Thursday, March 18, 2010

AFL: OBAMA ADMINISTRATION EMBARRASSES AMERICANS WHEN IT HUMILIATES ALLIES AND SHOWS WEAKNESS TOWARD ENEMIES

(The American friends of Likud Press release).The announcement by the Israeli Interior Ministry of a plan to build additional housing units in Jerusalem some two years from now did not violate the commitment of the Netanyahu government to the Obama Administration not to initiate any new construction in Judea and Samaria for ten months. Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, was conspicuously not included in the moratorium. Even though Prime Minister Netanyahu was surprised by the announcement, he apologized both personally and publicly to Vice President Biden for the embarrassment caused by its timing.

In contrast, the disproportionate, scripted remarks from Secretary of State Clinton to Prime Minister Netanyahu were a pre-meditated exercise by the administration to embarrass and humiliate the democratically-elected leader of a staunch U.S. ally. It follows a pattern of deliberately embarrassing allies such as Britain, France, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, as well as Israel in 2009, while appeasing bitter enemies such as North Korea and Iran. The failure of the administration to impose on Iran the biting sanctions overwhelmingly approved by both houses of Congress is appalling, yet revealing.

Most disturbingly, the accusation that Israel is placing the lives of American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan at greater risk is nothing short of libelous and incendiary.

American Friends of Likud urge the Obama Administration to cease embarrassing the American people when it humiliates our democratic friends and displays weakness toward our autocratic foes.

About American Friends of Likud:

American Friends of Likud (AFL) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about Israel and events taking place in the Middle East, and raising a general awareness of Zionism. AFL provides a solid partnership of public support for the State of Israel, its citizens, and its democratically elected officials. While American Friends of Likud maintains realtionships with Israel's Likud party, we remain an independent democratic movement. AFL takes an active role in the World Zionist Congress, joining the World Likud movement in representing the American voice of Likud in Israel. We are also partners with the Jewish Agency for Israel and members of the American Zionist Movement and the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations. For more information please visit www.thelikud.org.