US Rebukes Israel

President Pokes God in the Eye by Terry James

...The news story in question - the one that no doubt will be analyzed and dissected by those who study Bible prophecy from a literal perspective - is excerpted here:

A widely predicted crisis between Israel and the United States upon Benjamin Netanyahu taking office as prime minister finally erupted this weekend.

"U.S. President Barack Obama did not hold back in condemning the humiliation caused to Joe Biden with the Israeli announcement of 1,600 new housing units in East Jerusalem during what was supposed to be the vice president's friendly visit to Israel.

Instead of accepting Netanyahu's partial apology and letting bygones be bygones, Obama issued a stern warning to the Israeli prime minister and is now demanding that he take "specific actions" to show he is "committed" to the U.S.-Israel relationship and to the peace process itself. (My sincere thanks to John Stettin for providing the articles excerpted in this commentary: "Netanyahu Must Choose between Ideology and U.S. Support," Haaretz - Israel News, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156251.html)."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton relayed a message to the Israeli prime minister in a lengthy phone conversation, during which, it was reported, Netanyahu scarcely got in a word edgewise. And the castigation of the Israeli leader continued from those within the U.S. presidential administration. It is clear - to me, at least - that the Obama administration has been waiting for just the right moment to manufacture a crisis in the matter of Israel constructing housing in east Jerusalem. The leverage the American government can bring against Netanyahu and the Israeli government is obvious.

There is no one, in terms of national entities, to stand with Israel against the threat from Iran, other than the United States. America alone supplies fuel and spare parts for Israel's air force, as well as the warning signals for any missiles that might be headed Israel's way. So, Prime Minister Netanyahu is confronted by a dilemma: Either go along with the American presidential administration and accept whatever Mr. Obama dictates to appease Israel's enemies, or suffer loss of American support regarding Iran. He is expected by the world powers-that-be to embrace whatever the international community - led by Barack Obama - thinks might be good for the "Roadmap to Peace."