r/politics • • 6d ago

No Paywall Obama: Israel 'took the land' from Palestinians, 'ceded moral ground' in Gaza

https://www.jpost.com/international/article-911851
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u/walkallover1991 District Of Columbia 6d ago

I'm sorry but statements like this give me "one day everyone will have been against this" vibes.

As President, Obama opposed Palestine's bid for full UN member status and then later also opposed their bid to non-member observer state status. His administration also worked to block Palestinian efforts to pursue charges against Israel at the ICC.

He continued doing the Democrat song and dance regarding settlement expansion, but expansion continued throughout his Presidency. The U.S. abstained from a UNSC vote on settlement expansion.

You can't be against settlement expansion while simultaneously sending military aid to Israel, protecting Israel on the international arena, and not sanctioning high-ranking Israeli leaders.

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u/DangerousCyclone 6d ago edited 6d ago

He was far from one of the most Pro Israel Presidents though, and he did pressure Bibi immediately to cease building settlements and succeeded for a time. I think the issue is similar to how he handled Russia; he was too passive as they stepped up their incursions and violations against the peace. The settler project kicked into high gear under him and by the time he left we had an escalating situation that led to the pre 10/7 status quo. 

Politically , had he done more he would've faced far more opposition among his own party and the Republicans. AIPACs stranglehold was very strong at the time. 

That said I hate this sentiment. Yeah he didn't have a good record before, but it is huge that he's saying something now.

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u/DMercenary 6d ago edited 5d ago

Its purity politics. "Oh you didn't have a perfect stance on this? Fuck off and never ever darken our door again."

edit: lmao qed the replies. ITT is malding and seething that Obama finally made a statement against Israel. Instead of actually going "great!" Its "Ugh finally he still sucks though." No wonder none of you ever fucking win anything. As soon as one puts a toe out of line its "THEY SUCK FOREVER AND I WILL NEVER SUPPORT THEM!"

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u/n16r4 6d ago

No it's if you have any decency you say sorry acknowledge your mistake and put your effort behind people who are actually right on the issue because obviously you have no fucking idea.

You don't go out and do a mixture of ass-covering and finger-wagging, I mean ffs he talks about Israel ceding moral ground, what moral ground they've been a settler state from the start. He is trying to safe the Israeli project from selfdestruction.

It's the exact opposite of purity politics because Obama is trying to leech of the pro-palestine sentiment, he isn't trying to join he is barring the entry for others.

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u/solerex 5d ago

What could Obama possibly be leeching off of the cause for? He's not up for elected office and he doesn't gain anything for espousing his opinion

"Israel project" reeks of prejudice btw 

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u/n16r4 5d ago

I'm sure Obama is not invested in Democrats or the American project, he probably has no feelings or convictions and became president on a whim.

Guess what most of us will never run for office, yet we still try and influence politics.

"Israel project" reeks of prejudice btw 

You can't be a real person, no wonder you are an Obama fan you reek of this moral grandstanding and tone policing, in what world is Israel not a man-made project? They make it a point of pride that they reconstructed the language, you'll also notice that 7 million Israelis did not sprout from the ground but made a concerted effort in creating the country.

Especially from the perspective of America Israel is their pet project, they don't fund it out of the goodness of their heart, same way governments all over the world are projects of America, or would you say the current Venezuelan government is not an American project ie construction?!

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u/solerex 5d ago

There is genuinely not one congruent thought in this whole comment. Thanks for the response.

"Obama fan" lol... Lmao even

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u/lyreluna 6d ago

He's always enjoyed finger wagging anyone who doesn't agree with him