Obama Beginning to Reap What He Has Sown

The Rapid Decline of a Presidency

It has been very interesting to watch the downward spiral of the Obama Presidency after his very public and celebrated Cairo speech to the Moslem world in June of this year.

As I have previously noted in this blog, in that speech Obama (and I will summarize) subtly but clearly shifted the blame for the Middle East crisis from the Palestinian and Arab nations to Israel. President Obama became one of the leading “accusers” of Israel despite his verbal affirmation of the US longstanding and positive position as the protector of Israel.

In addition, after a gentle “wrist slap” for persistent Arab Moslem  terrorist violence against the Jewish state, he then makes Israeli settlement expansion in Judea and Samaria his number one agenda item for  resolving the Middle East crisis. His State department has consequently taken an increasingly public and hostile stance towards Israel, making Israel out in the public eye to be the “enemy” of peace in the middle East.

Even the liberal Washington Post observed:

One of the more striking results of the Obama administration’s first 6 months is that only one country has worse relations with the United States than it did in January: Israel. The new administration has pushed the reset button with Russia and sent new ambassadors to Syria and Venezuela; it has offered olive branches to Cuba and Burma. But for nearly three months it has been locked in a public confrontation with Israel…if he is to be effective in brokering a peace deal, Mr. Obama must be tough on more than one country, or one party to the conflict.

So, over this past summer, what have been the consequences for Obama’s Cairo speech and negative shift in US relations with Israel?

Palestinian Response:

Palestinian leadership has become much more intransigent and less willing to negotiate with Israel. They simply echo Obama’s position and hide behind his measured negativity towards Israel. As Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat boldly asserts concerning PM Netanyahu’s compromise plan for limiting housing expansion in West Bank settlements, the only thing suspended by this announcement will be the peace process. This is absolutely unacceptable. The real Israeli official answer is being conducted on the ground by continuing the building of housing units and settlements.

Erekat describes Netanyahu’s compromise as “total defiance” to US calls for a settlement freeze.

Israeli Response:

A recent Smith Research Institute poll in Israel discovered the following:

• Only 4% of Israelis believe President Obama is pro-Israel or sympathetic to Israel…down from 31% in January.
• This is in stark contrast to the 88% of Israelis that believed George W. Bush was sympathetic towards Israel.
• 51% of Israelis believe that Obama is pro-Palestinian.
• Quoting a Tom Gross Media assessment, …even many left wing Israelis rallied behind the government of Benjamin Netanyahu in his confrontation with Obama after the State Department summoned the Israeli ambassador to Washington in July and told him two families of Jews could not live in a private home, long owned by Jews, in the heart of Jerusalem, and that the Jerusalem municipal authorities should not have evicted two Palestinian families who had been squatting in the property and had not paid the Jewish owner any rent since 1985.

Since turning against Israel what has happened to his Presidency?

President Obama has gone from one who had the magic touch in politics and had unprecedented favor not only in the US but around the world to one that is in steep decline. Here  is some of the evidence:

• His job approval rating has plummeted from 60% positive in April to 45% in August. A record for a new President.
• Just 37% of the all important independent voters still approve his job performance. 59% disapprove.
• 55% of voters now see the country as seriously off-track.
• His healthcare plan is in serious trouble.
• Many experts believe that if this downward trend continues it will signal a large turnaround at the ballot box in 2010 for the Democratic Party he represents.
• This could signal a powerful erosion of his authority and ability to govern as he is now.

I will conclude with this – Isaiah 49: 25-26

In this prophetic chapter concerning the End of Days and restoration of Israel, God sounds this warning to the enemies of Israel,

Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? For thus says the Lord: even the captives of the mighty will be taken and the prey of the tyrant be rescued. For I will contend with those who contend with you (Israel) and I will save your children…Then all flesh shall know that I am the Lord your Saviour and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Is.49:25-26)

Joel Chernoff

Important: Pre-Obama Cairo Speech Analysis

In the last few days before his much anticipated speech in Cairo, Egypt, President Obama has chosen to speak, not just through surrogates, but also directly as to the direction he is headed with the Middle East conflict and Israel.

Here are a few of the important statements he has made with my translation as to their meaning:

 

• Obama: Although the US needs to maintain its strong support for Israel, Washington also has to be “honest” with Israel regarding the direction in which the region is heading, even if this includes resorting to “tough love”.
• Translation: Previous Presidents have not been strong enough to make Israel do what it should and needs to do for the best interests of Israel and the US. He, President Obama, is tough enough and determined enough to make Israel do what other President’s did not have the will to do and force Israel to comply with his plan for the Middle East. 
• Obama: I don’t think (emphasis mine) we have to change strong support for Israel. We do have to retain a constant belief in the possibilities of negotiations that will lead to peace, and that’s going to require, from my view, a two-state solution.
• Translation: The 50 year position the US has taken of standing with Israel through “thick and thin” is no longer a sure thing. In order to maintain US support, Israel must now do what Obama  feels is the right way to handle things. It’s Obama’s way or the highway.
• Obama: Part of being a good friend is being “honest” and I think there have been times where we were not as we should be about the fact that the current direction, the current trajectory in the region is profoundly negative, not only for Israeli interests but also US interests. And that’s part of a new dialogue that I’d like to see encouraged in the region.
• Translation: There is a new sheriff in town and I am going to try a radically new approach of courting the Muslims and if necessary sacrificing our long term relationship with Israel if they do not act in the best interests for the US.
• Obama: The United States has to follow through on what it says. It is important for us to be clear about what we believe will lead to peace – and that there is no equivocation.
• Translation: I mean what I say and I say what I mean. I am not backing down so don’t challenge me on this or you will force me to play “hardball” with you.

So How is PM Netanyahu Taking All of This?

This is the first time I have heard an Israeli Prime Minister flat out contradict a US President in public. Usually statecraft dictates handling things indirectly and discreetly. President Obama has left Netanyahu no options. Netanyahu’s response has been…

• The demand to freeze all settlement growth even natural growth is “unreasonable”.
• He also said, “It is likely that we are not going to reach an agreement with the Americans regarding settlement construction.”

Conclusion

The possibility of a deep rift between Israel and this President’s administration is very high. 

How is the Palestinian Authority Responding?

PA President Abbas was not only surprised and happy with this unexpected turn of events but also made it very clear from news sources that there are a few items that Obama has proposed in his new Middle East plans which are completely unacceptable to the Palestinians. They are as follows:

• The right of return of millions of Palestinian refugees to Israel.
• The establishment of an independent state with all of East Jerusalem including the Old City as its capital.
• Lastly Abbas has said, “The only way to achieve real and lasting peace is by forcing Israel to withdraw from all the territories that were occupied in 1967.”

Is the Cairo Speech Important?

As you can see, his speech tomorrow could signal a complete change in US relations with Israel and the Muslim world. This President believes he can handle the religious fanaticism of radical Islam. In short I believe he feels he can solve the world’s problems if you just give him what he wants and enough time. 

Where is this headed prophetically?

There is no absolute certainty yet but I believe that unless Obama pulls back from the harsh measures he is planning (i.e. the tough love he has talked about) to make Israel compliant with his new Middle East plan he will force Israel into a final Arab/Israeli war. Unless Israel gives Obama what he wants, which I do not believe is going to happen–Israel will have no other choice than to attempt to resolve the conflict once and for all militarily.

Keep one eye on this speech tomorrow and one eye on Isaiah 11 which describes the Final Arab/Israeli war. I will blog on this more in the future.

Joel Chernoff

~The views contained in The Joel Chernoff Report are not necessarily views held by the MJAA~

The Fate of Israel’s Accusers

Javier Solana,  EU Foreign Policy Chief, speaking for the European Union (EU) made the following harsh and threatening statement concerning the formation of Israel’s new government under Benjamin Netanyahu. He said,

Javier Solana

” Let me say very clearly that the way the European Union will relate to an [Israeli] government that is not committed to a two-state solution will be very, very different.”

I cannot recall a time that I have heard a western government so blatantly threaten Israel. Disagree–yes–but not threaten. This is yet another sign of the growing darkness and political isolation surrounding Israel.

The way that Solana talks about the two-state solution you would think it came to us from Mount Sinai. This despite continued Arab terrorist attacks on Israel.

Solana, who has been no friend to Israel in the past, in my view, has no business lecturing Israel as to who should or should not be in their government. Where is the common sense, the fairness and rational thinking that the Western world prides itself as having?

Israel is the victim, not the bully

Children Protest Israel

Year after year Israel is the party seeking peace and willing to negotiate for that peace. The Arab nations have consistently been unwilling to make any concession of importance. They don’t recognize Israel as a legitimate State and openly or quietly seek its destruction. The Arab nations have not been deceptive in this. They have been consistently clear as to their desire to see Israel and the Jewish people disappear into the Mediterranean Sea.

What Javier Solana and others should be saying

Mr. Solana should be threatening Hamas, Hezbullah and the terrorist sponsoring states of the Middle East. He should be loudly warning Hamas and others that if the bombs don’t stop falling on Israel then the EU will use every resource at its disposal to penalize them for their conduct both economically and militarily.

In short, the EU should be firmly standing with Israel

Israeli President Shimon Peres(L) and Solana(R)

Instead we hear warnings, threats and implied or overt accusations of war crimes from the likes of Solana and others. Now that… ticks me off. They accuse Israel of war crimes when day after day Hamas lobs bombs indiscriminately into the civilian populace of Israel.

Talk about the height of hypocrisy…perhaps it really is anti-semitism raring its ugly head.

The future of Israel’s accusers

Having said this let me point out what God says is the fate of Israel’s accusers in the “last days” before Messiah returns. The prophet Isaiah 54:15, 17 says the following:

If anyone stirs up strife with you it is not from me, whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you…no weapon formed against you shall succeed…and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in accusation. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication is from me, declares the Lord.

The fate of Israel’s accusers in the last days is this… God will make it possible for Israel to refute, i.e. effectively discredit, any accusation or accuser that rises up against her. Remember, this isn’t because Israel is perfect, has the right answer or has done the right thing, but because God himself is advocating for Israel.

Why is God advocating for Israel?

Simply put…God has a purpose and plan for humanity and planet earth. The restoration of Israel is at the center of His stated and prophetic plan in the “last days”. Once Israel has been restored physically and spiritually He will return to Jerusalem to set up His kingdom. This is clear in prophetic Scripture.

God is protecting His agenda for mankind and therefore will not allow anyone or any country to upset that plan. He is God!

Make a list!

Lastly, for future reference, I want you all to note who the accusers of Israel are and follow their fate and how God vindicates Israel in the face of those accusers and accusations.  I, myself, am going to begin to draw up such a list of accusers and track how God has dealt and is dealing with them through Israel. Now that should and will be interesting. Let’s compare notes as time progresses.

More on this later…

Joel Chernoff

-The views contained in The Joel Chernoff Report are not necessarily views held by the MJAA-