2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHagel nomination: Israelis ask 'what's the big deal?'
President Obamas choice of Chuck Hagel for secretary of Defense, hotly contested by the American Jewish community, has received a muted response in Israel. While some echo concerns that the former Republican senator is dangerous or anti-Semitic, others here ask, Whos that?
To be sure, the appointment of a man who is seen as soft on Iran and eager to talk to terrorist groups on Israels borders isnt generally popular here.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said today that Israel should be "concerned, but not afraid of Hagel's isolationist ideas." But he and other politicians, including candidates in Israel's Jan. 22 elections, have emphasized that US-Israel ties go deeper than any one personality and have expressed confidence that the two countries would remain strong allies.
Its none of our business, its Americas prerogative, said Naftali Bennett of the right-wing HaBayit HaYehudi (The Jewish Home) party, whose popularity has surged in recent weeks. Israel and Americas bond goes way beyond certain relationships between individuals.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2013/0108/Hagel-nomination-Israelis-ask-what-s-the-big-deal?nav=87-frontpage-entryNineItem
tularetom
(23,664 posts)And he is able to get angry old fool McCain on board. And of course McCain is followed by his faithful toady.
I haven't heard his name but I'm sure that dumbass Adelson is putting up the dough for a big opposition campaign.
In other words it's the same old bullshit pushed by the same group of assholes.
Playing the Israel card is just another way to trash the President.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)shouldn't be afraid of Hagel. The only difference between him and other (Dem) Senators on Iran was that he prefers multilateral sanctions to unilateral sanctions, and doesn't believe in totally ignoring the existence of groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, as far as I can see. In the neocon mindset, this equates to "soft".
CalFresh
(99 posts)Chuck Hagel is a very strong pro life guy. He will be overseeing tens of thousands of young woman as our Secretary of Defense. Why is nobody talking about this in the media?
uppityperson
(115,674 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)But you bring up a good point, and welcome to DU.
Jennicut
(25,415 posts)Hagel will have to follow Obama on that.