Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

President Obama’s speech at the United Nations today proved to be one of his best moments since taking the White House—at least from the Jewish community’s perspective. One might cynically ask, “How sincere was he?” Was he trying to court the Jewish vote, which he has alienated more than any other president since Jimmy Carter? Obama is a complex man, and while this writer has differed with him on virtually every issue involving the Middle East (not to mention his domestic policies), today he did the right thing. It took huptzpa and courage, and he demonstrated why he is still a formidable political candidate-one to seriously run against-even with his ever dwindling popularity. He really surprised me by what he said. Arguably, this was one of his better moments on the international stage. Western Middle East experts even rate Obama’s address as the most supportive of Israel ever delivered at the world body by any US president. This observation sounds pretty correct; I do not recall in recent years hearing such an impassioned speech on behalf of Israel by an American President to the UN.

The gist of his message was simple: Israel’s concerns about being invaded by enemy and rogue states are legitimate. Hello Washington! This is exactly what centrists like myself have been talking about. Consider what the President said today:

“The Jewish people have forged a successful state in their historic homeland. Israel deserves recognition,” Obama said after outlining the array of threats that Israelis have faced in recent years, including rocket attacks and suicide bombers. “It deserves normal relations with its neighbors. And friends of the Palestinians do them no favors by ignoring this truth, just as friends of Israel must recognize the need to pursue a two-state solution with a secure Israel next to an independent Palestine.”

Actually, I want to point out that the Palestinians have never been interested in a two-state solution, or a three-state solution (granting Hamastan its own state); the Palestinians envision only a one state solution—one which does not include Israel. Abbas and his cronies made it a special point this week that in their grand vision of a Palestinian homeland, not a single Jew will live in “their” state. I can see the ghost of Hitler applauding with glee—yes, a true Judenrein state. Consider the irony of this remark, especially since Durban 4 is looking to castigate Israel for being an “apartheid” state. Can you imagine seeing Palestine serve on the Human Rights commission as a member state of the United Nations? The UN really stands for “United Nincompoops!”

Obama mentioned other points:

- The Palestinians deserve a territorial base for their state. (BTW, the 1967 borders were not mentioned-but he implies Palestine must be contiguous, which is a geographical impossibility.)

- But they must acknowledge the very real security concerns Israel faces every day.

- Israel is surrounded by neighbors who have repeatedly waged war against it. Its people are killed by missiles on its borders and suicide bombers. Other children are taught to hate them and far bigger nations want to wipe them off the map.

- They deserve a historical state in their historical land just as the Palestinians deserve a stated for which they have waited too long.
- Peace depends on compromise. Each side has legitimate aspirations and both must learn to stand in the other person’s shoes.

- The US president stressed that the US is unshakably committed to Israel’s security (Obama has a long way to prove that point).

Most of the points Obama made gives him about a B grade, which for him is a marked improvement.

No, if the Palestinians really wish to demonstrate their good will and sincerity, let them cease the theatrics at the UN and return to the negotiating table. That is the only path worth pursuing for them and for the sake of the peace.

As Netanyahu correctly observed, Israel has no problem with a peaceful Palestinian nation, but it will not tolerate a belligerent Palestinian state. “You’ve also made it clear that the Palestinians deserve a state, but it’s a state that has to make that peace with Israel,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said at an appearance with Obama after the president delivered the speech. “And, therefore, their attempt to shortcut this process, not negotiate a peace — that attempt to get membership, state membership in the United Nations — will not succeed.”

In a picture showing Obama and Netanyahu, Obama looked justifiably proud of himself for today he has done the right thing. Could this be a sign of teshuvah (repentance)? Maybe. As Jews, we have got to keep the pressure on him . . .

But with any desires to change, the penitent’s sincerity will be tested again and again. This does not mean that the Jewish community as a whole has changed its mind on Obama. As I mentioned previously, giving him a carte blanche second term could still prove to be disastrous to Israel, for then Obama will not have to worry about getting reelected. Given his past behavior, I hope Romney or Christie defeats him in the next presidential election.