I thought long and hard when I was asked about the grass-roots feelings of us Israelis concerning the Palestinian goings-on at the United Nations this week. All the big hitters, from both the Palestinian and the Israeli sides, are in New York for the opening of the UN session. Not to mention President Barack Obama's presence at the General Assembly.
The US President opened with a supportive-of-Israel speech that knocked our collective socks off. The Arabs mostly hated it. The Israelis mostly loved it. Who would have thought?
Almost since his inauguration some three years ago, Obama has been the bête noire of huge numbers of Jews around the world, including many Israelis. Yet just last week, the lead story in the Sept 18th edition of "New York Magazine" was subtitled: "Barack Obama is the best thing Israel has going for it right now".
On the other hand, also last week, for the first time in 90 years, voters in New York's District 9, which includes large numbers of Jewish voters, chose a Republican candidate and not a Democrat. A slap in the face to the President. What is going on?
President Obama's main message was that the recognition and establishment of a Palestinian State must...More >>
