Israeli Consul Recalled After Authoring Memo Critical of Israel’s Approach To Obama Administration
Israeli Consul Recalled After Authoring Memo Critical of Israel’s Approach To Obama Administration
Last week, an internal memorandum written by Boston-based Israeli consul general Nadav Tamir was leaked to the Israeli press, causing a media “firestorm” in Israel. In the memo, Tamir writes that the US-Israeli relationship is suffering as a result of Israeli hostility towards President Obama’s efforts to bring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to an end:
During a visit to Israel, I became more aware that we have a damaging misunderstanding regarding the intentions and policies of the American administration. I must note that even if I am wrong in my assessment of the American administration, the way in which we manage our relations nowadays is causing strategic damage to two very important aspects that make up our special relationship and they are the level of intimacy in coordinating policies, and the support of US public opinion towards Israel. [...]
In many American circles, there is a feeling these days, that while the Obama administration tries to resolve global conflicts, it must deal with the refusal to cooperate by governments in Iran, North Korea, and Israel. Aaron Miller’s words, spoken after the Obama-Netanyahu meeting, clearly show this feeling. He said it was a meeting between Obama yes we can and Netanyahu no you won’t. [...]
There are, of course, players in American and Israeli politics who oppose Obama ideologically and are willing to sacrifice the special relationship between the countries to further their own political agenda, but we cannot let these players damage the bipartisan attitude that rightly characterized the conduct of Israeli governments toward the US.
As a result of his memorandum, Tamir was recalled back to Israel and Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman angrily told the press that “if someone is not happy and can’t live with government policy, the way is not to criticize and leak but to resign.” Some in the conservative community in Boston have sympathy for Lieberman’s position. Tom Mountain, a right-wing columnist for the Jewish Advocate, wrote in response to the controversy, “The bottom line is that the Obama government has been hostile to the Israeli government from the beginning. … Tamir is writing as an apologist for the Obama administration.’’
Yet many in the Jewish community around Boston have come to Tamir’s aid. Jonathan Sarna, a Jewish historian at Brandeis University, told the press that Tamir has “been seen as the most effective [consul] that anyone can remember.” And Michael Ross, the President of the Boston City Council and a son of Holocaust survivors, called Tamir a “dedicated advocate for Israel.”
Meanwhile, the Boston Globe defended Tamir in an editorial titled “Called out for telling the truth” today. The Globe writes, “Tamir was acting well within the rules of his position…when he offered his government some frank advice about how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies are alienating some Americans. Monitoring local opinion is part of what consuls do, and Tamir shouldn’t be punished for doing his job.”
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If the American people really knew how much money is goign to Isreal, we could bring this life long hostility to an end.
But, why kill the Industrial military complex of Isreal and the US (supplier of Isreal)!
This is a sham and so is the Isreal palistine conflict.
Iran knows this, the UN knows this and the US knows this….this is one reason this conflict must come to an end. Obama knows this.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:54 pmIs consul general a civil/foreign service position or a political appointee? If Mr. Tamir is an appointee, I can understand the Israeli government’s decision to recall. Even if he’s a foreign service officer, it would be understandable. If the U.S. ambassador to China was quoted in the press criticizing Obama’s policy on China, I’d also expect some ruffled feathers.
It is interesting that this is the result of a leak of an internal memo, though. It would appear that there’s little tolerance for disagreement within the GOI.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:54 pmHmmm, sounds familiar… say something opposing the official party line and you’re a pariah to be chastised by your leadership.
Not that I’m saying that Avigdor Lieberman is anything like Rush Limbaugh, I’m just saying….
August 11th, 2009 at 1:55 pmIsrael needs us more than we need them. The sooner Bibi and his rightwing cohorts realize that, the better for all concerned.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:55 pmchiroptera toasterhead says:
I think its a foreign service position. Interesting that the Netanyahu administration would do this. Its almost a mirror image of the Bush administration and how they handled dissent and contrary opinions.
August 11th, 2009 at 1:58 pmIf Obama can do 2 certain things, I will consider his presidency a raging success.
1. Reign in the Israel lobby.
2. Reign in the military contractors.
Without these parasites, our foreign policy would be a lot more sane.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:02 pmEvery day, Israel proves again and again, their only real enemy is peace.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:09 pmYou know they did a poll a couple of months ago in the Middle East countries about Barack Obamas Presidency. And Israel rated him the lowest. I was stunned. Can any of you tell me what poll it was and when it was taken? My memory is coming up blank.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:11 pmMessage from Israeli government:
Toe the line, or else.
That means you, me and the President of the United States.
What an arrogant nest of bastardvipers.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:11 pmThe Israeli government would benefit from listening to their consul and ignore whatever Eric Cantor whispered in their ears.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pmBut, but, but what would Jews for Jesus think ?
August 11th, 2009 at 2:15 pmA minority, coalition government can only piss people off for so long. Lieberman’s facing charges on massive corruption and Netanhayu can’t fend off the criticism (internally and abroad).
Say what you will, Livni will negotiate with the Arab League. With the PA. With the West. Likud: Israel’s GOP. Just as Nixon ended the Vietnam War, Begin got peace with Egypt. And both parties have been steadfastly blocking peace efforts since.
The last Labour PM (Barak) got his ass handed to him when he bent to right-wing pressure (not that Arafat wasn’t a factor. Many moderates in the gov’t said they’d enter earnest negotiations with the Palestinians…so long as Arafat wasn’t leading the talks).
Get a Kadima-Labour-Meretz coaliation and you’ll find peace in reach
August 11th, 2009 at 2:20 pmWhen exactly is Avi going to be charged for corruption?
August 11th, 2009 at 2:20 pmThen Netanyaya and Lieberman should both RESIGN TODAY !!!
August 11th, 2009 at 2:22 pmEverytime WE in THIS country has something that effects US (health care reform, etc.) here comes Israel, like the poor attention defecient child looking to make their way up the importance ladder. Israel is starting to see feel “change” in the attitudes of some, not all, and not nearly enough, but enough that it bothers them.
The United States can/shall no longer blindly support Israel, when they’re wrong the U.S. should say so, that’s what real friends do.
Remember the Liberty?
RIP
August 11th, 2009 at 2:25 pmSGT Stephen R. Sherman
C CO 1-5 IN (STRYKER)
KIA 3 Feb 2005
Mosul, Iraq
Netanyahu’s policies are divisive to Israelis and Jewish Americans, as well as alienating to us.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:37 pmIf israel is pissed then I am happy (happier at least)
August 11th, 2009 at 2:39 pmAn interesting tidbit that sheds light on the mindset of the Israelis.
Although nearly 15% of the populace is Arab, and the official languages of Israel are Hebrew and Arabic, all signage throughout Israel is in English and Hebrew.
Speaks volumes.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:43 pmWell, sounds like this guy wants government to tell people what to do…which wont go over well with the American public.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:45 pmIf I knew nothing about Israel and the Arab – Palastinian -Israeli conflicts simple experience tells me that in almost any conflict, there are problems and actions on BOTH sides that need to be addressed. It therefore makes absolutely no sense at all to adopt a stance of totally supporting Israel with no pressure on Israel to help mend the conflict.
Same thing for unconditional support of the Palestinians or the Arabs.
So Obama, in order to be fair can’t support one side exclusively.
August 11th, 2009 at 2:52 pmRemember when Bush & Condi waited 2 full weeks, watching women & children getting killed by Israeli soldiers, to intervene in the Gaza massacre?
Two full weeks.
Condie would mumble some incoherent hogwash about determining the rational approach to this conflict.
Israel has become an American stepchild with ADHD. It’s leaders begin ranting about far fetched outcomes if an alternative solution is even mentioned.
Israel has had 60 years to grow up. They’ve devolved from a fairly peaceful Bedouin existence to one of aggression, real estate grabs & political bedlam over the last centuries.
If you can’t lead, follow. If you can’t follow, get the Hell out of the way!
August 11th, 2009 at 2:57 pmisn’t it funny how only racists will call you out for telling the truth when it does not agree with the “party line”. you know, like republicans. and apparently, the people Nadav Tamir works for.
and why are we giving them a dime of your tax dollars anyway? what exactly do they bring to the table?
August 11th, 2009 at 2:59 pmThis was an internal memo leaked to the press — some people do not want the world to have confirmation of the belligerency of Israel.
On the one hand, I can understand the quick rebuke of the consul because we also have the rule of not speaking ill of your government in the foreign press (not that our republican friends would heed that for themselves), but in this case, this was an internal memo, directed toward Israelis inside the government to tell them that in his opinion their attitude was damaging US/Israel relations (and they certainly are).
So to demand that the consul resign is really an unwarranted response. His words – accurate as they were – were not intended for the world.
Side Note: A month ago, our Congressman, Mark Kirk (R-IL) went to China and told them publicly – and came home to boast about doing so – that the US was not to be believed.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:20 pmWe should have removed him from office for that, but the rules only apply to Democrats – repugs make their own rules.
Israel has used American politics for their advantage for many years now and Obama has indicated that he will be more fair and even in his dealings. Israel doesn’t like to hear that, because they have been able to have it their way all these years. Unfortunately, Obama is right – and level headed Israelis know it – but the stubborn ones are still in charge there.
August 11th, 2009 at 3:25 pmIs Lieberman, by recalling Tamir, attempting to sanction the person who leaked the memo or the person who authored it? By sacking Tamir as the presumed leaker and not the author Lieberman seeks to obscure the substance of Tamir’s memo which is entirely legitimate on its face. There is no question that Americans (including this Jewish-descended writer) are growing more critical of, and alienated by, Israel’s increasing militancy Palestinians. Lieberman ignores this truth at his own peril. My Congressman, after two trips to Gaza this year, is now talking about tying American aid to Israel to their treatment of Palestinians.
Remember, folks, that Lieberman came in second in the popular vote in the election earlier this year, just like W.
August 11th, 2009 at 4:19 pmthe money drain goes on and on and on
israel is the best friend to our industrial military complex
keep the citizens in fear of losing their freedoms
always have a threat of war
always keep a war for profits alive and well
we have two now and more coming soon
capitalism and imperialism go hand and hand
the decline of a country while the citizens whine
the enemy is not them it is staring at us if we look into a mirror
a self righteous country will become a country of thugs
a self righteous country will lose its freedoms one by one not from outside but from within
ask germany that one
August 11th, 2009 at 7:32 pmRE: “Israeli Consul Recalled After Authoring Memo Critical of Israel’s Approach To Obama Administration”
MY COMMENT: Why can’t Israeli consul Tamir learn to follow Netanyahu’s orders as well as Steny Hoyer follows them?
SEE – “Hoyer: E. J’lem not same as W. Bank”, Jerusalem Post, 08/11/09
(EXCERPT) US House Majority leader Steny Hoyer praised Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, called for the Palestinian Authority to drop any preconditions to negotiations, and said that Congress differentiated between building in east Jerusalem and in the West Bank, during an interview with The Jerusalem Post on Monday.
Hoyer, currently in the country leading a delegation of 29 Democratic legislators, also said the rhetoric coming out of the Fatah General Assembly in Bethlehem was “unfortunate.”
The delegation, sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, a charitable organization affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, arrived on Sunday evening and met Monday with President Shimon Peres, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and US security coordinator Lt.-Gen. Keith Dayton…..
ENTIRE “JERUSALEM POST” ARTICLE –
August 11th, 2009 at 9:11 pmhttp://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1249418573121&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
The top four countries receiving foreign aid from the U.S.
1. Israel
2 Egypt
3 Pakistan
4 Jordan
What do 2,3 and 4 have in common? Islam. And what does Islam hate more than anything in the world? Jews. That’s why we help Israel.
August 11th, 2009 at 10:23 pmThe U.S. aid given to Egypt and Jordan is for the benefit of Israel!
August 11th, 2009 at 10:49 pmconservative guy says:
You are so stupid it is astonishing. Jordan and Egypt have had peace treaties, and PEACE, with Israel for DECADES. What do rightwing nuts like you have in common? You are astonishingly stupid morons
August 12th, 2009 at 1:07 amIsraelis need to know that Americans perceive Netanyahu and Lieberman as international thugs.
August 12th, 2009 at 4:57 am