TPMDC Benjamin Netanyahu
Iran
Gallup: Iran, China Top America's 'Greatest Enemy' List
America needs adversaries. And according to a new Gallup poll, Americans are happy to place Iran and China at the top of its "greatest enemy" list.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Benjamin Netanyahu, China, Economy, Gallup, Iran, Israel, Mitt Romney, President Obama
Israel
Obama Didn't Shift U.S. Policy On Israel -- A Look Back At The Record
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu
There has been so much uproar in the last week over President Obama's statements about Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations beginning around 1967 borders - along with land swaps -- that TPM wanted to lay out the record on whether this policy really amounted to a shift - if even ever so slightly - from the policies of previous administrations.
Prime Minister Netanyahu flat-out rejected any return to 1967 boundaries a week ago Friday during a tense meeting at the White House, saying that such a plan was "indefensible." Days later, to rapturous applause at a joint session of Congress, he once again turned down any suggestion that Israel withdraw to its 1967 borders, although by then he and Obama appeared to have mended some fences after Obama gave a speech to the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee reiterating his commitment to Israel as close friend and ally.
But does Obama's position constitute a tangible shift in U.S. policy towards the peace process, or is it merely an affirmation of a long-recognized understanding?
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: AIPAC, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, George W. Bush, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Israel/Palestine
Israel
Andrews Stands By Remark That Obama 'Tilting Towards Hamas'
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ).
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) is sticking to his statement made Tuesday that President Obama is "tilting towards Hamas" -- and went further on Wednesday complaining that the President's comments last week about the starting point for peace negotiations, and the subsequent uproar, has bolstered the Palestinians' standing.
Andrews said Obama had given Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah party has entered into a unity agreement with their rivals Hamas, an excuse to insist on preconditions before sitting down at the negotiating table with Israel. He was referring to comments Obama made during a major speech last week that the borders of Israel and a future Palestinian state should be based on 1967 lines with agreed upon swaps.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: AIPAC, Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Benjamin Netanyahu, Eliot Engel, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Robert Andrews, Terrorism
Israel/Palestine
Netanyahu Addresses Supportive U.S. Congress
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rounded out a tumultuous visit to Washington with a speech to a largely sympathetic Congress Tuesday, compared to the tense relations on display with President Obama last week.
During the address, Netanyahu reaffirmed the close ties between the U.S. and Israel and once again rejected any suggestion of redrawing Israel's borders with a future Palestinian state along 1967 lines.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Middle East, Mitch McConnell, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, boehner
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Netanyahu To Address Congress
Reuters reports: "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would set forth his view of a future Middle East peace in an address to Congress on Tuesday and reaffirmed Israel would never return to its old, narrow borders. 'I will outline a vision for a secure Israeli-Palestinian peace,' the right-wing Israeli leader said on Monday about his planned address to a joint meeting of Congress. 'I intend to speak the unvarnished truth. Now more than ever what we need is clarity.'"
Obama's Day Ahead
The President and First Lady participated in an arrival ceremony at Buckingham Palace at 12:20 p.m. BST (7:20 a.m. ET), and had lunch with Queen Elizabeth II at 12:25 p.m. BST. They will view the Portrait Gallery at 2 p.m. BST. They will tour Westminster Abbey at 3 p.m. BST, and President Obama will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony. They will arrive at 10 Downing Street at 3:45 p.m. BST. Obama will meet with Opposition Leader Ed Miliband at 5 p.m. BST. Then at 8:30 p.m. BSt, the President and First Lady will attend a dinner hosted by the Queen.
Topics: 2011 Elections, 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Budget, Debt Ceiling, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Medicare, NY-26, Paul Ryan, Pres '12, Roundup
Barack Obama
Democrats Glad Obama Clarified His Remarks On Israel
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) tried to emphasize the positive one day after President Obama clarified his remarks about where to begin in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process after his initial statements on the issue last week created a firestorm among ardent supporters of Israel.
"I'm glad he clarified his remarks," Lowey told TPM at the annual American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee conference. "I'm glad we're all on the same page now."
Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ), a strong supporter of Israel, was much more sympathetic to Obama and his comments over the last few days, arguing that Obama never meant to advocate for a return to the 1967 armistice. He also gave Obama high marks for his follow-up speech.
"He wanted to make a strong point that these would be adjustments to the armistice," Rothman said. "And he said the relationship between the two nations is outstanding ... that the U.S. commitment to Israel is ironclad."
Obama had alienated the Jewish community during a speech last Thursday in which he called for the peace negotiations to begin with the boundaries that existed before the 1967 Six Day War in which Israel forces captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Obama stressed the need for additional "mutually agreed upon" land swaps, but that didn't prevent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from angrily denouncing any return to the 1967 boundaries while sitting alongside Obama in the Oval Office on Friday.
The President on Sunday appeared to mend some fences with the Jewish and pro-Israel community by addressing 10,000 AIPAC attendees and insisting he is a "real friend" of Israel.
Regarding his speech last week at the State Department and his comment about 1967 lines the president was adamant that he had been "misrepresented several times."
Obama agreed that Israel could not go back to the 1967 borders as they were, and that "mutually agreed" land swaps would be necessary. Yet, to the consternation of some at the conference, he continued to suggest that Israel's actions were creating delays that were unacceptable to the international community.
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md), who spoke to the conference earlier Sunday, provided a stark contrast to Obama's speech by urging Palestinian leaders to return to the negotiating table without preconditions and urging the United Nations not to recognize an independent Palestinian state as long as it continued an alliance with Hamas.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: AIPAC, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Middle East, Middle East peace
Barack Obama
Netanyahu Flat-Out Rejects Return To 1967 Borders After Meeting With Obama
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat alongside President Obama in the Oval Office Friday and flat-out rejected any attempt to convince Israel to withdraw to its 1967 borders to allow for an adjacent Palestinian state, a move Obama had suggested in a major speech just the day before.
In lengthy comments after their meeting, Netanyahu said he and Obama shared the same goal of establishing peace between Israel and Palestine, but there are some "realities" that must be dealt with first.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Middle East
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama And Netanyahu, Distrustful Allies, To Meet
The New York Times reports: "As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel heads to the White House on Friday for the seventh meeting since President Obama took office, the two men are facing a turning point in a relationship that has never been warm. By all accounts, they do not trust each other. President Obama has told aides and allies that he does not believe that Mr. Netanyahu will ever be willing to make the kind of big concessions that will lead to a peace deal."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive his daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. He will meet at 11:15 a.m. ET with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two will deliver statements to the press at 12:05 p.m. ET, and hold a working lunch at 12:30 p.m. ET. Then at 3:10 p.m. ET, Obama will deliver remarks to CIA employees.
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Budget, DSCC, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Kent Conrad, Libya, Roundup, Senate '12
Eric Cantor
Cantor Spox Writes Indignant Op-Ed Addressing Netanyahu Flap
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Rep. Eric Cantor's spokersperson Brad Dayspring has written an op-ed in Politico to address the fallout from a meeting between his boss and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York last week. In the piece, Dayspring expresses outrage with the news media, which "hyperbolically suggested that the incident was a scandal, or worse, a felony."
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Benjamin Netanyahu, Eric Cantor, Israel
Eric Cantor
Cantor Spox Clarifies 'Check' Comments GOPer Made To Netanyahu
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA)
Rep. Eric Cantor's office is clarifying a statement it put out last week about the meeting between Cantor, the likely next House Majority Leader, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Cantor spokesperson Brad Dayspring told The Washington Post that Cantor's comment to Netanyahu that the new Republican majority in the house 'will serve as a check on the Administration' was 'not in relation to U.S./Israel relations.'
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Eric Cantor
Eric Cantor
Cantor Told Netanyahu That GOP 'Will Serve As A Check' On Obama
Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), likely the next House Majority Leader and the only Jewish Republican in the House, met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York on Wednesday, the night before Netanyahu met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Politico reports.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Eric Cantor, Hillary Clinton
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
G-20 Leaders Kick off Stormy Summit
The AFP reports: "The United States, striving to recover from its worst economic crisis in decades, locked horns anew with exporting giants China and Germany over a plan to rebalance skewed commerce between deficit and surplus countries. President Barack Obama, grafting to salvage a deal at the G20 after suffering an economy-linked drubbing in US elections last week, said his administration wanted to boost growth via 'prudent' economic policies. 'I don't think this is a controversial proposition.'"
South Korea And U.S. Fail To Resolve Trade Deal Row
Reuters reports: "The United States and South Korea failed on Thursday to revive a stalled free trade agreement, dealing a blow to both countries' leaders and putting a brake on bilateral trade. President Barack Obama and South Korea's Lee Myung-bak said negotiators would continue talks to address U.S. concerns that the deal does not do enough to open South Korean markets to U.S. beef and autos."
Topics: 2012 elections, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Pres '12, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Israel, Palestinians Set For Face-To-Face Talk
Reuters reports: "With a diplomatic push from President Barack Obama, Israeli and Palestinian leaders start direct peace talks on Thursday overshadowed by skepticism on all sides and violence in the volatile West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet at the State Department, relaunching talks after a 20-month hiatus and seeking a deal within one year that will set up an independent Palestinian state side-by-side with a secure Israel."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with his national security team at 11:30 a.m. ET. He will receive the economic daily briefing at 1 p.m. ET. He does not have any public events scheduled for today.
Topics: 2010 elections, AK-SEN, Afghanistan, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Christina Romer, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Joe Miller, Lisa Murkowski, Mahmoud Abbas, Robert Gates, Roundup, Scott McAdams
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama Opens Long-Shot Talks On Mideast Peace
The Associated Press reports: "President Barack Obama is opening a new round of Mideast peacemaking, bringing Israeli and Palestinian leaders together Wednesday for talks aimed at forging agreement within one year on a two-state solution: a sovereign Palestine and a secure Israel. Expectations were low as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived Tuesday for preparatory talks with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who has spent months coaxing the parties back to the bargaining table. The talks will be the first face-to-face sessions between the Israelis and Palestinians since December 2008, but the two sides are far apart on all key issues, so major progress in the early going is seen as unlikely."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will participate in a call at 9:15 a.m. ET with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, on the preparations being made in advance of Hurricane Earl. At 10:45 a.m. ET, he will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will meet at 1:30 p.m. ET with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. He will meet at 2:45 p.m. ET with King Abdullah II of Jordan, and he will meet at 4 p.m. ET with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. He will deliver a statement to the press at 5:20 p.m. ET. He and the visiting leaders will deliver statements to the press at 7 p.m. ET, and they will hold a working dinner at 8 p.m. ET.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Iraq, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, Mahmoud Abbas, Nancy Pelosi, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
In 2010, Obama's Poll Numbers Less Of An Asset For Congressional Democrats
The Washington Post reports on the effect that President Obama's sagging poll numbers could have on Democratic fortunes in the midterm election -- a big change from 2008, when his numbers were high and Dem candidates readily associated themselves with him. "In midterm elections, the presidential numbers serve like a weight on scale," said an unnamed senior Democratic consultant. "The heavier [or worse] the numbers, the harder it is for any person in the party to get back to even keel."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet with senior advisers at 10:30 a.m. ET, will receive the presidential daily briefing at 11 a.m. ET, and will receive the economic daily briefing at 12:05 p.m. ET. He does not have any scheduled public events today.
Topics: 2010 elections, Arizona, Barack Obama, Ben Bernanke, Benjamin Netanyahu, Immigration, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Jan Brewer, John Boehner, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Political Ads Surpass 2006 Levels As Attacks Mount
The Associated Press reports: "Across the country, political ad spending is up and attack ads lead the way. Those who take the high road do so at their peril. As of Thursday, candidates for state and federal office had spent $395 million on ads for the November elections, compared with $286 million at this point in the 2006 midterms. More than half the ads have been negative. Political parties and outside groups have been more negative, going on the attack in nearly 80 percent of their ads while spending $150 million, $41 million ahead of the 2006 pace."
Report: Netanyahu Proposes Bi-Weekly Meetings With Abbas
Reuters reports: "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has proposed meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas every two weeks to improve the prospects of Middle East peace talks, a diplomatic source said on Friday. Netanyahu, set to travel to Washington next week for direct talks, intends 'to handle the negotiations personally,' the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said of Netanyahu's plan: 'It is premature to talk about this now.'"
Topics: 2010 elections, Ben Bernanke, Benjamin Netanyahu, Chris Van Hollen, House '10, Immigration, Israel, Israel/Palestine, John McCain, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Sunday Roundup
Gibbs: GOP Could Win House
Appearing on Meet The Press, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs acknowledged that the Republicans could potentially win the House of Representatives: " I think there's no doubt that there are a lot of seats that will be up, a lot of contested seats. I think people are going to have a choice to make in the fall. But I think there's no doubt there are enough seats in play that could cause Republicans to gain control. There's no doubt about that. This will depend on strong campaigns by Democrats. And again, I think we've got to take the issues to them. You know, are--do you want to put in, in to the speakership of the House a guy who thinks that the, the financial calamity is, is tantamount to an ant? The guy who's the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Joe Barton, started his congressional testimony of the CEO of BP by apologizing, not to the people in the gulf, but to the CEO. I think that's a perfect window, not into what people are thinking, but the way they would govern. Joe Barton, John Boehner, those are the type of things you'll hear a lot, I think, from both the president and local candidates about what you'd get if the Republicans were to gain control."
Holder: DOJ Not Ruling Out Racial Profiling Suit Against Arizona Law
Also during his appearance on Face The Nation, Attorney General Eric Holder explained that the federal government was not ruling out opposing the Arizona illegal immigration law on the grounds of racial profiling, in addition to the federal preemption argument that is currently the basis for their lawsuit against the statute. "It doesn't mean that if the law, for whatever reason, happened to go into effect that six months from now, a year from now, we might not look at the impact the law has had and... see whether or not there has been that racial profiling impact," he said. "And if that was the case, we would have the tools, and we would bring suit on that basis."
Topics: 2010 elections, Arizona, Benjamin Netanyahu, David Axelrod, Eric Holder, Immigration, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Luis Gutierrez, Roundup, Sunday Shows
Sunday Shows
The Sunday Show Line-Ups
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:
• ABC, This Week: White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-CA).
• CBS, Face The Nation: Attorney General Eric Holder.
• CNN, State Of The Union: Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ), BP Victim Compensation Fund administrator Ken Feinberg.
• Fox News Sunday: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, White House Senior Adviser David Axelrod, Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ).
• NBC, Meet The Press: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs.
PERMALINK | COMMENTS | RECOMMEND RECOMMEND (0)Topics: Benjamin Netanyahu, Bill Richardson, Brian Bilbray, David Axelrod, Eric Holder, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Jon Kyl, Ken Feinberg, Luis Gutierrez, Robert Gibbs, Sunday Shows
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
McConnell: GOP Will Run On 'Repeal And Replace'
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) appeared on CNN, explaining how the GOP will run against the health care bill this year. "Repeal and replace will be the slogan for the fall," said McConnell, explaining that the party will run against the new taxes and cuts to Medicare Advantage. He added: "And we're going to remind the American people of that in the future and hopefully we'll be able to repeal the most egregious parts of this and replace them with things we could have done on a bipartisan basis much earlier this year."
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will meet at 9 a.m. ET with Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN). He will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:35 a.m. ET. He will meet at 10:15 a.m. ET with Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) to discuss financial reform. At 2:30 p.m. ET, he will sign an executive order reaffirming the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's consistency with longstanding restrictions on the use of federal funds for abortion, joined by a group of pro-life Democrats including Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) and others.
Topics: 2010 elections, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Budget Reconciliation, Health Care, Kent Conrad, Mitch McConnell, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Obama To Sign Health Care Bill Today
The big event today will be President Obama signing the health care bill, after its passage in the House on Sunday night. The next step afterward will be for the Senate to take up the budget reconciliation package, with its set of fixes for the bill, a process that could begin as early as today, after the main bill is signed into law.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama and Vice President Biden will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. Obama will meet at 10:30 a.m. ET with senior advisers. At 11:15 a.m. ET, Obama will deliver remarks and sign the health insurance reform bill into law. He will deliver further remarks on the health insurance reform bill at 12:05 p.m. ET. He will meet at 3 p.m. ET with Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) and Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN). He will meet at 5:30 p.m. ET with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Topics: Alan Frumin, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Budget Reconciliation, Chris Van Hollen, Harry Reid, Health Care, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, Parliamentarian, Roundup
Roundup
TPMDC Morning Roundup
Report: Hillary Clinton To Call Netanyahu
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will reportedly speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an effort to ease the diplomatic feud between the two countries that has come in the wake of an announcement of settlement expansion that came during Vice President Biden's visit to Israel. The call could come as early as today.
Obama's Day Ahead
President Obama will receive the presidential daily briefing at 9:30 a.m. ET, and the economic daily briefing at 10 a.m. ET. He will meet at 10:45 a.m. ET with Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen. He will deliver remarks at 12:35 p.m. ET, at Speaker Pelosi's Friends of Ireland Luncheon. The President and First Lady will host a St. Patrick's Day reception at 7:25 p.m. ET.
Topics: Alan Frumin, Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu, Health Care, Israel, Israel/Palestine, Joe Biden, Michelle Obama, Parliamentarian, Roundup, Steny Hoyer
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