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Published 14:42 08.07.10 Latest update 14:42 08.07.10

Obama: Israelis suspicious of me because my

Diplomacy & Defense
middle name is Hussein
U.S. president tells Channel 2 Israel is unlikely to attack Iran without coordinating Report: Hezbollah on high
with the U.S. alert over concern Israel
'preparing something for
By Haaretz Service us'
Tags: Barack Obama Benjamin Netanyahu Middle East peace Israel news
11 comments
U.S. President Barack Obama told Channel 2 News on Wednesday that
Print Page
he believed Israel would not try to surprise the U.S. with a unilateral
attack on Iran. Security Council denounces
Send to a friend attacks on UN troops in
In an interview aired Thursday evening, Obama was asked whether he southern Lebanon
was concerned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would try to attack Comments
13 comments
Iran without clearing the move with the U.S., to which the president
replied "I think the relationship between Israel and the U.S. is Share
sufficiently strong that neither of us try to surprise each other, but we Foreign ministry: Libyan aid
ship won't dock in Gaza
try to coordinate on issues of mutual concern." Text Size +|-
120 comments
U.S. President Barack
Follow us on Twitter
Obama and Prime
Minister Benjamin Become a
Obama to Abbas: I will
Netanyahu walking at Haaretz.com make every effort to
the White House, on July Facebook friend ensure Palestinian
6, 2010. statehood

50 comments

Photo by: Reuters

Obama spoke to
Haaretz Headlines
Channel 2's Yonit Levy
one day after what he described as an "excellent" meeting with Report: Hezbollah on high
Netanyahu at the White House. The two leaders met alone for about alert over concern Israel
90 minutes Tuesday evening, during which time they discussed the 'preparing something for
peace process with the Palestinians, the contested Iranian nuclear us'
program, and the strategic understandings between their two
11 comments
countries on Tehran's efforts to achieve nuclear capabilities.

Netanyahu promised Obama during their meeting that Israel would Foreign ministry: Libyan aid
undertake confidence-building measures toward the Palestinian ship won't dock in Gaza
Authority in the coming days and weeks. These steps are likely to
include the transfer of responsibility over more parts of the West Bank 120 comments
over to PA security forces.

During the interview Wednesday, when confronted with the anxiety

Survey: Europeans back
that some Israelis feel toward him, Obama said that "some of it may
Muslim veil ban, Americans
oppose
just be the fact that my middle name is Hussein, and that creates
suspicion." 48 comments

"Ironically, I've got a Chief of Staff named Rahm Israel Emmanuel. My

top political advisor is somebody who is a descendent of Holocaust
U.S. Presbyterians urge
survivors. My closeness to the Jewish American community was
government to end Israel
probably what propelled me to the U.S. Senate," Obama said.
aid over settlements

51 comments
"I think that sometimes, particularly in the Middle East, there's the
feeling of the friend of my enemy must be my enemy, and the truth of
the matter is that my outreach to the Muslim community is designed
precisely to reduce the antagonism and the dangers posed by a hostile
Muslim world to Israel and to the West," Obama went on to say.
Most Popular
  24 hours

Obama: Israelis suspicious of me because my

Obama added that he believed a peace agreement between Israel and
middle name is Hussein
the Palestinians could be achieved within his current term. "I think
126 comments
[Netanyahu] understands we've got a fairly narrow window of
opportunity… We probably won’t have a better opportunity than we
Foreign ministry: Libyan aid ship won't dock
have right now. And that has to be seized. It’s going to be difficult."
in Gaza
The American President entirely sidestepped the question of whether 120 comments

the U.S. would pressure Israel to extend a current 10-month

moratorium on construction in West Bank settlements, failing to give a Obama to Abbas: I will make every effort to
clear answer. The moratorium is set to expire in September, and ensure Palestinian statehood
Netanyahu has announced that he would not extend the timeframe. 50 comments

The U.S., however, views continued Israeli settlement construction as

a serious obstacle to peace efforts. Report: Hezbollah on high alert over concern
Israel 'preparing something for us'
When asked whether he thought Netanyahu was the right man to 11 comments
strike a peace deal with the Palestinians, the U.S. President said that
"I think Prime Minister Netanyahu may be very well positioned to bring
this about," adding that Israel will have to overcome many hurdles in Israel special
order to affect the change required to "secure Israel for another 60
years"

In a separate interview with another Israeli media outlet, Obama

proclaimed that he was not "blindly optimistic" regarding the chances
of a Middle East peace agreement.
Israel is right to be skeptical about the peace process, he said in
another yet-to-be-aired interview that was taped on Wednesday. He
noted during the interview that many people thought the founding of
Israel was impossible, so its very existence should be "a great source
of hope."

Meanwhile on Wednesday, Netanyahu told U.S. Jewish leaders that

direct Palestinian-Israeli talks would begin "very soon", but warned
that they would be "very, very tough."
Netanyahu told his cabinet earlier this week before flying to
Washington that the time had come for Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas to prepare to meet directly with the Israelis, as it was the only
way to advance peace.

Israelis and Palestinians have been holding indirect talks mediated by

Obama's special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell. Aides to
Obama sounded a hopeful tone regarding the negotiations last week,
telling reporters that the shuttle diplomacy between the two sides had
paid off and the gaps have narrowed.

At a meeting with representatives of Jewish organizations at the Plaza

Hotel late Wednesday, Netanyahu discussed the efforts to promote
Middle East peace. "This is going to be a very, very tough
negotiation," he said, adding "the sooner the better."
"Direct negotiations must begin right away, and we think that they
will," he said.
 

More on this topic

Netanyahu to U.S. Jews: Direct Mideast talks will begin very soon

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Obama 9 0
82. Jim 08.07.10 23:22 View >

Obama's middle name 5 0

81. BD 08.07.10 23:21 View >

Obama and Israel 4 0

80. sans culottes 08.07.10 23:21 View >

why 6 0
79. bj 08.07.10 23:21 View >

Obama 5 2
78. mike 08.07.10 23:21 View >

Sorry, Barry, you don't get off that easy 9 0

77. IW 08.07.10 23:19 View >

hussein 0 0
76. brian 08.07.10 23:19 View >

President Obama 2 10
75. arieh zimmerman 08.07.10 22:57 View >

Obama is NOT being honest at all 13 2

74. marat 08.07.10 22:46 View >

Israeli suspicion. 4 2
73. Cool B 08.07.10 22:05 View >

opportunity 0 0
72. Mohammad 08.07.10 22:02 View >

the issue is not your middle name 7 0

71. DWOLF 08.07.10 22:00 View >

Obama who? 0 0
70. David P. Adamson 08.07.10 21:59 View >

Direct talks? 0 0
69. Rigoletto 08.07.10 21:57 View >
 One and done 0 0
68. Adam 08.07.10 21:53 View >

It may be that Obama understands that the Pals 0 3

67. will never get a peace because..... View >
S 08.07.10 21:44

Because of your Middle name? I voted for you! 3 0

66. Barbi Doll 08.07.10 21:39 View >

No one cares about your middle name Obama 0 3

65. Chaim Ben Kahan 08.07.10 21:38 View >

Poor Obama. 217 38

64. Flying Dutchman 08.07.10 21:34 View >

President it is not about your name 411 65

63. CM 08.07.10 21:29 View >

Obama's broken promises 0 0

David P. Adamson 08.07.10 22:03 View >
If it quacks like a duck... 0 0
Greg 08.07.10 23:10 View >

Obama is childishly wrong on two counts: 460 53

62. Fortuna Benmayor 08.07.10 21:24 View >

One cannot deny, that U.S. President Barack 80 1039

61. Obama is most gracious, eloquent, steadfast View >
Smadar 08.07.10 21:21

The very last thing 70 191

60. jr 08.07.10 21:20 View >

Iran... 60 302
59. Esperalzi Malaysia 08.07.10 21:19 View >

Jacques Chirac when President of France 0 0

Chris Linthwaite 08.07.10 22:20 View >

So sad 108 351

58. Rob 08.07.10 21:18 View >

rob 0 3
al hamdan 08.07.10 21:57 View >
who owns the privilege to think? 1 0
peleg 08.07.10 22:55 View >

Take Obama for what its worth 212 38

57. Chafeeka 08.07.10 21:07 View >

Get It Together Sista! 0 1

Chafeeka 08.07.10 22:59 View >
You seem to know Obama than how he 0 1

knows himself... View >

NONO 08.07.10 23:12

Israelis "skeptical? HOw about Americans? 466 49

56. Concerned American 08.07.10 21:05 View >
 Or His Lack Of Action 0 0
Brazen 08.07.10 22:13 View >

what's in a name? 288 16

55. peleg 08.07.10 21:00 View >

Middle Name 287 28

54. Myown 08.07.10 20:56 View >

Why? 0 0
TKAY 08.07.10 22:49 View >

Obama's middle name 371 26

53. I. M Wolfe 08.07.10 20:45 View >

To Baloney's "People of Conscience" 113 9

52. Baloney on a sandwich 08.07.10 20:45 View >

Obama 224 31
51. Danny 08.07.10 20:43 View >

To Baloney 107 30
50. Jason 08.07.10 20:41 View >

Obama thinks Jews judge a man by his ethnic 99 91

49. name!?!? View >
08.07.10 20:37

Obama thinks Jews judge a man by his name!?!? 36 65

48. Dean Blake 08.07.10 20:35 View >

Lack of trust 177 25

47. SDHD 08.07.10 20:33 View >

Obama is G-d. Not! 207 14

46. 08.07.10 20:32 View >

Hudna in the offing according to Obama 69 9

45. Dean Blake 08.07.10 20:22 View >

Attention armchair terrorists: despite of your hate 16 58

44. and diatrab, the fources of peace will prevail View >
Dan 08.07.10 20:19

Israel won't attack Iran without coordinating with 62 63

43. U.S. View >
Moshe - Haifa, Israel 08.07.10 19:55

Obama and PM from Israel 105 21

42. deniro11 08.07.10 19:39 View >
 The Middle Ground On The Status Of Jerusalem 57 23
41. Talks Will Not Be In The Middle View >
Lavi - Seattle 08.07.10 19:35

you stupid 2 1
american 08.07.10 22:26 View >

thanks to the US radar in the Negev it would be 57 14

40. impossible View >
zionist forever 08.07.10 19:28

It's coming! 71 7
39. Ying Yang 08.07.10 19:26 View >

after 90 minutes Obama-Netanyahu:0-0 38 1

38. dani.a 08.07.10 19:24 View >

Yonit Levy 13 85
37. Billy 08.07.10 19:17 View >

Peace 21 108
36. adogegun 08.07.10 19:16 View >

We could use US help 49 25

35. Chaim Ben Kahan 08.07.10 19:10 View >

Now is not the time to make peace 48 15

34. Fredy Ross 08.07.10 19:06 View >

What is "blindly optimistic" You are the President 29 57

33. of a big donor country. View >
Peter of Florida 08.07.10 18:57

USA politicians are no more than a version of the 60 5

32. Stepford Wives View >
jim the mechanic 08.07.10 18:53

Netanyahu got the candy cloud..again.. 25 60

31. Ayse 08.07.10 18:43 View >

Read the Likud Party Charter, Mr. President 42 11

30. Binyamin in Orangeburg 08.07.10 18:43 View >

compared to unchanged Palestinian 0 0

Covenant it's great View >

Rico 08.07.10 22:43

UN should adopt one state solution and then 15 57

29. Joseph 08.07.10 18:14 View >

No peace 25 13
28. Chaim Gorenstein 08.07.10 18:08 View >
 As I said before, as long as there are elections 29 75
27. being held in the United States..... View >
Swiss-Dino 08.07.10 17:58

sceptical 11 41
26. Muskens 08.07.10 17:50 View >

Obama 94 2
25. sencar 08.07.10 17:44 View >

poor Obama, 29 110

24. mehmet 08.07.10 17:43 View >

a Theater show to take pictures and shake hands 19 61

23. as usual View >
Tony Silver - Kopenhagen 08.07.10 17:41

words 18 42
22. Muskens 08.07.10 17:40 View >

bibi 19 8
21. john 08.07.10 17:36 View >

Before and after... 9 3

20. Aaron : NY 08.07.10 17:00 View >

U.S. President Barack Obama has said there is 18 65

19. hope for peace in the Middle East, but told Israeli View >
media that is not "blindly optimistic".
Moshe - Haifa, Israel 08.07.10 16:33

Then what? 0 1
Barka 08.07.10 23:04 View >

More confidence-building ??? 25 5

18. Boruch 08.07.10 16:32 View >

Can't have peace if all you do is say that Israel 31 6

17. doesn't want it View >
Gil 08.07.10 16:24

Unless and until the Muslim-Arab leadership, local 87 11

16. and regional, accept... View >
Jehudah Ben-Israel Qatzrin, Israel 08.07.10 16:23

No fox nor chicken... 25 7

15. Gilberto Salomi 08.07.10 16:14 View >

Obama last lost his way. 38 52

14. Natallie Durson 08.07.10 16:05 View >

no silly, he found it 0 0
steve-nyc 08.07.10 21:39 View >
 Double speak 19 25
13. Courcey 08.07.10 16:00 View >

God Only Knows What Was Really Said Between 20 20

12. Them View >
Yaakov Sullivan 08.07.10 15:42

99.9% of mideast lands are controlled by 0 0

the Arabs View >

Straight 08.07.10 22:51

OBAMA.... 1 18
11. H. H. MENDELSOHN 08.07.10 15:41 View >

No hope 20 72
10. Mike 08.07.10 15:41 View >

The issue of freezing settlement construction as a 16 18

9. reflection of Netanyahu's personality View >
Logios 08.07.10 15:33

the other side is coveting the pizza, thou 0 0

shalt not covet View >

Logic 08.07.10 22:50

Is Netanyahu capable of bringing peace? Don't make 23 42

8. us laugh View >
Logios 08.07.10 15:33

So long as you cry we will laugh forever 0 0

and a day View >

Logic 08.07.10 22:48

Peace??? 21 46
7. MarkF 08.07.10 15:28 View >

The problem is... 78 17

6. 08.07.10 15:25 View >

Regulas 44 18
5. Cesare 08.07.10 15:19 View >

one state solution is the best for all. 19 67

Tony Silver - Kopenhagen 08.07.10 17:42 View >
Definitely "Palestine" 59 27
Gianni 08.07.10 17:47 View >

Syrupy 107 146

4. jake 08.07.10 15:18 View >

Its about legacy 11 11

Andrew 08.07.10 16:41 View >
Yeah, What A Load 39 10
Gianni 08.07.10 17:50 View >

Israel Exists 174 98

3. Jerusalem Center 08.07.10 15:16 View >

Some balance please 28 41

Courcey 08.07.10 15:50 View >
Have you read what the Likud and others in 26 53

the coalition say? View >

Historian 08.07.10 16:36
Obama is controlled by AIPAC &Co. 32 73
Tony Silver - Kopenhagen 08.07.10 17:44 View >
 Two state solution is OVER! 152 162
2. Baloney 08.07.10 15:08 View >

Sadly, I think you are right on this 34 48

Yaakov Sullivan 08.07.10 15:45 View >
No Lebanon here please 33 15
David 08.07.10 16:11 View >
"Time to plan for a one state solution" 10 26
H 08.07.10 16:15 View >
Get over it. There won't be a ONE State 14 26

Solution either. View >

BBQ 08.07.10 16:42
Balooneey 12 2
Rabinovich 08.07.10 16:53 View >
I agree 36 11
Chaim Ben Kahan 08.07.10 19:11 View >
Shows how ignorant you are 51 13
NeonTaster 08.07.10 19:35 View >
The two state solution was and remains a 26 2

pipe dream View >

Darth Zaider (Ed) 08.07.10 20:00
Buycott movement 26 10
Jason 08.07.10 20:36 View >
Time for peace is over 42 14
Adam 08.07.10 21:13 View >
Talk about baloney! 33 6
Joe Frazier 08.07.10 21:16 View >
You wet dream ain't gonna happen, 24 9

Baloney. View >

Fortuna Benmayor 08.07.10 21:26
Once again, lack of anti-Israeli mind power 45 14
SDHD 08.07.10 21:32 View >

Obama and Israel 230 171

1. Regulas 08.07.10 15:01 View >

Wise words 25 11
H 08.07.10 15:34 View >
Closet 31 63
Rami 08.07.10 16:11 View >
Muslim 41 45
Historian 08.07.10 16:39 View >
peace is against israeli interests 44 102
Tony Silver - Kopenhagen 08.07.10 17:47 View >
Obama is true friend of israel. 58 147
Tony Silver - Kopenhagen 08.07.10 18:39 View >
Wow 2 0
Brazen 08.07.10 21:58 View >
muslim 1 0
chad 08.07.10 21:59 View >
peace for peace not peace for piece 0 0
Kapish 08.07.10 22:44 View >

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