Obama's Speech: Back to Bush's Outline?

Your honor Mr. President, shalom,

Many of us are disturbed that it looks like you’ve adopted the Arabic narrative ignoring the fact that the Jewish state is the side that has suffered from violence from its neighbors in confrontations preceding the ‘67 war, and that most Israelis as of today — including our prime minister — do not have the slightest desire to rule over Arabs. It may be that we do not agree to the scope of the territory U.N. resolution 242 allows us to hold. However, the discussion concerns minor portions of the issue. Two Israeli prime ministers even proposed to Palestinians more than 90 percent of these territories — and just enjoyed rejection.

We’ve confronted Islamic and xenophobic Iran for years, which stands on the edge of achieving nuclear capacity. A state that declares time and time again its intention to wipe us off of the world map. At the moment, the entire Arab world is deep in a painful process of revolutionary riots. Nevertheless, it’s possible that the new regimes will reveal themselves as even more obliged to radical Islam than the corrupt autocracies preceding them. At the end of this process, we might find ourselves again surrounded by the countries committed to our destruction. In this context, respected Mr. President, Israelis ask: What exactly are you expecting of Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government?

After all, it’s the unilateral withdrawal from Gaza that has rewarded us with intensified rocket fire. And since you’ve been elected to the presidency, Israel has been the one to make all the concessions. In the past year, Netanyahu took an unprecedented step when he compelled a 10 month freeze on construction in the settlements, even in the districts which will, to no doubt, remain a part of Israel. Likewise, he committed his government to bolstering the solution of two countries — and thus, has performed a tremendous policy change in his party.

On the other hand, besides issuing tortuous peace-supporting declarations — which are being concealed even from their voters — the Palestinian leaders refused to compromise on a single issue and did not even agree to negotiate with us!

Many of us believe that the primary goal of [Mahmoud] Abbas, similar to his buddies in Hamas, is the dismantling of Jewish sovereignty and not an establishment of an independent state. You know that Hamas is a murderous organization committed to the extermination of all Jews. Yet the person, who you’re insisting is a moderate partner to peace, chose to unite with these psychotic Islamists. And finally, esteemed Mr. President, a word regarding our right to protect ourselves. If Cuban or Mexican authorities approved targeted rocket fire on American civilians — would you call for restraint? I’m begging you to restore the principles outlined by the Bush administration — the principles you neglected. I’m referring to the implicit rebuff of the Palestinians refugees’ right of return, recognition of demographic changes with respect to the major settlement blocks and dismissing the request to retreat to the 1949 armistice lines. Your honor Mr. President, before your approaching speech, [please] re-examine your current policy!

Editor’s note: (SEE HERE) to read Part 1, “Obama’s Speech: To Outline a True Vision,” by Yossi Beilin.