{"id":502,"date":"2023-04-14T18:05:45","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T15:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thecommonalityofhumanity\/?p=502"},"modified":"2023-04-15T06:14:39","modified_gmt":"2023-04-15T03:14:39","slug":"on-the-ground-israel-hillary-and-barack-a-lost-opportunity-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/thecommonalityofhumanity\/2023\/04\/on-the-ground-israel-hillary-and-barack-a-lost-opportunity-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"On The Ground, Israel, Hillary and Barack, A Lost Opportunity Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Believing he is<\/em> the King of Israel, indicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is determined to remain in power at all costs. Photo Credit: Ronen Zvulun\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Wednesday, 12th<\/sup> April 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n
A cold, wet, rainy spring day in Jerusalem as the dust from the recent hot, dry winds are washed away.<\/p>\n
Tonight in Israel the Moroccan\/North African Jewish holiday of Mimouna<\/em> will be celebrated. It\u2019s a joyous tradition held on the last night of Passover with family, music, dance and mounds of food.<\/p>\n
Local politicians with pasted smiles and camera crews by their side descend upon the most (politically) advantageous gatherings. Tomorrow\u2019s social media will be filled with their faces.<\/p>\n
At the same time, tens of thousands of Israelis will soon filter through Ben Gurion Airport on their return from holiday. Thousands more who descended upon Egypt\u2019s Red Sea Coastline in the Sinai Desert will ascend back into their villages, cities and homes.<\/p>\n
And the families who lost loved ones through terror, violence or victims of desert flooding, weep with the rain.<\/p>\n
Flashback, Israel, February 25th thru March 4, 1996 <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Immediately after the November 4th 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, the ruling Labor Party holds an emergency meeting. Shimon Peres is appointed acting Prime Minister.<\/p>\n
According to the latest polls, Peres and his coalition partners hold a decent lead over Bibi Netanyahu and his anti-peace allies.<\/p>\n
Peres calls for early elections in his bid to shore up and consolidate the Labor Party coalition.<\/p>\n
May 29th will be the first national election since Rabin\u2019s murder.<\/p>\n
With the unlikely support of Hamas terrorists financed by Iraq\u2019s Saddam Hussein, everything changes for Shimon Peres.<\/p>\n
In a period of 10 days, Hamas launches 4 terrifying, horrific, suicide bombings:<\/p>\n
\nJerusalem, 25th of February, 26 Israeli (17 civilians and 9 soldiers) are killed by a Hamas suicide bomber on Bus Number 18. There are close to 50 severely wounded.<\/li>\nAshkelon, 25th of February, 1 Israeli soldier is killed by a roadside suicide bomb explosion.<\/li>\nJerusalem, 3rd of March, 19 Israeli (16 civilians and 3 soldiers) are killed by a Hamas suicide bomber on Bus Number 18. There are at least 7 severely injured.<\/li>\nTel Aviv, 4th of March. As Israel begins celebrating the joyful, costumed holiday of Purim, 13 Israelis (12 civilians and 1 soldier) are killed with over 130 injured by a suicide bomber strapped with a 20 kilo nail bomb. Coverage of the immediate aftermath is broadcasted on Israeli and foreign television. An unforgettable image haunts Israel. A first responder holds in his hands a 6 month old baby girl who\u2019s alive and obviously in shock. The responder shouts, \u2018Who\u2019s baby is this? No one replies. \u2018Who\u2019s baby is this?\u2019 No one replies. Hundreds of Israelis call in to the television station. They all say the same thing. If the parents are dead they will adopt the baby girl. Meanwhile, the father of the infant is a dentist who\u2019s watching the carnage on television in his Tel Aviv clinic. His wife, the baby\u2019s mother was killed in the attack.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
On Election Day, Bibi\u2019s never ending rhetoric of incitement fueled by Palestinian terrorists, hand him a slim majority.<\/p>\n
Headlines read, \u201cWe Went To Sleep With Shimon and Woke Up With Bibi.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
Hamas accomplishes the impossible. By killing 61 Israelis and wounding hundreds, the terrorists successfully torpedo the dream and reality of a free, independent State of Palestine. With the peace process demolished, Hamas burdens Israel with the unscrupulous, newly elected Bibi Netanyahu.<\/p>\n
Flashback, January 20, 2007, United States of America<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Junior Senator from the Great State of New York Hillary Clinton declares her candidacy for the presidency of the United States.<\/p>\n
Her impressive list of accomplishments as First Lady of Arkansas, First Lady of the United States and as Senator is staggering. Here\u2019s a quick summary:<\/p>\n
\nFor decades Hillary championed education, universal health care; advocated protection for mothers, children and families.<\/li>\nWhen asked by President William J. Clinton (her husband) to chair the \u201cTask Force on National Health Care Reform,\u201d she did not hesitate.<\/li>\nFollowing in the footsteps of Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady Hillary Clinton writes a weekly column. Entitled, \u201cTalking It Over<\/em>\u201d Hillary discusses her experiences of meeting women and children from around the globe.<\/li>\nIn the aftermath of 9\/11, Senator Clinton initiates the investigation of health issues relating to First Responders. Fire Fighters Associations are deeply grateful and endorse her when she successfully runs for a second term.<\/li>\nA Centrist Democrat, Senator Clinton fine-tunes her techniques in the art of working both sides of the aisle. She co-sponsors a bill with Lindsay Graham, joins forces with Newt Gingrich and works with Republican Senate Majority Leader, Bill Frist.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There never was, nor will there ever be a Democratic Candidate more experienced, prepared, polished and ready for the job of President of the United States of America.<\/p>\n
Flashback, February 10, 2007, Springfield, Illinois<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Junior Senator from the great state of Illinois, Barack Hussein Obama, a young \u2018rising star\u2019 in the Democratic Party, announces his candidacy for the presidency of the United States.<\/p>\n
Senator Hillary Clinton and Senator Barack Obama campaign signs revealed after announcing their candidacy for the Democratic Nomination for the presidency of the United States.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFlashback, February 14th, \u00a02007<\/strong><\/h2>\n****
Could this have taken place?<\/p>\n
Leaders of the Democratic Party chatting with their brandy and cigars after a private Valentine\u2019s Day Dinner? \u00a0(Location undisclosed).<\/p>\n
\nWe have a chance to keep the White House for 16 years.<\/li>\nHillary for 8.<\/li>\nGive Obama a cabinet position of his choice.<\/li>\nObama arrives in 2016 for another 8 years.<\/li>\nLet\u2019s not forget, with Hill comes Bill.<\/li>\nBill could be our Special Envoy\/Advisor for Middle Eastern Affairs.<\/li>\nIf anyone can reignite negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, it\u2019s Bill.<\/li>\nHe did it once, he can do it again.<\/li>\nObama\u2019s Muslim heritage works in tandem with the former president.<\/li>\nGreat opportunity to stabilize the Middle East.<\/li>\nKeep oil prices down.<\/li>\nKeep Russians out of the region.<\/li>\nHillary, a woman candidate, it\u2019ll rejuvenate the party.<\/li>\nWomen of all ages will come out to vote.<\/li>\nIt\u2019s exciting.<\/li>\nGreat publicity.<\/li>\nWe\u2019ll raise huge sums for our coffers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nFlashback, \u00a0January 28, 2008, American University, Washington D.C.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Every time I\u2019ve been asked over the past year who I would support in the Democratic primary, my answer has always been the same: I\u2019ll support the candidate who inspires me, who inspires all of us.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
With those words, the powerful and highly respected Senior Senator from the Great State of Massachusetts Ted Kennedy endorses Barack Obama, the young, intelligent, gifted, clever, inexperienced, dashing golden boy of the Democratic North Eastern Old Boys Club.<\/p>\n
The savvy, brilliant, polished, experienced Hillary Clinton with her southern husband from the Great State of Arkansas is passed over.<\/p>\n
Ted Kennedy\u2019s decision appears to be vindictive and devoid of simple Party Logic and Common Sense.<\/p>\n
It is by far the most misguided chauvinistic, misogynist, sexist insult and blunder in the history of the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Historians, journalists and pundits will agree that this is an insurmountable lost opportunity.<\/p>\n
Flashback, November 4, 2008<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Barack Obama wins the election. He is the 44th<\/sup> President of the United States of America.<\/p>\n
He offers his party rival, Senator Hillary Clinton the prestigious position of Secretary of State.<\/p>\n
In her courageous and diplomatic capacity to leave the past where it belongs, when the President asks her to serve her country, Hillary Clinton graciously accepts.<\/p>\n
In 2012 Obama wins his second term in office. Madame Secretary Hillary Clinton chooses not to serve in Obama\u2019s second administration.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Top photo: On June 12, 2014, three Israeli teenagers are kidnapped at a bus\/hitching stop by Palestinian terrorists. Hamas claims responsibility for the murders of Gilad Shaar (16), Naftali Frenkel (16) and Eyal Yifrach (19). Their bodies are found on June 30th, 2014. Bottom left: Upon hearing the air raid sirens, an Israeli family in the coastal city of Ashkelon, runs to a bomb shelter. (REUTERS\/Baz Ratner). Bottom right: An Israeli woman consoles her exhausted and weary mother after arriving in a bomb shelter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nFlashback, July thru August 2014, Israel vs Gaza<\/strong><\/h2>\n****
During Obama\u2019s second term, a major conflict erupts in Israel on the evening of June 12th 2014 when Palestinian terrorists kidnap three Israeli teenagers Gilad Shaar (16), Naftali Frenkel (16) and Eyal Yifrach (19).<\/p>\n
Hamas proudly claims responsibility for both the kidnapping and subsequent murders.<\/p>\n
The bodies of the three young men are found on June 30, 2014.<\/p>\n
In retaliation, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, Minister of Defense, Moshe Ya\u2019alon, with Chief of Staff Benny Gantz launch \u2018Operation Brother\u2019s Keeper<\/em>.\u2019 350 West Bank Palestinians (mostly members of Hamas) are arrested.<\/p>\n
And as the game goes on, Hamas must retaliate. They launch a series of rockets and missiles from Gaza into southern and central Israel.<\/p>\n
These events trigger the seven-week \u20182014 Gaza War<\/em>.\u2019<\/p>\n
It will be one of the deadliest confrontations in decades.<\/p>\n
\n67 Israeli soldiers and 6 civilians are killed.<\/li>\n469 soldiers and 87 civilians are wounded.<\/li>\n2310 Gazans are killed, (65-70% are civilians).<\/li>\n10,000 plus Gazans are wounded.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Top Photo: July 2014, a Gazan home is completely destroyed by the Israeli air force. (c) Muhammad Sabah and B\u2019Tselem. Left Bottom: Hamas celebrates their 27th anniversary on December 14, 2014. They vow to destroy Israel. Bottom Right: a young Gazan boy dressed in military fatigues carries a toy weapon in the Hamas Parade. (Hamas Photos\/AP).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reflections on Syria 2011-2016<\/strong><\/h2>\n
The Middle East is in trouble. It\u2019s boiling with anger, frustration, revenge, retaliation.<\/p>\n
Israelis and Palestinians remain in the never ending conflict of bloodshed, threats, revenge, terror attacks, retaliation. Women and children suffer the most.<\/p>\n
In Syria and ISIS controlled areas, tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of Christian and non-Muslim women are being raped, murdered and forced into sexual slavery. Girls as young as 9 years of age are being sold to the highest bidder.<\/p>\n
No one defends them. Not one world leader, not the United Nations nor Amnesty International. Not one women\u2019s organization.<\/p>\n
While Syria is being torn apart, President Obama deserts his own words that he uttered upon receiving the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize . Inaction tears at our conscience and can lead to more costly intervention later.<\/strong><\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hisham Melhem, a widely respected Lebanese-American journalist writes an essay for the Winter 2016 issue of The Cairo Review of Global Affairs entitled Obama\u2019s Tarnished Legacy in the Middle East.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Melhem points to Obama: \u00a0\u201c\u2026his own actions and inactions throughout two terms of office contributed significantly to the great unraveling of the Middle East.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
He goes even further to claim: \u00a0\u201c\u2026<\/em><\/strong>Obama\u2019s eagerness to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq, and his indecisiveness about how to handle the crisis in Syria, led to the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS)\u2014the latest and most vicious of apocalyptic terror movements in modern times.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
Hisham Melhem doesn\u2019t stop in his scathing review of Obama\u2019s folly: \u00a0\u201cRussia\u2019s military intervention in Syria in 2015 on behalf of the Al-Assad regime is in part a result of President Obama\u2019s dithering and inaction. A complex conflict has been made infinitely more difficult to resolve. The tragedy of Syria, perhaps above all else, will come to symbolize Obama\u2019s tarnished legacy in the Middle East.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
In a heartbreaking state of despair, Hisham writes: \u201c\u2026If there are boulevards in hell, they will probably look like the Syrian streets reduced to rubble mostly by Al-Assad\u2019s army. For all the brutality and the ritualistic killings and beheadings of ISIS, the Al-Assad regime\u2019s systematic, industrial-scale barbarity is the single most destructive killing machine operating with impunity in Syria.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Published with Hisham Melhem\u2019s essay in The Cairo Review of Global Affairs Winter 2016 Issue. Photograph of President Barack Obama with leaders of Arab Nations, Camp David May 14, 2015. (Kevin Dietsch\/Pool\/Associated Press). Melhem\u2019s entire article is available online at:\u00a0Hisham Melhem\u2019s full article Obama\u2019s Tarnished Legacy<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n*********************
*
\u00a0<\/p>\n
*
On July 31, 2017 Susan B Glasser (chief international affairs columnist) publishes an article on Obama for the Politico Magazine. Her opening sentence, sums up it all up:<\/p>\n
*
\u201cRussia won in Syria thanks to President Barak Obama\u2019s inaction. The Middle East unraveling of the past decade is due in no small part to America not listening to her allies in the region.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n
*
\u00a0<\/p>\n
*
Wednesday, \u00a012th<\/sup> April 2023, Midnight, An Epilogue<\/strong><\/h2>\n
*
Thunder and lightning, heavy rains, cold weather envelopes Israel as Mimouna\u00a0<\/em>celebrations continue well into the night. Another Passover Holiday is complete.<\/p>\n
*
How would the Middle East look today if Ted Kennedy had endorsed Hillary Clinton and said to Barack Obama, \u201cBe patient young man. For if you truly love America and the Democratic Party, \u00a0your turn will come in 8 years. History will be made when we hold the White House for 16 years and accomplish the seemingly impossible.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
*
In January 2008 I had the great pleasure of speaking to charismatic former President Bill Clinton. He was on the campaign trail stomping for his wife. And I was there to listen.<\/p>\n
*
After his speech I stood in line with many well wishers. Shaking his hand I thanked him for his friendship, love and respect for Yitzchak Rabin. Bill thanked me and moved on as he continued to shake hands with the crowd.<\/p>\n
*
To my surprise and delight, Bill Clinton came back to me. With tears in his eyes he said, \u201cI truly loved Yitzchak Rabin and if he had lived, by 1998 there would have been two states living side by side.\u201d<\/p>\n
*
Dwelling on lost opportunities does not change the reality. Here are a few statistics from the Bibi Far Right Coalition under the \u2018is he, isn\u2019t he<\/em>\u2019 Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant:<\/p>\n
*
*************************January 1, 2023 thru 10th of April 2023:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n94 Palestinians killed by soldiers and settlers\n\n20 are between the ages of \u00a012 \u2013 19<\/li>\n21 are between the ages of 20 \u2013 29<\/li>\n8 are over 30 years of age<\/li>\n45 have not been identified by age<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nJanuary 1, 2023 through 10th of April 2023<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n17 Israelis killed by Palestinian terrorists<\/li>\n1 Israeli killed accidentally by a Civilian Security Guard\n\n7 killed in Neve Yaacov, East Jerusalem<\/li>\n3 killed near Ramot<\/li>\n2 killed near a settlement that sparked violence in the village of Huwara<\/li>\n1 killed on the highway along the Dead Sea<\/li>\n1 dies of wounds inflicted in a Tel Aviv terror attack<\/li>\n2 sisters killed in a West Bank attack<\/li>\n1 mother (of the two sisters) succumbs to her injuries<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n*****************
**
And during the same time period, under Bibi and his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant the IDF accomplished:<\/p>\n
**
\n998 search and arrest operations in Palestinian villages and refugee camps in the West Bank<\/li>\n278 Palestinian owned structures including 79 in East Jerusalem have been destroyed by the IDF<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
**
If only there were leaders on all sides of the conflict that truly wanted to pursue peace\u2026.<\/p>\n
**
to be continued\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
**
\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
**
*********************\u00a0 Wednesday, 12th April 2023 A cold, wet, rainy spring day in Jerusalem as the dust from the recent hot, dry winds are washed away. Tonight in Israel the Moroccan\/North African Jewish holiday of Mimouna will be celebrated. It\u2019s a joyous tradition held on the last night of Passover with family, music, dance and mounds […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4896,"featured_media":567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[741,744,732,738,729,735,726],"tags":[651,675,630,618,444,498,660,693,747,633,687,654,642,717,624,681,549,615,753,711,720,669,756,750,759,57,723,648,672,645,684,489,297,657,477,708,690,636,666,702,639,705,663,678,627,699,546,621,714],"class_list":["post-502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bibi-netanyahu","category-current-events","category-hillary-clinton-barack-obama","category-israel-and-hamas","category-israel-and-politics","category-israel-gaza-2014","category-politics","tag-9-11","tag-arkansas","tag-assad","tag-barack-obama","tag-bibi","tag-bill-clinton","tag-bill-frist","tag-cairo-review","tag-current-events","tag-democratic-party","tag-eyal-yifrach","tag-first-lady","tag-flashback","tag-gallant","tag-gaza","tag-gilad-shaar","tag-hamas","tag-hillary-clinton","tag-hillary-clinton-and-barack-obama","tag-hisham-melhem","tag-iraq","tag-isis","tag-israel-and-gaza-2014","tag-israel-and-hamas","tag-israel-and-politics","tag-jerusalem","tag-kennedy","tag-lindsay-graham","tag-massachusetts","tag-mimouna","tag-naftali-frenkel","tag-netanyahu","tag-new-york","tag-newt-gingrich","tag-passover","tag-peres","tag-politico","tag-president","tag-rising-star","tag-saddam-hussein","tag-secretary-of-state","tag-shimon-peres","tag-springfield","tag-statistics","tag-suicide-bombings","tag-susan-b-glasser","tag-syria","tag-ted-kennedy","tag-yoav-gallant"],"yoast_head":"\nOn The Ground, Israel, Hillary and Barack, A Lost Opportunity Part 2<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The fate of the Middle East was determined when Senator Ted Kennedy endorsed the young, intelligent, clever, impatient, inexperienced Barack Obama. 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Born in Jersey City, growing up two hours north of New York City the heart of the 'Borscht Belt,' from the age of eight I received a wonderful, intense education in the world of music, theatre, art, ballet and creative writing. My first spiritual mentor was the larger-than-life, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach who, with his passion and songs instilled in me the joy of loving God. My second spiritual mentor is the mystical, magical Siddha Master, Jivanmukta Swami Ganapati. He has been my guide, my teacher, my focus for 33 years. Parallel to my spiritual journey, my art (with great amusement) often intersects with my worldly life. While living in London, employed by the budding Walker Books Children's Book Publishing Company, my watercolors were invited to over a dozen competitions and two solo exhibitions. Having transitioned to the world of digital art, I created my techniques that resemble watercolor subtlety. 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