Monday, March 5, 2012

Obama-Netanyahu Update: "Israel Reserves The Right"

As predicted, there wasn't anything earth shaking today, but the emphasis in the media has been the idea that Israel and the U.S. have agreed that Israel has a right to defend itself as a sovereign nation - in other words, the 'green light' may have just been given to Israel:


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told President Obama that Israel would decide for itself whether to strike Iran.

“My supreme responsibility as prime minister of Israel is to ensure that Israel remains the master of its fate,” Netanyahu told Obama.

In a sit-down earlier today with the president in the Oval Office, Netanyahu pushed back against the administration’s repeated attempts to dissuade Israel from attacking Iran.

“Israel must reserve the right to defend itself and after all, that’s the very purpose of the Jewish state to, restore to the Jewish people control of our destiny,” said Netanyahu, who is meeting with the president in advance of his speech later today before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference.

Israel reserves the right to strike Iran if need be, Netanyahu said.


In advance of today’s meeting with Netanyahu, Obama has faced renewed criticism from pro-Israel groups over his handling of the U.S.-Israel relationship, including the release of Daylight a documentary produced by the Emergency Committee for Israel highlighting his administration’s strained ties with the closest U.S. ally in the Middle East.





President Barack Obama appealed to Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to give sanctions time to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions, but the Israeli prime minister offered no sign of backing away from possible military action, saying his country must be the "master of its fate."

The two men, who have had a strained relationship, sought to present a united front in the Iranian nuclear standoff as they held White House talks. But their public statements revealed differences over how to prevent Iranfrom developing nuclear weapons.

Behind closed doors, however, Netanyahu confirmed to Obama what the president has already stated publicly - that Israel has yet to decide whether to hit Iran's nuclear sites but retains the right to resort to military action, a source close to the talks said.

They remain far apart on any explicit nuclear "red lines" that Iran must not be allowed to cross, and they have yet to agree on a time frame for when military forces might be needed.

There was no sign from Monday's talks that Obama's sharpened rhetoric against Tehran and his calls for restraint by Israel would be enough to delay any Israeli military plans against Iran, which has called for the destruction of the Jewish state.




US President Barack Obamareportedly on Monday gave Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu a copy of the Book of Esther in honor of the Jewish holiday of Purim, which is celebrated on Thursday and Friday this week.

Netanyahu took the opportunity to draw a parallel between the narrative in the Book of Esther – wherein the wicked Haman seeks to destroy the Jewish people throughout the Persian Empire – with Israel's modern day conflict with Iran..

Iranian leaders – including President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – have repeatedly called for the destruction of the Jewish state, referring to Israel as a "one bomb state."

Iran is geographically Persia and the Iranians are descendants of the ancient Persians.

The exchange took place at the end of the meeting between the two leaders, which lasted approximately 3 hours.

After the meeting, Netanyahu told reporters that Obama understood that Israel has the right to defend it against its enemies, and has the full right to take its future and security into its own hands

It was also reported US intelligence officials believe Israeli leaders have already decided to attack Iran, barring significant change in Iran's nuclear posture in the coming weeks or months.

Analysts say it is unlikely Jerusalem will warn Washington ahead of a strike on Iran due to numerous leaks in Washington, compromising Israel's plans and stature in its face-off with Tehran.



9 comments:

Jill said...

for such a time as this, :)

Mrs.C said...

"Israel's Positions Accepted With Understanding"

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu emerged from his meeting with US President Barack Obama Monday saying that Israel’s position on Iran was “accepted with understanding” in the White House. But the two sides emphasized different approaches on resolving the issue in public remarks beforehand.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=260607

Israels position on Iran -"accepted with understanding"...

Mrs.C said...

Our Loving Father in Heaven...Almighty God of Israel...I lift up to You, Your Land of Israel, and Your Israeli people. From the beginning of time...You declare this Blessed Land to be your Land Father...and Your Beloved people, the Apple of Your Eye, to dwell there Father. You first Blessed them with Your Living Word...written in stone...and with Your Son, You wrote it on our hearts. We know Father, You never sleep nor slumber...You know all that is happening. We know from Your Word...from the Prophets of old, what is to come for Israel and the Israeli people. We know the struggles and the heartaches to come for them. You have raised up Binyamin Netanyahu as the leader of Your nation, for such a time as this. I pray Father that you pour out Your Great Strength, Wisdom, Guidance and Protection upon Binyamin Netanyahu, and the Israeli people. Please protect them Father from the many evil enemies that surround them. Let them seek You Father, and that Your Holy Spirit is poured out upon them, that they may know, love and accept their True Messiah...our Lord Jesus Your Son.
Thank You Father for such Grace upon us...that You Blessed us to be born into this moment in time. For the privilege of Loving... Worshipping...Witnessing for Your Son in these days. We thank You Father, in Jesus Loving name...Amen!

"Sha -Alu Shalom Yirushalayim”
Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem

Helen said...

Praying in agreement.

Blessings,

Helen

Anonymous said...

Amen Mrs. C. and Amen.
waterer/kr

GG said...

Wonderfully heartfelt prayer for Bibi and Israel. May God give him all he needs in the days ahead. May we pray earnestly for them and their protection.

Romans 9:27 Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.

Isaiah 65:1 "I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, 'Here am I, here am I.'

God Bless!!

GG

Diane said...

Amen, may it be so ...Diane

Anonymous said...

Amen and amen! If any two be gathered in my name.... Praise you Lord Jesus! Love you my brothers and sisters in Christ! Ally

mary said...

Mrs. C. what a beautiful prayer.Lets just continue to Praise our Father for all He has done and all He is going to do.You are right, what a blessing to be living in "such a time as this"
Psalm 145:1-2 "I will exalt you my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day, yes, I will praise you forever."