Fear is the wrong word. Pressure would be more accurate. I do also understand that politicians’ views on Israel are meant to reflect the American people’s views, but I also think there’s more to it than that. Again, another bag of cats (cats, really?)

But if you look at Obama’s history, you’ll notice that post-2004, his speech changed. He began placing the onus of peace on Palestine, which is naive to say the very least.

That said, I still have some faith in him.

-Jill

I also disagree with you on the point that the relative silence of American politicians on this issue is due to fear, but that’s a whole ‘nother bag of cats to be discussed another day.

Very loosely. As I said, I am “somehow” reminded; that is to say, it literally came to mind while I was writing this post. My thought process was along the lines of how, prior to his election to the Senate, our President was an advocate for Arab-Americans and Palestinians, and yet somehow along the way he too has succumbed to the lobbies. American politicians are afraid to speak up; what will it take?

That said, I can see how it doesn’t directly relate to the poem; again, it was just my train of thought going haywire ;)

-Jill

I am unclear on why Martin Niemöller’s poem that you quoted in this post reminds you of the present situation, but I’d be interested to hear how you feel it relates.

Sol

I would like to read your posts that examine how you feel about the existence and the impact of Fatah, Hamas, Egypt, Iran or any other entity besides Israel and the US on the Palestinians – all the Palestinians

I would like to see you scrutinize those entities – challenges and all – as completely as you do Israel, Obama and the US.

It cannot be enough to say Israel has been an occupier for 60 years.

And then…what? What?

You once tweeted with me that you were a realist who realizes that Israel is not going to evaporate. You state in a post like this one what you want/wanted from the US and what you want from Israel.

What do you want from everyone else? Is no one else of import, at all? If the answer to that is yes, how can that possibly be? How can there not be expectations of anyone else?

This is a hard comment to write – I want to engage. But I would really like to hear more from you on these points. I just feel that I’ve read nothing about how you feel on any of these issues. I could not find an easy way to search your blog on specific terms but I did look through your posts and didn’t see any that were on point about these questions I’m raising.

Maybe it’s time we start some kind of collaboration blog that goes back and forth on this – I wanted to create a Wiki for Peace but have not gotten to it – there’s no question that you are more savvy tech-wise.

And I know, from our tweets and exchanges and your blog posts I browsed, that there are many, many more areas in which we agree than we disagree.

I just would like to hear your thoughts on these thoughts. :)