Obama in Israel. Mitchell Plitnick, on the President's cultural conflicts. Friday, in Souciant.
Although I agree with much of what the author says, I disagree on this point. IMO Obama seems to be continuing a tradition of US presidents, rather than breaking one. Obama won a second term on a fairly ambivalent attitude towards Israel. It surprises me that he seems more conciliatory in this term, rather than less.This President, who has repeatedly turned the other cheek to the disrespectful treatment he has gotten from Netanyahu, seems all too practiced at tolerating treatment that other presidents would never have stood for.
I think that the author means that while its common for Israel to ignore the US's wishes, one doesn't often see a sitting Prime Minister essentially campaign for the opposition. This was particularly odd considering that despite Obama's alleged tepid support, his administration has increased aid to Israel since taking office. The only "negative" thing he ever did was to have the audacity to suggest that Israel halt settlements. Now that he's back off that (eminently reasonable) position, everyone can be BFF's again.