It's NOT about bringing down Netanyahu's government, it's about changing the 'narrative'.

Submitted by Geoffrey Britain (United States), Mar 18, 2010 at 02:21

While we are in essential agreement and with all due respect, you appear to have placed 'the cart before the horse', Mr. Pipes.

This is about changing the 'narrative' which, it is hoped by the Obama administration, shall lead to bringing down, not just Netanyahu's government but compelling Israel to fully yield to Palestinian demands. Including a return to Israel's 1967 borders and granting the Palestinian demand for their 'right of return'. And, while Netanyahu would never agree to national suicide, an appeasement-minded government like Olmert's might.

As long as that 8 to 1 Margin remains, Palestinian aspirations for Israel's demise shall remain unfulfilled. The American VP Biden's visit inaugurated the strategy of an ongoing campaign to change the Israeli/Palestinian narrative from Palestinian intransigence to Israeli intransigence. From the public perception that the Palestinian's are obstructionist to the perception that Israel is obstructionist.

Secretary of State Clinton's demand that "Israel must now prove her committment to peace" is especially ominous, as every neutral observer knows that Israel would give almost anything to achieve peace and that, the only acceptable concession by Israel for the Palestinians is the elimination of Israel.

Obama has a special animus towards Israel and the Jews, in fact, they may be the only ethnicity he despises more than the Brits.

As long as "Americans Say U.S. Should Side with Israel in Conflict with the Palestinians" in overwhelming numbers, Obama can't cut off aid to Israel or vote to impose UN sanctions upon Israel. But in the article you cite, while there is an 8 to 1 ratio, only "57% of respondents believe the United States should take Israel's side in the conflict" Thus, Obama only needs for the 'narrative' to convince 8% of respondents to decide that the US should remain neutral for him to be able to claim that 'most' Americans do not support taking Israel's side in the conflict. Which will provide his administration the political cover to stop both financial and military aid to Israel and to stop supporting Israel in the UN.

First Obama must change the narrative and create the meme of Israeli intransigence and of Israel being the primary obstacle to the peace process. Then, he but needs sufficient excuse or 'cover' to initiate greatly increased pressure upon Israel to make concessions, that prove her 'repentence' from her formerly oppressive policies in occupying Palestinian territories and obstructing 'legitimate' Palestinian 'aspirations'.

Make no mistake, one of Obama's fondest dreams is to hand Islam perhaps its greatest desire, a Middle East without Israel in the Levant.

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".