources close to Netanyahu say his views are much more suitable for the new administration than those of his rivals. If Netanyahu becomes prime minister, an associate said, "he will work to significantly improve the situation in the West Bank, both economically and in terms of security. In a short time under Netanyahu changes will be seen that were not seen all during the period that Livni was negotiating, so we will reach a real diplomatic solution." Meanwhile, sources close to Defense Minister and Labor Party chairman Ehud Barak are saying they are the ones who will work best with Obama.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1058474.html

[Clem]

Israel screwed up the invasion of Lebanon, now they have screwed up the invasion of Gaza. Gaza was, among other things, supposed to show how tough the government was in their bid for reelection next month. From here, it doesn't look like they succeeded.

So far, Israel has traded “Land for Peace.” They gave up the land, and didn’t get any peace. Perhaps they should take the land back and start over. If that means clashing with the US, then so be it.

[MicroBalrog]

Well, to be fair, they did cut down on the rocket launches. But no, I won't be voting for Kadima in ten days. :D

[Werewolf]

Israel screwed up the invasion of Lebanon, now they have screwed up the invasion of Gaza. Gaza was, among other things, supposed to show how tough the government was in their bid for reelection next month. From here, it doesn't look like they succeeded.

Elaborate please, because from where I sit it looks like they kicked some major butt and took a whole lot of names.

The killed a number of the Hamas leadership and a lot of the whackjob members. Shut down most of the tunnels being used to supply Hamas. And did a whole lot of other damage that the rational non-Hamas population ought to look at and ask themselves why are we supporting these whackjobs?

OH Wait! We're talking palestinians here. Not rational. So much for that argument.

Militarily the Israelis won. Politically I am not so sure but at this point in time I firmly believe the Israelis ought to just let the dogs out and snuff all of the palestinians. It is the only way the Palestinian/Israeli problem will ever be resolved. The hate runs too deep and besides it worked for the Romans - met any Carthaginians lately?

[MicroBalrog]

From where I sit the government failed. Hamas exists. They still launched a few rockets, even though they seem to be far less capable now. Shalit is still in Hamas hands.

[agricola]

From where I sit the government failed. Hamas exists. They still launched a few rockets, even though they seem to be far less capable now. Shalit is still in Hamas hands.

Indeed.  Olmert, Livni and Barak made very clear what the war aims were, and these aims have, as you said, not been met.  It does make one wonder what the point of it all was.

[MicroBalrog]

Indeed.  Olmert, Livni and Barak made very clear what the war aims were, and these aims have, as you said, not been met.  It does make one wonder what the point of it all was.

Well they did tone down the rocket crap. But the plan was not to tone it down, the plan was to END it.

Through their rule, Kadima have proven themselves to be a bunch of inept, corrupt, spineless morons who've not seen an economics textbook in their entire lives.

[agricola]

Well they did tone down the rocket crap. But the plan was not to tone it down, the plan was to END it.

Through their rule, Kadima have proven themselves to be a bunch of inept, corrupt, spineless morons who've not seen an economics textbook in their entire lives.

Well then, lets hope they get their arses kicked out come the elections (though our Labour Party are if anything worse, and are still in power).

[stevelyn]

I see it in a similar parallel as the Indian wars and westard expansion. Like the American Indians, the Palistinians couldn't hold on to the land as the Jewish settlers came in and set up homesteading.

Gaza is basically The Reservation for Palistinians that can't or won't assimilate into Israeli society. Every now and then a few renegades will go off the the Rez (or in this case launch stand-off weapons) to raid and prey on citizens of the now recognized and established country and the cavalry has to ride out, show the flag, whup some ass making an example of of the renegades and sending a message to others with similar ideas.

[MicroBalrog]

I've read Bibi's comments on the economic program he has, today. Oh God, that's awesome.

He makes Sarah Palin look like a left-winger.

He stated, outright, he wants to:

1. Cut the corporate tax to 18% [in Israel it is 25%]
2. Cut the upper income tax bracket to 35% from 45% [although there are some people, as I explained previously, who pay far more, the formal 'upper bracket' is 45%]
3. Implement a total tax cut of 20% per citizen on average [because unlike some people, Bibi DOES think everybody pays taxes.
4. Deregulate the real estate/construction industry.
5. Deregulate MOAR.

[AJ Dual]

I see it in a similar parallel as the Indian wars and westard expansion. Like the American Indians, the Palistinians couldn't hold on to the land as the Jewish settlers came in and set up homesteading.

Gaza is basically The Reservation for Palistinians that can't or won't assimilate into Israeli society. Every now and then a few renegades will go off the the Rez (or in this case launch stand-off weapons) to raid and prey on citizens of the now recognized and established country and the cavalry has to ride out, show the flag, whup some ass making an example of of the renegades and sending a message to others with similar ideas.

So by that analogy, I have a question about the ultimate role of the Palestinians in Israeli society...

Is it permissable for a Muslim to run a casino, and sell tax-free liqour, as long as they don't gamble or imbibe themselves?

 

[MechAg94]

5. Deregulate MOAR.

What is MOAR? 

[MicroBalrog]

What is MOAR? 

A corruption of MORE.

[Werewolf]

I've read Bibi's comments on the economic program he has, today. Oh God, that's awesome.

He makes Sarah Palin look like a left-winger.

He stated, outright, he wants to:

1. Cut the corporate tax to 18% [in Israel it is 25%]
2. Cut the upper income tax bracket to 35% from 45% [although there are some people, as I explained previously, who pay far more, the formal 'upper bracket' is 45%]
3. Implement a total tax cut of 20% per citizen on average [because unlike some people, Bibi DOES think everybody pays taxes.
4. Deregulate the real estate/construction industry.
5. Deregulate MOAR.

I don't see the problem. Implement those cuts, stand back and watch the Israeli economy flourish. Tax revenues to the .gov will actually increase (which amazes the Dems here every time there is a tax cut but revenues go up).

[MicroBalrog]

Oh neither do I - I'll be voting for him.

[stevelyn]

So by that analogy, I have a question about the ultimate role of the Palestinians in Israeli society...

Is it permissable for a Muslim to run a casino, and sell tax-free liqour, as long as they don't gamble or imbibe themselves?

 

Ya know, as time and people progress we may just see it.


Oh yeah.........Don't forget tax-free cigarettes over the internet too. 

[MicroBalrog]

This used to exist, actually. There was a GREAT Casino in the territories, IIRC.