Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that the world cannot wait much longer to keep Iran from reaching nuclear-weapons capability and stressed that the Jewish state reserves the right to “defend Jewish lives.”
“As prime minister of Israel, I will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation,” Netanyahu vowed.
He addressed assessments that a strike on Iran may provoke an even greater response by holding up copies of letters that he keeps in his desk — dated 1944 — in which the World Jewish Congress implores the U.S. War Department to strike the Auschwitz death camp.
Reading from the documents, Netanyahu noted the response from the U.S.: besides diverting military equipment from other operations, “such an effort might provoke even more vindictive action by the Germans.”
“My friends, 2012 is not 1944,” he said. “The American government today is different. You heard that in President Obama’s speech yesterday. The Jewish people are also different. Today we have a Jewish state.”
And that state exists to ensure that the slaughter of the Jewish people will “never again” happen.
“That is why Israel must always have the right to defend itself — by itself — against any threats,” the prime minister said.
His speech, which was punctuated by 14 standing ovations, capped off a day in which he had “several hours” of bilateral talks with Obama, according to the White House. After an extremely long ovation upon his entrance, he quipped, “Wow, just like in the Knesset!”
“Tonight I’d like to talk to you about a subject that no one’s been talking about recently,” Netanyahu then quipped shortly into his address. “Yep, Iran.”
“Every day I open newspapers and read about red lines and timelines,” he said. “…I’m not going to say what Israel will do or might do. I never talk about that.”
Today the Financial Times, The Economist and The Wall Street Journal all point out that the new actors in the region are India, China and Russia.
They do not care about the Israelis, the Kurds, the Druze, the Alawites, the Copts -etc
—they only care about OIL.
The US has lost interest in the region
–our fundamental interests are now our domestic economy and the Western Pacific.
The moving finger writes and having writ moves on–
It is what it is
An absolutely wonderful speech, sans teleprompter.
I could not get out of my mind while Netanyahu spoke, a country of six million represented by a brilliant orator, and America is represented by a community activist who couldn’t run a lemonade stand and pronounces corpsman, CORPSEMAN.
Millions of dupes, rubes and loons aren’t smart enough to hide their head in their hands.
Obama ‘s problem is that he has a history of being anti-semetic. He also needs Jewish votes to get reelected. I think he probably bombs Iran, to help in re-election. He can always betray Israel later if he gets re-elected.
I hope you’re right.
I’m slowly coming to my own conclusions on this issue. That is, about my own preferences, judgements, wishes, and what is “right”, and what is lowest risk for the world.
What is likely to happen is another thing entirely.
So, by what you way, will Obambus manage to join Israel in a major attack on Iran before November? I can’t really see it. But I’d like to.
ps – does the edit widget *ever* show up for anybody on any of these tatler threads? it doesn’t for me. so please excuse a few misspellings.
I think Netanyahu has Obama right where he wants him, and us. Isreal can get us into a shooting war with Iran by simply sending a single squadren of fighters into Iran with little to no risk to themselves. Just flip a few bunkerbusters into Iran from Iraq and return to Isreal. Iran will respond by attacking our troops and ships in the region, closing the strait of Hormuz…and Voils, we’re in it.
Life is hard. Get used to it. A superpower (the US) has had close to a decade or even longer to deal with Iran. Suck it up.
Obama will take out Iran’s nuclear sites – just not right now. Purely for political reasons. Just before the elections, maybe even during the Republican Convention. Just watch!! He will then be very hard to beat in the general election. Obama wants control and that is why he wants Netanyahu to let him know 24 hours before Israel strikes. So he can try again to stop them if it is not the right time for Obama. Its all about Obama and his relection – everything he does is.
Netanyahu is a powerful speaker, dedicated to his country and their citizens. Never apologizes, looks you in the eye. What a great leader Israel has.
Obama may well bomb Iran, though I’m increasingly inclined to doubt it; but if he does so, it will be based purely on political calculations, not national security needs or defending an ally. And if that happens, then the possibility of miscalculation and frank disaster become profound. We’re faced with finding the “least bad choice” concerning Iran, and we have a platoon of incompetents running the White House. “What can possibly go wrong?”
My guess is that Obama is making promises to Netanyahu about bombing Iran which he does not mean to keep, but which he hopes will keep Netanyahu from doing anything before the election. If he wins, he will easily find ways to forget about those promises. And whatever catastrophe may happen thereafter will allow him both to express regret and celebrate his wisdom in keeping the United States out of it.
I concur. Little Zero will tell Netanyahu whatever he thinks will get him the Jewish votes. He’ll never actually bomb Iran because that would cost him the Palestinian campaign donations.
It would also force him to make a difficult decision, one that would directly benefit the US and act against a US enemy, the very things he is most loathe to do.
Iran may be a U.S. enemy but that doesn’t mean its Obama’s enemy. Voting “present” is his way of avoiding picking a side.
[Not a duplicate PJ] Iran may be a U.S. enemy but that doesn’t mean its Obama’s enemy. Voting “present” is his way of avoiding picking a side.
Friends of Israel, if Israel is charmed into ANY dependancy on 0zamb0 and i mean charmed, as a rattle snake will charm a bunny before the bunny becomes a meal….The USA stands pretty solid behind the only friend we have in the ME, i speak of Israel. it is just this adm. that is born and bred in Hell….and it looks like the only person in the USA calling all the shots now-a-days is 0zamb0, …Congress is a whipped puppy, fearing to even cross this evil man,.They did honor Mr. Netanyahu, with standing ovations, over and over….G-d help our world, and Israel, because the Man of evil is trying to call the timing of Israel`s demise….Mr Bibi, do what you have to do, to HELL with this slippery con-man…and his evil communist pals….Jimi Belton….PS, I fully expect to be one of the 25 million, that Ayers has stated that would have to die for “The Cause, Communist that is.”.
Netanyahu obviously has Obama’s number. Obama would only act before re-election (if he wins, he doesn’t need the issue any more). And Obama would not act before, say, August (so his “victory” is fresh in the voters’ minds and the full aftermath has not been felt). So if Netanyahu wants to act without US actively blocking the effort, he will do what’s needed between August and October. We may be about 6 months from Armageddon, or we may see nothing at all happen.
Very strange state of affairs. Wish I owned an oil well. In, say, Pennsylvania or Alberta or Texas.
Buy some land in Ohio. The shale boom is really starting to pick up speed.
I do not think he is correct.
It is my understanding the Jewish State exists to show the world G-d keeps his side of the bargin. Abraham, Issac, Joseph, and Moses had a deal with G-d. That deal was broken a number of times that lead to the destruction of Israel, and Juda. Now, after over 1900 years, Israel is reborn and has the Hebrew language too. Never before seen in History.
It is because G-d keeps his agreements, even when man cannot. All countries that curse Israel will be cursed. As the American government turns it’s back on Israel, and helps it’s enemies, America will get harmed with stroms, and earthquakes.
These last few years, we have seen the increase in destruction by these events in nature. Iran, and the other countries worhshiping the god of the Kaabba will get it worse, but Israel will stand as G-d has stated.
G-d speed to Israel, and to the United States military persons in harms way.
Best to you – with esteem.
Interesting. God’s curses are being blamed on global warming.
Netanyahu would do well to ignore Obama, and I think he knows it. He has to do what is needed to protect Israel. May God bless him with wisdom and may God show himself to the world through the little country of Israel.
Are you Jewish, or just trying to ingratiate yourself by writing “G-d”? If you’re both Jewish and a Marine, congratulations. Very few Jews are in the Marines, I understand there are only a couple hundred in the entire Corps.
Fine. Then Netanyahu, and Israel, and the Jewish people should not believe Barack Obama when he says he’s their “friend”. Barack Obama is friend to nobody and will throw anyone under the bus if it serves his purpose.
So go defend your people then, Mr. Netanyahu, and stop expecting the American people to do it for you.
No US military ever died to protect Israel. Israeli’s have done that. During the Gulf war Saddam Hussein missiles rained on Israel. Israel did not respond in fear that the US would lose the support of it’s “allies,” the Arab states. 241 unarmed marines that came to help Lebanon were blown up by Hitzbollah, Iran’s terror child. The Gulf war was to protect Kuwait and Saudi Arabia from Saddam land grab. Every single war in which US military lost their life was to help Muslims. Arab states have been allied with the NAZI’s, client states of the USSR while Israel supplied SAM battery captured from Egypt and MIG’s in flying order to help US pilots in the Viet Nam war. Israel is a constant vote the US can count on at the UN. The US has no better ally than Israel anywhere, any time.
How many Americans have died protecting Muslims (almost exclusively from other Muslims)? And how many Americans have died protecting Israel? As Poupic said, “none”.
I wonder if Mr. Netanyahu would be willing to be a donor for a presidential spine transplant? Just a few stem cells should be all that’s needed, and it will only take a few minutes.
Millions of Americans would be grateful.
In spite of obama’s recent statements that all options are on the table, I don’t think he will ever reach the point where he will use military force. He will always claim there is one more “option” to forestall use of force. Bobdog I like your comment about a spinal transplant. Bibi for president, we can always come up with a birth certificate.