Wednesday, April 3, 2013


An open letter to Rabbi John Rosove:


In your blog which was widely distributed by the Jewish Journal a Los Angeles (The Organized American Jewish Community’s Response to President Obama’s Jerusalem Speech March 31, 2013 ) you wrote:


"What  concerns me is the potentially obstructionist role that some in the organized American Jewish community might take (as has happened in the past) when President Obama and Secretary Kerry put concrete proposals on the table about borders, settlements, security, Jerusalem, and refugees. I hope that what is missing in their press statements are merely oversights. I hope as well that the organized American Jewish community support President Obama fully in his efforts without second guessing him and without partisan rancor in order to help the Israelis and Palestinians find an end of conflict two-state solution without getting in his way."

Let me take exception to your use of the word “obstructionist” and your extortion to the American Jewish community to "support President Obama fully in his efforts without second guessing him and without partisan rancor… without getting in his way." 

First, partisan domestic political considerations should play no role in the support or opposition to the president relating to support of Israel and Israel's survival. Thus, I call upon YOU to divorce YOUR liberal political support of the president from this issue.

Second, it is important to look at the close advisers to the president and determine the basis of  President Obama's “understanding” of the Middle East situation. Obama himself said that it was Rashid Khalidi who gave him his understanding of the Middle East. Zbigniew Brzezinski was another advisor who helped “formulate his understanding”.

Rather than go into a full discussion I would like to present you with  observations of a non-Jewish US military leader who has had more than 30 years experience including advising the Egyptian, Jordanian, Saudi Arabian military as well as working with the Palestinians and Lebanese. These remarks appeared in  his postings in the Jewish Journal and elsewhere:

The As long as the Palestinians  maintain the Arab League position: no negotiations; no recognition; no peace; demand that any area they takeover should be Jew-free. ; maintain that even if they get a State, the residents  of the camps on the West Bank, in Jordan, Syria, etc. would not be citizens of this new state  but would have the right of unlimited return to the state of  Israel; and that all of Israel is unredeemed Islamic territory, THERE WILL NEVER BE PEACE. 

IT IS NOT A MATTER OF TRUSTING THE US. ISRAEL'S SURVIVAL IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ISRAEL AND ISRAEL ALONE

What is true of the Obama administration is true of EVERY  US ADMINISTRATION.

Israeli and American Jews would be well advised to review history and  realize  that US assurances such as that “we will not permit Hezbollah to re-arm” are well meant at the time but will be freqently   reneged upon.  Another example is Pres. Johnson's reassurance to Israel about preserving Israel's free-navigation rights. There, Johnson lied directly to the Israelis telling them that he was actively  organizing an international maritime force to prevent the blockade of the Strait of Tiran , when in fact no such force was ever actually planned or even contemplated.

As an American military officer I constantly remind  my Israeli military contacts  to remember  that at all times I represent the  United States as the  United States' interests are perceived by my civilian/military chain of command. [And that chain of command often  includes  officials such as Adm. Bobby Inman; Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger; Secretary of Defense Charles Hagel; Presidential Adviser Zbigniew  Brzezinski; and others not very well disposed of ---on ideological grounds--- toward Israel.]

Rabbi Rosove,  as a Rabbi with a great learning ,you have benefited the Jewish and general  community with  many of your insights. 

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE ARTICLES.

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