Blessed be the Whistle-Blowers

In the technological age we are living in, a person can just about make up anything regarding conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere. Given the ubiquity of illusion, we must wonder: Did this conversation actually take place between the President and the Israeli Prime Minister?

Now here is the transcript that appeared in the Israeli news on Channel One:

Damning evidence has emerged of US President Barack Obama’s dismissal of Israel’s position in favor of supporting the position of Hamas and its allies during ceasefire talks.

A “senior US official” leaked an audio recording of a telephone conversation between Obama and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to Channel One. In it the 35-minute conversation, which took place on Sunday, the US President appears downright hostile at points, and even cuts off Netanyahu in the middle of his protestations over a one-sided truce proposal which would have seen Hamas receive all its key demands, but that Israel ultimately rejected.

The following is an excerpt of the conversation, published in Hebrew by Channel One:

Obama: I demand that Israel agrees to an immediate, unilateral ceasefire and halt all offensive activities – particularly airstrikes.

Netanyahu: What will Israel receive in return for a ceasefire?

Obama: I believe that Hamas will stop firing rockets – silence will be met with silence.

Netanyahu: Hamas violated all five previous ceasefires, it is a terrorist organization which is dedicated to the destruction of Israel.

Obama: I repeat and expect Israel to unilaterally stop all its military activity. The pictures of destruction from Gaza distance the world from Israel’s position.

Netanyahu: Kerry’s proposal was completely unrealistic and gives Hamas the military and diplomatic advantage.

Obama: Within a week of the end of Israel’s military activities, Qatar and Turkey will begin negotiations with Hamas on the basis of the 2012 understanding [following the end of Operation Pillar of Defense – ed.], including Israel’s commitment to removing the siege and restrictions on Gaza,

Netanyahu: Qatar and Turkey are the biggest supporters of Hamas. It is impossible to rely on them to be fair mediators.

Obama: I trust Qatar and Turkey, and Israel is in no position to choose its mediators.

Netanyahu: I object, because Hamas is able to continue and to fire rockets and to use tunnels for terror attacks…

Obama – interrupts Netanyahu mid-sentence: The ball is in Israel’s court – it is obligated to end all military activities.

Interestingly enough, both the State Department and the Prime Minister’s office announced that this alleged conversation never occurred and it is fabricated. The news report is embarrassing for the President. Some things that are said in private should not be said in public—such is the way of diplomacy. The Prime Minister would certainly never publicly embarrass the President. Such behavior is unbecoming of an ally.

How do we determine the truth whether this conversation took place or not?

Channel 1 reporter claims that the PM-POTUS transcript legit: Despite rejections by American and Israeli officials, Channel 1′s Or Nahari insists that the transcript leaked to him by a “senior American official” is authentic, but acknowledges that the quotes he published were merely an excerpt from a longer conversation.[1]

Personally, I think there is ample reason to believe that the gist of this conversation is true. For one thing, the President has not always been truthful with the American public in the past. We know that he has cracked down many times on whistle-blowers threatens journalists who criticize Obama and spies on them. Secondly, he promised we could keep our physicians once Obamacare kicked in. Then again, he also told us that the Benghazi attack was because of a video and was not an act of terrorism. Then again, there is the IRS scandal which strongly indicates the current administration has had a hand in pursuing conservative political groups and donors.

Is there reason to be suspicious that this transcript might actually be “true”? I believe the readers of my column are intelligent enough to answer this question.

If I could make a recommendation to the President, it would go something like this:

• Have a great five week vacation. By the time you’re back in the White House, Hamas will be defeated and one more terrorist threat will be eliminated from the Middle East. One behalf of the Jewish people, we want to thank you for not interfering with what Israel is about to do.

In short, “Blessed be the whistle-blowers, for they shall inherit the earth.”