Israeli Coverage of Obama Visit Speaks Volumes

Israeli media coverage of Barack Obama's visit to Israel this week speaks volumes to anyone paying attention.

Consider, for instance, the layout of content on the Jerusalem Post web site this morning (see screen shot here).

In the right column, the lead story headline, Obama: I’m here to reaffirm special US-Israel relationship, was followed by a teaser: US presidential contender praises Peres's contribution to Israeli "miracle," tells Abbas he will act as "constructive partner" for peace. In the left column, however, was a photo of Obama meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

My take on the layout is that the folks at the Jerusalem Post wanted to balance the presumptive Democrat Party presidential nominee's words as recorded in the article with his deeds as reflected in his seeming willingness to side with the Palestinians and the terror group Hamas. Wise move.

Yair Lapid executed another delicate balancing act via an opinion piece at YNET News (see screen shot here).

Under the headline, Prepare for change, a subhead informed readers that Barack Obama won't be lying to us, but he won't be telling us the truth either. Repeated in the lead paragraph, that sentiment was followed by this astute observation:

He will not be lying when he says that he is concerned about us, that America is our best friend, and that he is committed to assisting us at peaceful times and in wartime as well. Yet he won't be telling us the truth – the fact that he has other concerns, which are more urgent; he has friends that he cares about more, and other people that he needs to help in their daily struggles.

During an afternoon stop in Sderot, a community that has endured repeated Qassam rocket attacks, Obama said, "America must always stand up for Israel's right to defend itself against those who threaten its people."

While that statement sounds good, the words also resonate as the kind of statement a politician makes when he wants people to like him. Unfortunately, with Obama's lack of experience in the foreign policy arena, the people of Sderot can expect many more rocket attacks in their future IF, that is, Obama wins the White House in November.

-- Bob McCarty Writes