And figuratively:
"Israelis mostly shrug as Mitt Romney visits; Many say they do not know much about him" by Matt Viser | Globe Staff, July 28, 2012
JERUSALEM — Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee, trying to peel away Jewish support for Obama, is eager to cast himself as a better friend of Israel than the current administration. Recent polling and interviews illustrate some dissatisfaction with Obama — the result of perceived snubs of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for freezing of settlements in the Palestinian territories, and an unwillingness so far to visit the country as president.
But to the extent that Romney’s foreign trip is a first date on the international stage, Israelis will be going in blind. In more than a dozen interviews, from the offices of the Israeli Parliament to the streets and cafes here, Israelis have little, if any, familiarity with Romney....
Even while Romney seeks to use Israel as an opportunity to showcase major distinctions between himself and Obama, the reaction so far from Israelis seems to be a shrug of the shoulders.
Romney’s foreign trip diverts him from the core theme of his campaign — the domestic economy — as he attempts to put on a statesman’s hat and demonstrate to voters that he is adept at foreign policy. But after an unsteady start in London, where a disparaging comment he made about the city’s Olympic Games brought rebukes from British newspapers and politicians, Romney is coming to one of the world’s most volatile areas of conflict.
He arrives for a 36-hour visit -- his fourth to Israel -- with headlines dominated by questions about chemical weapons in Syria, apprehension about Iran developing a nuclear weapon, and a persistent question of whether Israelis and Palestinians will ever find peace. The Obama administration picked Friday to unveil $70 million in military assistance for Israel.
Just in time for a Slow Saturday news cycle, while you are treated to s*** show political fooleys and a huge dose of austerity, 'murkn!
And you are going to need a lot more than that to buy Israel off, 'bamer, if it is even possible. Mitt will simply promise them more, and he'll have a Republican Congress to do it (not that the votes will even be close. Five nays is a surprise when it comes to Israel in the ZOG of AmeriKa).
On Sunday, Romney will meet with officials including Netanyahu, Israeli President Shimon Peres, several Israeli opposition leaders, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. Romney is planning on delivering a speech with the Old City of Jerusalem in the background.
Before departing for Poland on Monday, Romney is holding a fund-raiser that is expected to be attended by Sheldon Adelson, who has emerged as the top Republican donor of the presidential cycle.
How much you wanna bet he'll go to Auschwitz in Poland while on the topic of gambling?
The Dorchester-born casino magnate has been active in Israeli politics — he owns a newspaper here and is an ally of Netanyahu’s — and is spearheading an effort to persuade American Jews, who traditionally support Democrats overwhelmingly, to vote against Obama....
“This claim that Obama is throwing Israel under the bus is nasty,” said Ephraim Sneh, a former deputy defense minister in the left-leaning Labor Party. “It is not true.”
No, he has bent over backwards for them time and again.
Sneh, a retired brigadier general in the Israel Defense Forces, now heads the small Yisrael Hazaka party, whose name means Strong Israel. He said he worried that US electoral politics were increasingly turning Israel into a political football, in a departure from the past, when the longtime alliance was mostly insulated from partisan squabbling in Washington.
“They are trying to make it a partisan issue,” he said of American Jews. “It is a mistake.”
And really doesn't matter because Congress is AIPAC-occupied territory.
******************
“For a moment people felt that President Obama was the Messiah,” said Einat Wilf, a centrist in the Israeli Parliament....
Or an anti-Christ.
Most here are either unfamiliar with Romney’s Mormon faith, or are not bothered by it. The controversy over Mormons posthumously baptizing Jews, including Holocaust victims — something that church leaders have apologized for — has not resonated either.
Related: The Apology Mitt Romney Must Make
I'm sure he has.
Some here are just excited that Romney is here, continuing what some have called the “Israel Primary.”
Even more influence than New Hampshire, 'murkns!
“We’re just suckers for any expressions of support, of love,” Wilf said.
Sorry, but you won't be getting any of that from me.
“We can never get enough of that; anything that has to do about Israel just being the greatest place in the world. You will get very far with flattery.”
Unless you are Arab or Palestinian.
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"Israel targeted as key constituency in the election" by Matt Viser | Globe Staff, July 29, 2012
Can the Israeli CONTROL of AmeriKan politcs really be denied at this point?
BEIT SHEMESH, Israel — The event last week was part of a renewed effort to drive up turnout in the presidential election among Americans living abroad. There are some 250,000 American citizens living in Israel. Organizers for a voter-registration drive are trying to make the point that they are a vital constituency.
Something you are not, American people, judging by the way this government and the candidates have treated you.
It is unlikely that they will make a significant difference in the presidential race, but because voters register in their last place of US residence, they could swing some congressional races. There are probably 10,000 voters in Israel who could vote in Brooklyn, estimates Elie Pieprz, the national director for iVoteIsrael.
Americans abroad are not a vocal — or a particularly easy-to-track — constituency.
“We’re not going to show up at a town hall meeting; we’re not going to bump into them at the supermarket,” Pieprz said. “We’re likely not going to vote.”
Pierprz’s colleagues have tried to be creative to reach unregistered voters. They’ve targeted Little League games, July 4 barbeques, and bars where American sports are shown.
They plan to send letters to the Romney and Obama campaigns, requesting each to send a top surrogate for a debate in Israel.
The Israeli Primary!
Republicans have been more active in driving up interest. A few weeks ago, Ari Fleischer, press spokesman for former president George W. Bush, and Matt Brooks, director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, spoke to Republicans in Israel. Romney, who arrived in Israel Saturday, will bring attention to his campaign.
American voters living in Israel overwhelmingly voted for Senator John McCain in 2008. Of the 25 people who showed up for the Thursday night debate, only two raised their hands to say they voted for Obama in 2008.
The US economy rarely came up.
Because Israelis really don't give a shit about us over here; otherwise, they would not have insisted we sanction Iran and drive up the price of oil. And they wouldn't insist on the billions a year in aid if they really wanted to help a friend. A friend wouldn't spy on a friend.
Heck, it was mostly a bunch of Zionist Jew bankers that destroyed our economy with their endless looting frauds and schemes.
Instead, the debate focused on whether Obama has cracked down enough on Iran’s efforts to obtain a nuclear weapon or whether he was insensitive by referencing Israel’s pre-1967 lines as a starting point for negotiations with the Palestinians.
“The bottom line is that this is the most hostile administration toward Israel since the Jimmy Carter presidency — and that’s quite an achievement,” said Marc Zell, the chief Romney supporter of Republicans Abroad Israel.
That's quite a statement against a man who brought peace with Egypt to Israel.
“President Obama is one of the best friends Israel has ever had in the White House,” Sheldon Schorer, the chief Obama supporter [and] a former chairman of Democrats Abroad in Israel, countered. “Whatever Romney says are just promises. Obama has been there, backed Israel, and has done it again and again. He deserves to be reelected.”
That's why I have a problem with them both. I have two qualifications for president: will he stand up to Israel, and.... okay, I have one qualification for president.
Few, at least in that room, seemed to be swayed.
CUT from my PRINTED PAPER:
Romney's campaign is barring reporters from a fundraiser at Jerusalem's King David Hotel and not saying why.
Related: Press won’t be allowed at Mitt Romney fund-raiser
Some of Romney's wealthiest US supporters plan to attend Monday's fundraiser, including casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, who has donated millions to a group backing Romney and is leading backer of Republican Jewish groups in the United States.
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Related: Political Odd Couple
Yeah, about that:
"Casino mogul and GOP donor faces prostitution claims
LAS VEGAS — Las Vegas Sands Corp. chief and leading Republican political donor Sheldon Adelson is firing back at his former Macau casino executive’s claim that Adelson personally approved prostitution at company properties in the Chinese gambling enclave.
No big surprise since the sex trade is a Jewish institution, but then again what good would a casino be without prostitutes with which to celebrate?
In court documents filed in state court in Las Vegas, Adelson and Sands attorneys accuse fired Sands China Ltd. executive Steven Jacobs of ‘‘a new low’’ in what they call an ongoing effort to tarnish Adelson’s reputation....
Adelson is a philanthropist and casino mogul who owns the Venetian and Palazzo casinos on the Las Vegas Strip.
My printed paper had the word billionaire in front of philanthropist.
He’s also a big GOP political donor.
Adelson contributed $20 million to an independent group backing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential bid and is now backing a pro-Romney group with at least another $10 million.
A letter dated Monday from an Adelson lawyer also called for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee to ‘‘retract and apologize for’’ what it calls defamatory and libelous claims that Adelson encouraged and profited from prostitution and donated ‘‘Chinese prostitution money’’ to GOP leaders.
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Related: Romney Has the Right Friends
And he's gonna keep 'em!
"Romney would support Israeli strike on Iran, aide says" by Matt Viser | Globe Staff, July 29, 2012
JERUSALEM -- Mitt Romney is planning to thrust his campaign into an intensifying debate over stopping Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons, saying he would support a unilateral Israeli military strike on Tehran, according to an aide who briefed reporters on its contents.
In a foreign policy speech that he is scheduled to deliver on Sunday night, Romney will stress the importance of the US-Israel relationship, but also highlight its right to wage an attack on Iran.
(Blog editor sadly shakes his head)
“It is an existential threat and we in the West partnering with Israel should do everything we can from stopping Iran from developing that weapons capability,” Dan Senor, a top Romney foreign adviser who helped organize the trip to Israel. “And if Israel has to take action on its own, in order to stop Iran from developing that capability the governor would respect that decision.”
Senor was also a puke in the Iraqi War Office of Occupation. I forget the exact department and name.
Romney has said that US military action should be “on the table,” but he has cautioned that it should be a last resort. Still, the rhetoric that he would support an Israeli strike on Iran puts Romney at odds with President Obama, who has urged Israel to give diplomacy a chance.
Romney’s campaign later softened his stance....
Romney and his wife, Ann, later made an unexpected trip to the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites for Jews.
Begging for Israel's blessing!
Romney was escorted to the wall by a rabbi, as a crowd formed, snapping pictures with cell phones, moving to shake his hand, and shouting at him
“Beat Obama, governor! Beat Obama,” one man shouted. “Get rid of Obamacare!” another said.
Israelis don't care about our economy but they care about Obamacare?
That group that accompanied Romney down to the wall included some of Romney’s donors, who are in town for a high-dollar fundraiser on Monday morning. The campaign announced on Sunday that reporters would be allowed to cover Romney’s remarks at the fundraiser, reversing a decision to bar reporters in violation of a previously arranged agreement with the media for covering such events.
Flip, flop, flip, flop!
Romney’s trip to Israel, which lasts only about 36 hours, allows him to put on a statesman’s hat and demonstrate to American voters at home that he has the skills to be commander in chief. It comes after an unsteady start to his trip in London, where a disparaging comment he made about the city’s Olympic Games attracted rebukes from British newspapers and politicians.
Romney has ruffled some feathers in Jerusalem as well.
Uh-oh.
His campaign initially scheduled a meeting with leaders of the Labor Party, which until two weeks ago was the primary opposition party. But the campaign canceled the meeting about 90 minutes before it was to occur.
“We were disappointed because we wanted Governor Romney to hear our position,” Isaac Herzog, a leader of the Labor Party, who met Romney during his 2007 trip to Israel, said in an interview. “We were saddened by this, and quite surprised.”
--more--"
"Romney would respect Israeli strike against Iran, aide says" by Kasie Hunt | Associated Press July 29, 2012
JERUSALEM (AP) — Mitt Romney would respect an Israeli decision to make a unilateral military strike against Iran aimed at preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear capability, a top foreign policy adviser said Sunday as he outlined the aggressive posture the Republican presidential candidate will take toward Iran in a speech in Israel later in the day.
Romney has said he has a ‘‘zero tolerance’’ policy toward Iran obtaining the capability to build a nuclear weapon. Foreign policy adviser Dan Senor told reporters Romney is careful to note the governor believes preventing nuclear ‘‘capability’’ — not just a nuclear weapon — is critical.
He later clarified his comments in a written statement....
Romney has said he will do ‘‘the opposite’’ of what Obama would do in his approach to Israel....
--more--"
Update: Romney made a point of calling Jerusalem “the capital of Israel”
NEXT DAY UPDATE:
"In Jerusalem, Romney vows strong support; Takes rare step of referring to city as capital of Israel" by Matt Viser | GLOBE STAFF, July 29, 2012
JERUSALEM — In addition to Adelson, donors who joined Romney included New York Jets owner Woody Johnson; Detroit developer John Rakolta, who aided Romney in his last presidential bid; Cheryl Halpern, a New Jersey Republican; hedge fund founder Paul Singer; L.E. Simmons of Texas, owner of a private-equity firm; Eric Tanenblatt, a Romney fund-raiser in Atlanta; and John Miller, chief executive of the National Beef Packing Company.
Romney’s trip to Israel, which lasts only about 36 hours, comes after an unsteady start to his trip in London, where a disparaging comment he made about the city’s Olympic Games attracted rebukes from British newspapers and politicians.
See: Summer Olympics Safe and Secure
“What an experience that was,” he told Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad of his trip to London. “An entertaining and delightful opening ceremonies. Wasn’t it spectacular? It really was. And the march of nations. There were many participants. And they sent women from every country.”
Please tell me he didn't say that to the stateless Palestinian! Please tell me he didn't say that about the women!
--more--"
Btw, some people have commented that the imagery was downright bizarre. I wouldn't know because I don't watch. I'm too busy trying to read papers and catch up on this blog.
May not matter much longer anyway:
"US reported to have briefed Israel on Iran plan" by Amy Teibel | Associated Press, July 30, 2012
JERUSALEM — An Israeli newspaper reported Sunday that the Obama administration’s top security official has briefed Israel on US plans for a possible attack on Iran, seeking to reassure it that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program.
Translation: The U.S. has told Israel we will do this for you.
May God damn AmeriKa forever, for after six long years I have failed.
A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss confidential talks, said the article in the Haaretz daily was incorrect.
That means it's true.
Haaretz said National Security Adviser Tom Donilon laid out the plans before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a dinner at a visit to Israel earlier this month. It cited an unidentified senior American official as the source of its report, which came out as presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney was telling Israel he would back an Israeli military strike against Iran.
The American official also said Donilon shared information on US weapons that could be used for such an attack, and on the US military’s ability to reach Iranian nuclear facilities buried deep underground, the newspaper said.
Haaretz cited another US official involved in the talks with Israel as concluding that ‘‘the time for a military operation against Iran has not yet come.’’
The implication there is it will.
The Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a confidential meeting, said, ‘‘Nothing in the article is correct. Donilon did not meet the prime minister for dinner, he did not meet him one-on-one, nor did he present operational plans to attack Iran.’’
Nothing?
The blanket denial tells you the story is true. It's appearance through the Zionist prism I call a paper confirms it.
He had no information when asked if Donilon had discussed any kind of attack plans with any Israeli official. Haaretz said another Israeli official attended for part of the meeting.
Just wondering how the deceit goes over with you guys out there.
The US Embassy had no immediate comment. Haaretz cited Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the US National Security Council, as declining to comment on the confidential discussion between Netanyahu and Donilon. The White House also declined to comment.
Then why the leak?
Both Israel and the United States think Iran’s ultimate aim is to develop weapons technology, and not just produce energy and medical isotopes as Tehran claims.
Yes, their ultimate aim, meaning they are not developing a weapon right now, couldn't really hide it if they were, UN has found no evidence and has had access, bur forget all that stuff. USrael wants to make war and that's that!!
And JUST IMAGINE how YOU WOULD FEEL, 'murkn, if SOME FOREIGN BULLY came BLOWING INTO YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD and said NO MORE POWER for you and NO MORE CANCER TREATMENTS for your loved one!
How would YOU FEEL about SUCH a PERSON or PERSONS?
US officials are concerned that Israel might attack Iranian nuclear facilities prematurely, and have been trying to convince Israeli leaders they can depend on Washington to keep Iran from becoming a nuclear power.
Meaning THERE IS a TIME and PLACE for it!
Israeli leaders have repeatedly said they would not contract out their country’s security to another nation.
No, our blackmailed and bought off leaders gladly bend over to do it.
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta was in Tunisia on Sunday, beginning a five-day Mideast tour, which will include a stop in Israel.
Related: Syrian regime ‘is coming to an end,’ Panetta says
Panetta said he believes Israeli leaders still support an international campaign of economic, political and diplomatic pressure on Iran to prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
‘‘My view is that they have not made any decisions with regards to’’ attacking Iran, he said.
But they will let you know they want us to do it when he gets there.
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Also see: On foreign policy, Romney compares his strengths to Reagan’s
