Republicans Slam Obama's Hard Line On Israel

[Purveyor]

(AFP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers came out swinging Monday against President Barack Obama's hard line toward Israel over its controversial plans to expand a settlement in disputed East Jerusalem.

The number two Republican in the House of Representatives deplored the Obama administration's stance on Israel as "irresponsible" a week after Israel gave the green light to build 1,600 new homes for Jewish settlers in the area the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other top officials said last week's announcement of the new construction was insulting and damaging to efforts to revive long-stalled peace talks.

"To say that I am deeply concerned with the irresponsible comments that the White House, vice president and the secretary of state have made against Israel is an understatement," said House Republican Whip Eric Cantor, the only Jewish Republican in the House of Representatives.

"In an effort to ingratiate our country with the Arab world, this administration has shown a troubling eagerness to undercut our allies and friends."

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AFP: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gRuAO51ArRSAvsfBv8-tsEcGr9mA

[harun]

1. A Hard Line would be ending aid. This is far from a Hard Line towards Israel.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

7. +1 - You ain't kidding! (nt)

[IndianaGreen]

8. but, but, Obama is sending a memo to Bibi

Kudos to Biden and Hillary for reading the riot act to Bibi, but that's where this ends.

Israel knows that it can push Obama around, just like it has previous American Presidents with four notable exceptions: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush.

[madmom]

2. If it's got the repugs in a snit, it must have been the right thing to do!

[Thrill]

3. Not a surprise. They have to earn those AIPAC dollars.

[BeyondGeography]

4. Cynical bullshit...even Netanyahu knows he fucked up by now

[denimgirly]

5. Eric Cantor you are a disgrace to the Jewish community. Finally a WH that stands up to Israel.

[olegramps]

6. Perhaps he should immigrate to Israel along with Perle and Wolfowitz

He has a right to his opinion in that he supports the expansion of Israel into captured territory along with our citizens fighting proxy wars for Israel. It just happens that these views are viewed by many to be counterproductive to establishing a peaceful situation throughout the entirety of the Middle East. His opinions on the issue are not incidental also fueled by his outright hatred our president.

[IndianaGreen]

10. The American Jewish community supports a fair and just settlement in the Middle East

Eric Cantor is just spewing RW talking points.

[damntexdem]

9. It would be great if there were a hard line.

Instead, it's "naughty, naughty -- here's your money"!

The U.S. needs to stop all aid to Israel.

[O is 44]

11. I had to laugh after reading the headline

then reading the quote from Cantor, this guy has absolutely no gravitas.

I support the administration's stance, if only congress would cut the purse strings.

[Scurrilous]

12. Lieberman, McCain call on Admin to "lower voices" on Israel

<snip>

"Senators Joe Lieberman, D-CT, and John McCain, R-AZ, , just took to the Senate floor to call on the Obama Administration to end its condemnation of Israel over the actions of a bureaucrat during the recent visit to that country by Vice President Joe Biden. The message from the two was pretty simple: It's time to lower voices and get over the family feud.

Both senators, longtime allies and proponents of Israel, particularly Lieberman, said the Administration needs to recognize that the feud opens up a potential avenue for "enemies" of the U.S. (they named Iran mostly, and Syria) to exploit."

http://congress.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/15/lieberman-mccain-call-on-admin-to-lower-voices-on-israel/

[O is 44]

13. Oh please, the two BFF weighing in against the US

[Unvanguard]

14. A good reason to believe that Obama's stance is correct. n/t

[Cha]

15. KickR

[julian09]

16. Eric Cantor should be mayor of new settlements.