Some Israelis Insulted By Obama Picture

By: Howard Arenstein
Topics: World Watch

(White House Photo/Pete Sousa)

Israeli TV newscasters Tuesday night interpreted a photo taken Monday in the Oval Office of President Obama talking on the phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an "insult" to Israel.

They saw the incident as somewhat akin to an incident last year, when the Iraqi reporter threw a shoe at President Bush in Baghdad.

It is considered an insult in the Arab world to show the sole of your shoe to someone. It is not a Jewish custom necessarily, but Israel feels enough a part of the Middle East after 60 years to be insulted too.

Was there a subliminal message intended from the White House to Netanyahu in Jerusalem, who is publicly resisting attempts by Mr. Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to force Israel to stop any kind of settlement activity in occupied territories once and forever?

Whether or not it is true, it shows the mood in Israel. They feel cornered. The reactions out of Israel reflect that feeling.

Netanyahu is making a speech Sunday, in part as a response to Mr. Obama's address to the Arab world last week in Cairo.

Israel's Channel One TV reported that Netanyahu was told Tuesday by an "American official" in Jerusalem that, "We are going to change the world. Please, don't interfere." The report said Netanyahu's aides interpreted this as a "threat."

Netanyahu met with George Mitchell today for four hours in Jerusalem. The State Department announced this afternoon that Mitchell will be stopping in Beirut and Damascus when he finishes his visits to Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

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by fred1981 March 24, 2010 1:14 PM EDT: Obama should push Israel to consider peace.
PEACE is in the long term interest of Israel, Yet Israel being so mighty is blinded to that truth.
Israel should give the god damned native Palestinians a break.; Reply to this comment


by youcancallmeroy March 22, 2010 11:38 AM EDT: In the last two weeks, I have forgotten about all of these dozens of unimaginable horror stories about this Administration and instead have been laughing constantly about one fantastic story. I am still alive to see Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu rub President Obama's, VP Joe Biden's, and SoS Hilary Clinton's noses in the biggest pile of dong created by a free Republic. Little tiny Israel stands up to defend itself and all hell breaks loose. In these long and bloody 63 years, the Palestinians have not once accepted an Israeli offer of permanent peace, or ever countered with anything short of terms that would destroy Israel. I will be laughing for years and thanking God (who is in control) for Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. I love this guy and I am not even Jewish.; Reply to this comment


by kenni109 September 5, 2009 5:59 PM EDT: I personally do believe that Obama is a muslim, and is doing every thing he can to placate them. He will not even allow the term Islamic terrorist to be used by anyone connected to Homeland Security, anymore. You cannot play with snakes and not get bit.; Reply to this comment


by kenni109 September 5, 2009 5:55 PM EDT: Don't kid yourself, that Obama did not know what he was doing, he meant it as an insult to all Jews. He is mean & calculating. No photo taken in the white house of the president, gets published without the approval of the press secretary. As for the joker who said Israel owes her existence, so to speak to the US, here is a thought for you;

Isaiah 49-7
Here is what ADONAI (GOD) the Redeemer of Isra'el, his Holy One, says to the despised, whom the nations detest,(Isra'el) to the servant of tyrants:
"When kings see you they will stand up; princes too will prostrate themselves, because of ADONAI, who is faithful, the Holy One of Isra'el, who has chosen you.
Whether you like Israel or not, according to the Bible it will be to your and my advantage to bless & help Israel in every way we can.
God says "I will bless those who bless Isra'el, and curse those who curse Isra'el. Period.; Reply to this comment

by yesiam333 June 16, 2009 12:38 PM EDT

Well.....it's always something.
America is damned if they do and damned if they don't.
NOW I wish he had mooned them instead.

For decades Israel has been like a small child, throwing stones and poking sticks at the Arab world, while all the time they hide safely behind America's skirt. They should not be "nitpicking" our president.
And about the following paragraph:

......"Israel's Channel One TV reported that Netanyahu was told Tuesday by an "American official" in Jerusalem that, "We are going to change the world. Please, don't interfere." The report said Netanyahu's aides interpreted this as a "threat.".......

Well, Israel should just shut up and get outta the way. I'm tired hearing about Israel's demanding this, and demanding that. Jews seem to think that unless a person is Jewish, they don't deserve any respect. Ask their Middle East neighbors, who live next to them, how well Jews treat non-Jews. And if Israel views the quote as a threat, well, they probably deserve to.

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by udontnoitall July 1, 2009 7:10 PM EDT: What about all the arabs, including but certainly not limited to Ahmadeanajahd, that come right out and say that Israel does not even have the right to exist??? How can everyone be so blind as to where the real hatred is?? It's the whold world, but more specifically the muslims/arabs that hate the jews. Can you please read your history. Regardless of whether or not you are a Christain, you have to at least accept the bible for it's historical records...athiest, at least the intelligent ones that actually study the bible so they will know exactly what they are objecting to do this. The entire Arab world has always hated Isreal and adamantly objects their very right to exist. This dates back thousands of years..Ishmael is the ancestor of the arabs, Isaac is the ancestor of the jews. The Torah explains that God promised the land in question to Abraham's descendants through Isaac not through Ishmael. The Arabs can't accept that, so they will always hate Israel. People who cannot see this, ask yourselves one question...why does the whole world's political pulse still center around a small dusty country the size of some US cities? There's something there, folks, wake up.


by spydyee June 13, 2009 11:25 PM EDT: good grief people Thisw man props his feet up on anything you put in front of him. he rides in the presidential limo with his feet propped up on the seat. There is a video out on the internet showing a news reporter that rode with him in the limo and he had his feet propped up on the seat in front of him. There have been pictures of him on Air Force One with his feet propped up. Barack Obama has two annoying habits, smoking and propping his feet on anything they will reach. I hope Michelle makes him clean his own ashtrays and wipe his feet before entering the house so that when he does prop them on something they are at least reasonably clean.; Reply to this comment


by Part-of-the-solution June 13, 2009 9:36 AM EDT: I wish Obama would put his shoe up Netanyahu AS*.
Posted by golfered2 at 1:57 PM : Jun 11, 2009

Amen, Mr. Golfered2. You speak for many of us.; Reply to this comment


by milkbottle1 June 12, 2009 9:39 AM EDT: Taliban FM Radio: "The Khans, the Maliks, and Other Tribal Chieftains Who Do Not Take Part in Jihad are Infidels - Chopping Off Their Heads is Sunnah [Prophet's Conduct]"

"A declaration of jihad on [Taliban] FM radio says, 'The Khans, the Maliks and other tribal chieftains who do not take part in jihad are infidels, and chopping off their heads is Sunnah [Prophet's conduct].' It was also announced that those who have weapons, blankets or any other extra things at their homes should give them to the Baitul Maal [Islamic Treasury], and that if such things were later found with anyone, they would be punished according to Shari'a. It was also announced that the heads of those talking against the Taliban would be chopped off."; Reply to this comment


by milkbottle1 June 12, 2009 9:15 AM EDT: He didn't care if the Israelis understood the insult - he did it for the arab world - because he knew they did. And the feet on the desk was a slap at americans as well.
He was never vetted - show us the live birth certificate instead of wasting millions of dollars to hide it and the truth.
Mr. Transparency my butt.; Reply to this comment


by truthspeak1 June 11, 2009 11:04 PM EDT: The Real American wrote:

Thanks for the update.
I must remind you that every registration must be verified before that registrant can vote, and the states handle that are you aware of any state making the claim that even one of the alledged faulty registrants were allowed to vote.
I eagerly await the trials.
Posted by truthspeak1
============================================
Your man has all these relationships with all kinds of groups and people that have done horrible and illigal things. Here this may shine more light on it.
By Matthew Vadum on 6.4.09 @ 7:12PM

Darnell Nash, a voter in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, has been indicted by a grand jury for, among other things, illegal voting.

Nash was registered to vote by ACORN.

*****************************************************************
Ok you found one ,that means the system works there was no wholesale voter fraud. When this comes to trial we will find out what transpired I will start following this as well as other acorntrails so far I don't see where any frauulent vote was counted. This vote was flagged as fraudulent,the system works.; Reply to this comment

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