White House Speaks Truth, Issues Immediate Retraction

[Lemur]

This one tickled my funnybone today. Apparently Rahm Emanuel said the straight-up truth about the never-ending circle of stupidity and bad-faith jerkitude which we call the Israeli/Palestinian situation. A retraction was hastily issued. Saying true things is apparently quite dangerous, and causes bad feelings.

Emanuel met with Jacob Dayan, consul general of Israel in Los Angeles, about two weeks ago, after which Dayan briefed the Foreign Ministry. According to reports, Emanuel told Dayan the U.S. is sick of the Israelis, who adopt suitable ideas months too late, when they are no longer effective.

The U.S. is also sick of the Palestinians who never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, Emanuel reportedly said.

Emanuel added that if there is no progress in the peace process, the Obama administration will reduce its involvement in the conflict, because, as he reportedly said, the U.S. has other matters to deal with. [...] Emanuel reportedly also said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly acknowledged the two-state solution too late, and that the freeze on settlement construction in the West Bank came only after months of U.S. pressure.

I just don't see a single blessed thing to disagree with in that assessment. But of course, denials and "clarifications" were immediately issued:

The White House reports that Dayan later claimed that Emanuel's views were distorted. Dayan stressed that during his visit to Los Angeles, Emanuel reiterated his unflagging commitment to Israel's security and his devotion to the search for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

Why has "unflagging commitment to Israel's security" become a non-negotiable plank in American politics? It's not as though Israel has been a wonderful ally. And the depths of Palestinian stupidity, short-sightedness and cruelty are so damp and muddy that I hardly feel like diving in.

A pox on both their houses. But I guess American politicos aren't supposed to say that. Ever.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The U.S. is also sick of the Palestinians who never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity, Emanuel reportedly said.

Genius. The clarification is pretty funny too. Oh, politics.

[Major Robert Dump]

I disagree that it was the truth. The Israeli-Palestine peace process has done nothing but move forward for as long as I can remember. In fact, I am 35 years old and it has moved forward each and every year, with each side showing nothing but utter willingness to compromise for the better good of the region. If you look up the definition of "teamwork" in the dictionary, you will find a picture of Israeli settlers holding hands with a smiling Yassir Arafat, who has his hand on the butt of a little boy.

At this rate, I expect a lasting, stable peace to be reached between the two sides by Summer of 2078.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Why has "unflagging commitment to Israel's security" become a non-negotiable plank in American politics? It's not as though Israel has been a wonderful ally.

International politics. Israel represents the best hope we have in the region. For all their faults, they are probably the most democratic and inclusive society in the entire region.

[HoreTore]

International politics. Israel represents the best hope we have in the region. For all their faults, they are probably the most democratic and inclusive society in the entire region.

Being the tallest midget around doesn't mean you're a basketball player.

[Furunculus]

indeed not, but i agree with the sentiment expressed by EMFM.

[Samurai Waki]

Rahm Emanuel, a reasonable man in politics? huh?

Seriously though, Israel and Palestine need to make way for the Republic of Wakizashi. I'll be moving in on Haifa, and demolishing Condos and building new Condos.

[rory_20_uk]

International politics. Israel represents the best hope we have in the region. For all their faults, they are probably the most democratic and inclusive society in the entire region.

I thought that Jordan is relatively open, and isn't overseeing a Concentration camp at the same time. Iraq is probably more democratic and inclusive at the moment.

[Ronin]

Why has "unflagging commitment to Israel's security" become a non-negotiable plank in American politics? It's not as though Israel has been a wonderful ally.

Reason 1 - They are indeed just the "tallest midget in the region" like it was stated above...so they are still the best you've got.
Reason 2 - covering their electoral ass....no party in the US, democrat or republican, is gonna risk pissing off the Jewish voters by changing the supportive stance towards israel.
Reason 3 - covering their electoral ass mark 2 - the extreme christian fundies think the world needs israel to exist or it's "no dice" come Armageddon.....so there's another voting block you don´t want to piss off...this is more a concern of the Republican party though.

[KukriKhan]

There are recent rumours that Rahm Emanuel will soon leave the White House for a run as Mayor of Chicago.

-edit-

At this rate, I expect a lasting, stable peace to be reached between the two sides by Summer of 2078.

LOL. QFT.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I thought that Jordan is relatively open, and isn't overseeing a Concentration camp at the same time. Iraq is probably more democratic and inclusive at the moment.

Gaza is more getto then concentration camp. In a camp, you administer things for your prisoners, in a ghetto, you dump them in an enclave and say "good luck" whilst reserving the right to thump them if they do something annoying.

[Hax]

To expand on what rory and Horetore said, I think Iran eight years ago has been more tolerant towards Jewish people than Israel has been in sixty years towards Palestinian people.

[rory_20_uk]

Gaza is more getto then concentration camp. In a camp, you administer things for your prisoners, in a ghetto, you dump them in an enclave and say "good luck" whilst reserving the right to thump them if they do something annoying.

I thought that Ghetto is a conglomeration of homogeneous individuals. Ghettos have of course been linked to squalor since WW2, but gated communities are equally ghettoes

[Kralizec]

To expand on what rory and Horetore said, I think Iran eight years ago has been more tolerant towards Jewish people than Israel has been in sixty years towards Palestinian people.

Possibly true...Iran administers an intermediate degree of persecution on every citizen, and non-Shiites are only slightly worse off

[Hax]

I mentioned eight years ago didn't I?

[HoreTore]

I thought that Ghetto is a conglomeration of homogeneous individuals. Ghettos have of course been linked to squalor since WW2, but gated communities are equally ghettoes

I would think that he was referring to that polish ghetto in WW2, in that city who's name escapes me at the moment....

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I thought that Jordan is relatively open, and isn't overseeing a Concentration camp at the same time. Iraq is probably more democratic and inclusive at the moment.

The second you made the absurd and deliberately provocative comment of calling it a concentration camp, I realized that there is no point in debating the issue with you.

[rory_20_uk]

"Absurd?" A population concentrated in an area and unable to leave.

Pretty much the definition of a "concentration camp".

Provocative? What would you rather it was called? A "kindness resort"?

[Subotan]

The second you made the absurd and deliberately provocative comment of calling it a concentration camp, I realized that there is no point in debating the issue with you.

Israel's continued occupation of the Palestinian territories (Particularly the West Bank) is derived from a totally misguided viewpoint that Jews has a divine right to inhabit that land. That land is reserved for settlement by Israeli people, and the original owners of that land are coerced off in many cases by force, and almost exclusively without compensation. Israel as a matter of government policy offers many incentives for Israelis to settle there, and ultra-nationalist organisations are often at the front of settling the West Bank.

If you replace "Jews/Israelis" with "Germans", and "West Bank/Palestine" with "General Government", you find something which is very similar to the concept of Lebensraum. However, since I have now used that term, all discussion and debate with me is now invalid, despite the fact that it is obvious that Israel does not pursue a policy of mass extermination of Palestinians, nor does it wish to wage war on it's neighbours (...Most of the time) , and that it is clearly a democracy.
However, elements of Nazism and Zionism are similar due to the fact that both are ultra-nationalist, irredentist, government-sponsored ideologies.

Btw concentration camp != death camp.

[Centurion1]

Being the tallest midget around doesn't mean you're a basketball player.

it does mean if you play a game with midgets your better.

[Vladimir]

it does mean if you play a game with midgets your better.

Truth.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I would think that he was referring to that polish ghetto in WW2, in that city who's name escapes me at the moment....

You are correct, I was attempting to reference the style of WW2 Jewish ghetto such as the Nazis expanded/set up in Warsaw (though there were other similar ghettos in many cities).

Rory is correct that ANY homogenous semi-separate enclave can be labeled a ghetto, however. Part of the charm of the English Language. My allusion WAS meant to evoke the Nazi-codified ghettos of WW2.

[rory_20_uk]

Rory is correct that ANY homogeneous semi-separate enclave can be labelled a ghetto, however.

... but still something of a pillock to feel the need to make the point...

[Devastatin Dave]

At this rate, I expect a lasting, stable peace to be reached between the two sides by Summer of 20780.

You forgot a number...

[naut]

A pox on both their houses.

I couldn't agree more. While they both perpetuate the violence and anger they deserve everything they get.