Obama To Visit Israel - Includes Iron Dome, Yad Vashem, Dead Sea Scrolls, Iran Talks


Will understanding replace arrogance?

By Joel Leyden
Israel News Agency

Jerusalem, Israel --- March 11, 2013 … Part of the following was communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser to the Israel News Agency.

The Israel Prime Minister's Office, held a preparatory meeting yesterday ahead of US President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to Israel. In addition to personnel from the Prime Minister's Office, representatives from the President's Residence, the Israel Foreign Ministry, the Israel Defense Ministry, the Israel Police, the Jerusalem Municipality, Ben-Gurion International Airport and other agencies also attended the meeting.

Relations between Israel and the US have never been better. The Prime Minister's Office and Israel Ministry of Defense appears to be on the same page and paragraph as the US Department of Defense and the US Congress. But personal relations between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama could not be worse. After visiting the US and being escorted into the White House via the servants quarters, after Obama left Netanyahu in a White House meeting to have dinner with his wife, after telling the former President of France: “You are sick of him, but I have to work with him every day,” one has very little doubt as to the contempt that Obama has for Netanyahu. But does this contempt transcend bad chemistry between Bibi and Barry?

That the ADL had to put out the following statement: "We are deeply disappointed and saddened by this decidedly un-Presidential exchange between Presidents Sarkozy and Obama. President Obama’s response to Mr. Sarkozy implies that he agrees with the French leader. In light of the revelations here, we hope that the Obama Administration will do everything it can to reassure Israel that the relationship remains on a sure footing and to reinvigorate the trust between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, which clearly is not what it should be. What is sad is that we now have to worry to what extent these private views inform foreign policy decisions of the United States and France - two singularly important players in the peace process."

The White House has made it very clear that they would want Israel to withdraw to pre-1967 borders, borders that would allow Islamic terrorists to launch rockets and missiles from the West Bank into the center of Tel Aviv. The White House has made it very clear that they want Israel to stop building homes in their own Capital - Jerusalem. That Jerusalem should be divided. That Iran's nuclear weapons program can be addressed by "talks", even though those talks are being used by Iran to complete it building a nuclear weapon.

One has to wonder if Obama assesses issues in the region rationally, let alone with much empathy for the Jewish state. For if Obama can come to believe that settlements are blocking the peace process or that Netanyahu rather than Abbas is the liar, many fear what other non-facts he can talk himself into.

Obama wants Israel to make peace with the Palestinians. But how can Israel make peace with Hamas and Islamic Jihad who do not want to sit down and talk, who have declared that they will never recognize a Jewish state?

We can only pray that Obama has become a bit more realistic. That he finally recognizes that Islamic Jihad - a holy war against all Jews and Christians - is the problem in the Middle East - not Israel building more housing and schools in the land which has been Israel for thousands of years.

Obama is now scheduled for a warm and formal welcoming ceremony at Ben-Gurion Airport. He is then to be taken to an Iron Dome anti-missile station and then for a welcoming ceremony and meeting with President Shimon Peres. Obama will have an escort of over 10,000 Israel police throughout his visit to Israel.

The end of Obama's first day will conclude with a meeting, press conference and dinner with the Prime Minister Netanyahu.

On March 21, Obama will visit the Shrine of the Book (home of the Dead Sea Scrolls) at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, followed by a visit to an exhibition of innovative technology at the Israel Museum and a trek to the birthplace of Jesus Christ in Nazareth and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Will President Obama remember that this holy church was attacked and the priests inside were taken hostage by Islamic terrorists just a few years ago?

Obama then heads to Rahmallah to meet with the Palestinian Authority.

On Friday, March 22, 2013 Obama will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Herzl's grave followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Yitzhak Rabin's grave.

A tour of the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum is next and then Obama heads for a departure ceremony at Ben-Gurion International Airport.

One wonders why Yad Yashem is last and not first on this visit?

To promote Obama's visit to Israel (sad when a US President has to promote a trip to the closet ally the US has in the Middle East) will be the launching of a smartphone social media app.

The Israel Prime Minister's Office says that the app will feature real-time updates, video, photographs and behind-the-scenes glimpses on new media channels including YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The app is available in Hebrew and English and will soon be available in Arabic as well.

In addition, President Barack Obama’s upcoming visit is now taking on the feel of a sporting event with Israel’s selection of an “official” logo, looking more like a game show as the US Embassy initiated a contest to attend Obama’s keynote speech in Jerusalem.

“Want to attend President Obama’s speech?” the US Embassy wrote in Hebrew, English and Arabic on its Facebook page, as if Obama’s speech was a live taping of the David Letterman show. Is Obama coming to Israel to coordinate security assets for a possible attack on Iran and Syria or is this a popularity event for the Democratic Party, even perhaps leverage to help decide which parties will be joining the new Israeli government.

I truly pray that both Obama and Netanyahu can forgive and forget. That Obama learns something about Middle East history and is able to spell the words Islamic Jihad. That in meeting with the people of the only democratic state in the Middle East, Obama will learn that Netanyahu has vast support for both a real peace and true security. That Israel's security comes before any more delayed "talks" of peace by Iran. That missiles will not be allowed to fall on the children of Sderot, Ashdod, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Kiryat Shomena.

Israel National Security Adviser Yaakov Amidror said: "It is very important that this visit be marked by three points: One, that it goes smoothly from start to finish. It is important for us that Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama have fruitful and productive talks – this is the basis for the continuation of work over the next four years. It is important to us that the President and all those who watch the visit see the beautiful Land of Israel as much as possible given the short schedule. Cooperation between all elements – among all the Israelis, and between us and the Americans – is also vital for the success of the visit."


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Joel Leyden, journalist, media consultant, social media and SEO pioneer
working with both the Israel Defense Forces and the US Army in Haiti.



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