Opinion

June 18, 2010

Top 6 Ways Obama Has Made Israel Safer

By Representative Steve Rothman (D-NJ)

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There are six hugely important developments that have happened in the last month that will provide extraordinary help to protect Israel’s security. Unfortunately, these events have been underreported in the media.

1. On June 9, 2010,  the U.N. Security Council passed a set of new sanctions against Iran with Russia, China, the U.S. and nine others voting in favor, with Brazil and Turkey voting no, and Lebanon abstaining.  While these sanctions will have some additional effects, and are expected to result in even greater sanctions from the Europeans and the U.S., the most immediate, as well as long term benefit of the sanctions is that Russia has agreed not to sell its S-300 anti-aircraft system to Iran!  The S-300 system is extremely difficult to overcome, according to all knowledgeable military experts.  If delivered to Iran, it would be a game-changer in Iran’s military position vis-a-vis Israel.  (Russia now says Iran sanctions ban S-300 missiles)


2. On June 12, 2010, Saudi Arabia agreed to permit Israel to over fly a portion of its territory, should Israel feel it necessary to undertake military actions against Iran.  (Saudi Arabia Gives Israel Clear Skies to Attack Iranian Nuclear Sites)


3. On June 10, 2010, the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, publicly stated that Israel should not be forced to end its blockade of Gaza.  (Abbas to Obama: I’m against lifting the Gaza naval blockade)


4. On June 9, 2010, Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas publically declared in Washington, D.C. that he and the Palestinians were ready to recognize that the Jewish people have a right to some portion of Israel and the territories.  (Washington - Abbas Tells U.S. Jews: I Would Never Deny Jewish Right to The Land of Israel)


5. On May 10, 2010, Israel was admitted, unanimously, to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). This enables Israel to join the world’s fellow economic powers as a co-equal, first class citizen for the first time.  (The State of Israel Joins the OECD)


6. On May 13, 2010, President Barack Obama announced his intention to give the state of Israel $205 million so that Israel might purchase additional Iron Dome anti-missile defense batteries for deployment throughout the State of Israel.On May 20, 2010, the House of Representatives voted 410 - 4 to affirm President Obama’s decision. The Iron Dome Short Range Artillery Rocket Defense System is designed to intercept short-range rockets, missiles, and mortars launched by terrorists in Gaza and southern Lebanon. It can protect Israel from rockets within a range of 2.5 – 45 miles.  (Obama authorizes $205 million for Iron Dome)

All these six items have a major, positive impact on the security of the State of Israel!

Each of these six accomplishments was only made possible with the direct, powerful, and demanding insistence of President Barack Obama. In my opinion, the big picture for Israel’s security has improved!

There is, obviously, a long way to go, but progress such as this is important not to overlook, ignore, or belittle.

Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) is in his seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives.  He serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittees of Defense; and State and Foreign Operations, which appropriate all spending for the United States military, and all foreign aid, respectively.

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Here what much more honest Democrat than Rothman said on Jube 17: Ed Koch writes about his disappointment over “the lengthy acquiescence of members of Congress to Obama’s actions” regarding Israel. He reminds us:

Senator Obama received 78 percent of the votes of the Jewish community nationwide. The only group giving him a higher percentage was the African-American community. Many Jewish leaders, myself included, have concluded that President Obama has reneged on his support for the security of Israel – a major priority for most American Jews and many Christians – and is shifting American foreign policy to favor the Muslim, and in particular, the Palestinian cause.”

Comment by Victoria Bloom on 6/18/10 at 7:07 pm

Are you nuts? Blind? Deaf? Which is it?

This is like the European Jews refusing to believe until they’ve entered the crematoria that the Germans would be capable of hurting them.

Comment by Alan on 6/18/10 at 9:54 pm

Here what one much more prominent and honest Democrat said on June 17.
Ed Koch writes about his disappointment over “the lengthy acquiescence of members of Congress to Obama’s actions” regarding Israel. He reminds us:

Senator Obama received 78 percent of the votes of the Jewish community nationwide. The only group giving him a higher percentage was the African-American community. Many Jewish leaders, myself included, have concluded that President Obama has reneged on his support for the security of Israel – a major priority for most American Jews and many Christians – and is shifting American foreign policy to favor the Muslim, and in particular, the Palestinian cause.” ”

Comment by Victoria Bloom on 6/19/10 at 1:17 am

Rothman account is what the people call the party propaganda.
Read liberal opinion “Iran sanctions Starting to Look Like a Charade”- Michael Hirsh, Newsweek June 17

Comment by joanleese on 6/19/10 at 1:57 am

I don’t know what you are smoking, but whatever it is, I sure would like some of.  At best you are Naive like Obama or worse, whatever you are using is dulling your sensed.

Comment by Morton Rabin on 6/19/10 at 2:40 am

Rothman must be kidding himself. Iten #1 has nothing to do with Israel, Items 2-5 were announced over Obama’s objections and only #6 is a direct contribution of our President to the defence of Israel

Comment by ethan Teitler on 6/19/10 at 5:08 am

You need your head examined. Or maybe a plumber, your head is plugged up with liberal BS & it’s affecting your brain. Obama is a disaster for Israel (& the US).
You Democrats deserve what’s coming, especially liberal Jewish Democrats who don’t stand up for Israel.

Comment by Terry - Eilat, Israel on 6/19/10 at 9:16 am

The only time the administration - Obama, Clinton, and many others - felt compelled to verbally castigate a nation was against Israel, after it acted on its right to build apartments. Apartments! It has not done anything similar against the world’s leading despots and warmakers. It has not insisted that Hamas return a kidnapped Israeli. It has not insisted that Hezbollah and Lebanon disarm its warmonging proxies of Iran. Obama has been most talk, no walk.

Comment by Paul on 6/19/10 at 12:30 pm

135 days 5 hours 59 minutes 0 seconds left until November 2, 2010 8:00:00

Rothman is toast.

Comment by Ben Plonie on 6/19/10 at 9:56 pm

Rep.Steve Rothman should be better informed, before he
publishes his pro-Obama propaganda. Saudi-Arabia denied
to have ever agreed to allow Israel to fly over its territory for an attack against Iran; Abbas demanded publicly an end of the blockade. Rep.Rothman “forgot” to mention, that the Obama administration did nothing, to reject the UN Secretary’s demand for a new kangaroo court proceeding regarding Israel’s defensive actions against the Turkish Flotilla and if it’s really his opinion, that “the big picture of Israel’s security has improved”, he should quickly look for a better fitting job than a seat in the Congress.

Comment by George Barth on 6/20/10 at 4:41 am

what an apologist….filled with errors….hard to be proisrael and a liberal democrat and a zionist at the same time with this far left group in power….see shmuel rosner’s reply to this in JPOST…

Comment by Ken O'Hara on 6/20/10 at 9:12 am

1. The russians will do whatever is best for them ,and China was allowed to keep on trading with Iran.Turkey will still buy Iranian gas.
2.denied by Saudi Arabia.Israel would not have to request to fly over Saudi Arabia if the US would allow Israel to fly over Iraq.
3.the blockade is the best thing Abbas could have asked for. you dont understand middle east politics.
4.does the jewish people have to ask for Abbas concent for some portion of Israel????
5.It’s mostly an achievement of Israel.
6.It’s really conforting knowing that even that thousands of missiles will fall over us, a few of them will not reach their target…
with all due respect your anlysis is wrong and misleading

Comment by Doron Kahn on 6/20/10 at 12:35 pm

Sir: You’ve been a politician too long for you believe your own party and echo its message. I look at the oil spill and the course of action Obama’s taken. Refused aid (Jones Act, skimmers)from day one (2 months ago). His inaction will bring about BPs lawsuit about the government’s inaction (Mishandling) and hopefully it will bring an end to Obama’s rein. His inaction has caused and is causing much misery to fellow Americans.

Comment by sam corwin on 6/21/10 at 2:42 am

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