President Obama Is On The Wrong Side Of History (Again)

Yesterday The Washington Free Beacon posted an article about a revision made to the transcript of President Obama’s recent speech in Israel.

The article reports:

The Obama administration stripped Jerusalem from being located in Israel in its official communication of the president’s remarks in the ancient city at a memorial service for recently deceased former Israeli president Shimon Peres.

The White House, in a press release, originally sent out a press release attributing Obama’s remarks as taking place in “Jerusalem, Israel.”

Shortly after that statement was sent, the White House reissued the statement with “Israel” crossed out as the location.

..One senior congressional aide who works on Middle East issues told the Free Beacon that the White House’s actions are offensive and out of line, particularly in light of Peres’ recent death.

“For the White House proactively reject Jerusalem as the capital of Israel after President Obama’s remarks memorializing one of the state’s founders is beyond insulting,” the source said. “This administration never misses an opportunity to manufacturer conflicts at Israel’s expense, but doing so just hours after burying Shimon Peres goes beyond the pale. It even raises questions as to whether the White House deliberately sent out this correction to make a political statement. I seriously hope that’s not that case.”

This is the equivalent of another country telling us that Washington, D.C. is not our capital. It is just ludicrous. This is not how an American President should treat our allies.

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. It has been the capital of Israel since the time of King David. The Palestinians have no legitimate claim to the city. The only time they actually controlled any of it was after the 1948 cease-fire. Boundaries were not set at that time–it was a cease-fire. This is another example of President Obama insulting Israel and sending the wrong signal to the Arab countries surrounding Israel that are determined to drive the Israelis into the sea.

Little Things Mean A Lot

The distinctive multiple-arched BYU Jerusalem ...

Image via Wikipedia

Little things mean a lot–only this is not a little thing. One of the blogs at the Weekly Standard posted two pictures of an item on the White House website. The pictures are of a meeting between Vice President Biden and Israeli President Shimon Peres taken last year in Jerusalem. What is the problem? In the original picture, the caption states that the picture was taken in Jerusalem, Israel. The White House website later changed the caption to say “Jerusalem”–leaving out Israel. I believe this is the beginning of the move to deny that Jerusalem is the eternal, undivided capital of Israel. How would we as Americans feel if Mexico decided that half of Arizona was actually theirs and half of Phoenix was the capital of the new Mexican state formed? Somehow I don’t think we would take kindly to the idea.

Up until the Obama administration, America has been a protector of the existence and freedom of Israel. Unfortunately, that began to change after President Obama was sworn in. Support of Israel is an important part of America’s role in the world. Israel is the only functioning democracy in the Middle East. Israel is a country that has been a close ally of America since its founding in 1948. There is also the Biblical aspect–Genesis 12:1-3 states, “And I will bless those that bless you and curse the one who curses you. And in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Dividing Jerusalem in the name of peace in the Middle East will have dire consequences. It will eventually destroy the nation of Israel and the only hope for real freedom and democracy in the Middle East.

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