Obama’s Visit to Israel — News, Video, and Analysis
Barack Obama’s tremendous warmth toward Israel and his energy and seriousness about working with the parties to find a solution to the conflict were clearly visible in the intense coverage of his recent visit!
Below, Jews for Obama brings you a selection of the media coverage of Obama’s trip, including video from infolive.tv, a good source of Israeli news in English.
Obama was personally driven to the Jordanian airport by King Abdullah. After a short flight, Obama arrived on the tarmac in Israel on Tuesday, July 22nd and set the tone for his visit:
“I want input and insight from Israel’s leaders about how they see the current situation; I’ll share some of my ideas. The most important idea for me to reaffirm is the historic, special relationship between the United States and Israel — one that cannot be broken, one that I have affirmed throughout my career, and one that I would intend to not only continue but actually strengthen in an Obama Administration.
“My last thought is to the families who suffered the terrible tragedy that we saw today. And it’s just one more reminder of why we have to work diligently, urgently, and in a unified way to defeat terrorism. There are no excuses, and I am absolutely committed to working with the Israeli government to make sure these kinds of occurrences do not happen. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families that have suffered as a consequence of today’s vicious attacks.”
Obama managed to squeeze in visits with leaders on all sides of the Israeli political spectrum as well as a stop in Ramallah to speak with Mahmoud Abbas. A few short videos:
- Obama’s arrival, meetings with Prime Minister Ehud Barak, President Shimon Peres, and opposition leader Bibi Netanyahu, and a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial
- Man-on-the-street interviews, former Israeli consul in New York Alon Pinkas, and Palestinian lawmaker Hahan Ashrawi
- Jerusalem Post chief political correspondent Gil Hoffman commenting on the success of Obama’s visit
- Obama speaking at Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust Memorial
Parties on all sides sought to judge where an Obama Administration would take America’s Israel policy. As Obama himself said in Sderot (video), “The way you know where somebody’s going is where have they been. And I’ve been with Israel for many, many years now.” Speaking in front of a massive stack of missiles shot at Sderot by Hamas, Obama clarified his comments on Jerusalem and also discussed the Iranian threat.
Before leaving Israel, Obama visited the Kotel (Western Wall) at 5:00am Thursday morning, July 24. The Senator was escorted by Rabbi Samuel Rabinowitz, who read Psalm 122 with Obama and discussed with him the significance of the Kotel to the Jewish people. Here is a clip of the raw AP video so you can hear what was happening at the scene.
Jews for Obama would like to echo and amplify one observer’s comment made near the end of the clip: “Thank you for coming!”
July 25th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
As a Jew for Obama, I am opposed to our government’s unconditional support of Israel. I oppose Israel’s occupation and oppression of the Palestinians. Of course I am also opposed to terrorism, whether it’s committed by certain Palestinians or the Israeli government. However it’s the Israeli government and the U.S. which furnishes Israel billions of dollars annually, that have the most power to settle this dispute. The Israel Lobby consisting of AIPAC and other organizations, although very moneyed and shrill, does not speak for the majority of American Jews. The next President of the United States will have to put pressure on both sides including Israel, and make it a top priority to obtain a peace settlement. I believe and I tell other people that as President Barack Obama will do this. I am very happy that Obama while on his trip to Israel and the West Bank, stated that he will make it a top priority to work out a peace settlement.