On the one hand, Israel is just a geopolitical problem, and Obama intends to be a master lever puller and effect resolution of the problem. Its just another country.

On the other hand, Israel is a cultural issue, especially in the sense that the Judeo-Christian heritage, and the civilization which has emerged upon it, depends in some profound ways on the Jewish scriptures and commentary on them. Marcion in the first century was the first of many who wanted to discard the Jews and their Bible. But Christians can’t and shouldn’t discard them, if in some essential ways “Salvation comes from the Jews.”

Christianity ultimately does not need the state of Israel, one might say, and Judaism, as many Jews argue, doesn’t need Israel either. But it’s a deep issue, as deep as the culture and its religion, and to ignore our cultural stake while privileging the Arab/Islamic stake is to indulge, at a very basic level, in cultural malfeasance, if not suicide.

Co-existence in Israel? Sure, if you could count on it. Does Intrade have a line on it?

I guess Obamites are too sophisticated to consider the basic good, i.e. that Israel is a friend and ally. Why can’t liberals ever take their own side in a fight?