whoopsy
08-21-2004, 11:35 AM
this is always an impossible topic of discussion because it generates some emotion, but we have truly become Israel's lapdog these days. One of the primary steps the US led "road-map" called war was a freeze on Israeli settlements. This news today (requires NY times subscription, some quotes at bottom of post):
US to Support Growth for Some West Bank Settlements (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/21/politics/21diplo.html)
this is a step a large number of Israeli's don't even support. much like the security wall, the typical interaction goes something like:
sharon - we will be building wall/thickening settlements
us reaction - we formally say that this step would do damage to the us road map, we hope that israel doesn't continue with this course
then sharon just does it anyway and bush, afraid to piss potential voters off, concedes.
The effect of the expatriote vote, particularly those in Israel, have recently been examined here:
Israel, the ultimate swing state? (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5715758/)
some quotes from both articles here. Please don't come at me with "anti-Semite" or anything of the sort. I comdemn the Palestinians as well, but realize that this is still on the forefront of world politics - there is much disgust for US globally for what is seen as 'giving a free pass' to Sharon.
from first article..
The Bush administration, moving to lend political support to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at a time of political turmoil, has modified its policy and signaled approval of growth in at least some Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, American and Israeli officials say.
In the latest modification of American policy, the administration now supports construction of new apartments in areas already built up in some settlements, as long as the expansion does not extend outward to undeveloped parts of the West Bank, according to the officials.
For the last three years, American policy has called for a freeze of "all settlement activity," including "natural growth" brought about by an increase in the birthrate and other factors. As a result, when settlement expansions have been announced, American officials have called them violations.
Some American officials acknowledged, in addition, that President Bush was reluctant to criticize Israel during his re-election campaign, which is counting on support from conservative supporters of Israel.
from the second...
Contrary to widespread belief, it was more likely American voters in Israel, not Florida, who put George W. Bush in the White House four years ago - a phenomenon that has Kerry's supporters in Israel vowing to do whatever it takes to make certain that doesn't happen again in November.
Those who doubt that Americans living abroad could tip the balance in 2004 might consider this: Various chads aside, Al Gore received 202 more votes than George W. Bush on Election Day 2000 in Florida. Only after all the overseas votes were counted, including more than 12,000 from Israel alone, was Bush's election victory certified. The margin was 537 votes.
Harvard Professor Gary King, co-compiler of a survey analyzing Florida's overseas vote in 2000, has no doubt that expatriate Americans gave Bush his victory four years ago.
Additionally, he said in a telephone interview from his office in Tel Aviv, many Israeli-Americans who might have voted for Gore if they were living in the United States voted for Bush because they considered him an unflinching supporter of Israel.
Once in Israel, Zober said, Jewish voters are no longer guided by a presidential candidate's position on domestic issues. Instead, he said, they vote for whoever they think will serve Israel's interests. Even this year, Zober acknowledged, many American-Israelis are still inclined "to vote for the devil they know instead of the one they don't."
<img src='http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=whoobsy'>
US to Support Growth for Some West Bank Settlements (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/21/politics/21diplo.html)
this is a step a large number of Israeli's don't even support. much like the security wall, the typical interaction goes something like:
sharon - we will be building wall/thickening settlements
us reaction - we formally say that this step would do damage to the us road map, we hope that israel doesn't continue with this course
then sharon just does it anyway and bush, afraid to piss potential voters off, concedes.
The effect of the expatriote vote, particularly those in Israel, have recently been examined here:
Israel, the ultimate swing state? (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5715758/)
some quotes from both articles here. Please don't come at me with "anti-Semite" or anything of the sort. I comdemn the Palestinians as well, but realize that this is still on the forefront of world politics - there is much disgust for US globally for what is seen as 'giving a free pass' to Sharon.
from first article..
The Bush administration, moving to lend political support to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at a time of political turmoil, has modified its policy and signaled approval of growth in at least some Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, American and Israeli officials say.
In the latest modification of American policy, the administration now supports construction of new apartments in areas already built up in some settlements, as long as the expansion does not extend outward to undeveloped parts of the West Bank, according to the officials.
For the last three years, American policy has called for a freeze of "all settlement activity," including "natural growth" brought about by an increase in the birthrate and other factors. As a result, when settlement expansions have been announced, American officials have called them violations.
Some American officials acknowledged, in addition, that President Bush was reluctant to criticize Israel during his re-election campaign, which is counting on support from conservative supporters of Israel.
from the second...
Contrary to widespread belief, it was more likely American voters in Israel, not Florida, who put George W. Bush in the White House four years ago - a phenomenon that has Kerry's supporters in Israel vowing to do whatever it takes to make certain that doesn't happen again in November.
Those who doubt that Americans living abroad could tip the balance in 2004 might consider this: Various chads aside, Al Gore received 202 more votes than George W. Bush on Election Day 2000 in Florida. Only after all the overseas votes were counted, including more than 12,000 from Israel alone, was Bush's election victory certified. The margin was 537 votes.
Harvard Professor Gary King, co-compiler of a survey analyzing Florida's overseas vote in 2000, has no doubt that expatriate Americans gave Bush his victory four years ago.
Additionally, he said in a telephone interview from his office in Tel Aviv, many Israeli-Americans who might have voted for Gore if they were living in the United States voted for Bush because they considered him an unflinching supporter of Israel.
Once in Israel, Zober said, Jewish voters are no longer guided by a presidential candidate's position on domestic issues. Instead, he said, they vote for whoever they think will serve Israel's interests. Even this year, Zober acknowledged, many American-Israelis are still inclined "to vote for the devil they know instead of the one they don't."
<img src='http://scripts.cgispy.com/image.cgi?u=whoobsy'>