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Barack Obama's Israel and West Bank visit: Israeli press reaction Barack Obama's Israel and West Bank visit: Israeli press reaction
(about 2 hours later)
Nahum Barnea, Yedioth AhronothNahum Barnea, Yedioth Ahronoth
We've had speeches in abundance. Nonetheless, Obama's speech was unique and special. It consisted of a skillfully constructed combination of a broad historic spectrum, a moral worldview, experiences from the field, information, emotion, warmth, focused criticism. His praises were those of a lover, the wounds were the wounds of a lover. Up until this visit, Israelis attributed anti-Israel worldviews to Obama. These accusations were groundless. Nonetheless, they had gained a foothold in some parts of public opinion.We've had speeches in abundance. Nonetheless, Obama's speech was unique and special. It consisted of a skillfully constructed combination of a broad historic spectrum, a moral worldview, experiences from the field, information, emotion, warmth, focused criticism. His praises were those of a lover, the wounds were the wounds of a lover. Up until this visit, Israelis attributed anti-Israel worldviews to Obama. These accusations were groundless. Nonetheless, they had gained a foothold in some parts of public opinion.
That story is over. Obama is no longer a hater of Israel. In the eyes of the Israelis who found it hard to agree with some of what he said, he is now a friend, albeit a naive one …That story is over. Obama is no longer a hater of Israel. In the eyes of the Israelis who found it hard to agree with some of what he said, he is now a friend, albeit a naive one …
Sermonising is important, mainly when it is justified, but when it comes from the mouth of the United States president, it cannot remain only within the realm of sermonizing. We can surmise that Obama's speech did not begin a new chapter in American policy on the conflict, but precisely the opposite. It closed a chapter. Obama returns to the US today and to its problems. Domestic and external. He leaves us with a wonderful speech, and with the same impasse that existed before his arrival. Sermonising is important, mainly when it is justified, but when it comes from the mouth of the United States president, it cannot remain only within the realm of sermonising. We can surmise that Obama's speech did not begin a new chapter in American policy on the conflict, but precisely the opposite. It closed a chapter. Obama returns to the US today and to its problems. Domestic and external. He leaves us with a wonderful speech, and with the same impasse that existed before his arrival.
Chemi Shalev, HaaretzChemi Shalev, Haaretz
Obama posed the kinds of questions that are hardly asked aloud anymore in the Israeli mainstream, swamped as it is in a steady stream of jingoistic, right-wing rhetoric, associated as it has become with people who are portrayed as loony liberals and self-hating leftists. He confronted the conventional wisdom that time is on our side and the status quo is working in our favour. He asked, blasphemy indeed, that Israelis try and look at the world through Palestinian eyes. He conducted, how ironic, the kind of values-based peace campaign which so-called centre-left parties were so afraid of in the recent election campaign, because they thought it was toxic. Obama posed the kinds of questions that are hardly asked aloud any more in the Israeli mainstream, swamped as it is in a steady stream of jingoistic, rightwing rhetoric, associated as it has become with people who are portrayed as loony liberals and self-hating leftists. He confronted the conventional wisdom that time is on our side and the status quo is working in our favour. He asked, blasphemy indeed, that Israelis try and look at the world through Palestinian eyes. He conducted, how ironic, the kind of values-based peace campaign which so-called centre-left parties were so afraid of in the recent election campaign, because they thought it was toxic.
David Horovitz, Times of IsraelDavid Horovitz, Times of Israel
He, deftly and subtly, unveiled a vision for Israel that all Israelis would love to realise – an Israel at peace, in a region at peace, thriving financially, admired morally, no longer at physical risk. But the route he set out to that glorious future – don't be daunted by the risks or deterred by the extremists, work assiduously to build trust with the Palestinians and those many in the region who he said seek the very same future as young Israelis do – that's where his utopian vision became anything but consensual.He, deftly and subtly, unveiled a vision for Israel that all Israelis would love to realise – an Israel at peace, in a region at peace, thriving financially, admired morally, no longer at physical risk. But the route he set out to that glorious future – don't be daunted by the risks or deterred by the extremists, work assiduously to build trust with the Palestinians and those many in the region who he said seek the very same future as young Israelis do – that's where his utopian vision became anything but consensual.
Indeed it resonated as an unmistakable challenge to the skepticism of the Israeli political leadership under "my friend Bibi." For this was the address of a passionate, pro-Israel advocate, a true friend, a Zionist. A left-wing Zionist, employing his charisma, his authority and his oratory to try to shift Israelis into his camp. Indeed it resonated as an unmistakable challenge to the scepticism of the Israeli political leadership under "my friend Bibi". For this was the address of a passionate, pro-Israel advocate, a true friend, a Zionist. A leftwing Zionist, employing his charisma, his authority and his oratory to try to shift Israelis into his camp.
Noam Sheizaf, +972Noam Sheizaf, +972
Without meaningful political actions, this was an empty effort. Everybody in Israel can be happy with the president's speech: the Left heard all those niceties regarding peace, while the Right proved that the occupation has no cost, that the rift with the US doesn't exist and that denying the Palestinians their freedom is sustainable policy. At the end of the day, Netanyahu's confrontational attitude has humbled the US president and changed both his tactics and his goals on the Israeli/Palestinian issue. The prime minister paid a price for his politics, no doubt seeing the president talking to Israelis over his head was surely unpleasant, and could further diminish his popularity but Netanyahu was nevertheless able to maintain the status quo on the Palestinian issue, which is both something he believes in, and the key to his political survival. Without meaningful political actions, this was an empty effort. Everybody in Israel can be happy with the president's speech: the left heard all those niceties regarding peace, while the right proved that the occupation has no cost, that the rift with the US doesn't exist and that denying the Palestinians their freedom is sustainable policy. At the end of the day, Netanyahu's confrontational attitude has humbled the US president and changed both his tactics and his goals on the Israeli/Palestinian issue. The prime minister paid a price for his politics – no doubt seeing the president talking to Israelis over his head was surely unpleasant and could further diminish his popularity – but Netanyahu was nevertheless able to maintain the status quo on the Palestinian issue, which is both something he believes in, and the key to his political survival.
Shalom Yerushalmi, Ma'arivShalom Yerushalmi, Ma'ariv
It was a seminal speech, even an historic one. It had vision, it had enthusiasm and feeling for the most part, there was a surprising and fresh plan of action, and it also had messages that made sense, mixed in with commitments to Israel at an eternal level … It was a seminal speech, even a historic one. It had vision, it had enthusiasm and feeling for the most part, there was a surprising and fresh plan of action, and it also had messages that made sense, mixed in with commitments to Israel at an eternal level …
Obama offered the two sides a place to start: the Palestinians will recognize Israel as a Jewish state, because that's Netanyahu's condition; Israel will cease to build in the settlements, as the Palestinians demand. The leaders, of course, won't accept the plan, and so the youth are required to pour into the streets by the hundreds of thousands to force the leaders. "The peace starts in your hearts," Obama shot an arrow straight to the centre of the body. Obama offered the two sides a place to start: the Palestinians will recognise Israel as a Jewish state, because that's Netanyahu's condition; Israel will cease to build in the settlements, as the Palestinians demand. The leaders, of course, won't accept the plan, and so the youth are required to pour into the streets by the hundreds of thousands to force the leaders. "The peace starts in your hearts," Obama shot an arrow straight to the centre of the body.