Netanyahu: President Obama Deserves Pro-Israel “Badge of Honor”

Lauren Samet — September 21, 2011 – 5:00 pm | Barack Obama | Foreign Policy | Israel Comments (0) Add a comment

The New York Daily News reported on statements made today by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressing gratitude, praise, and support for President Barack Obama:

The Israeli leader says President Obama deserves a ‘badge of honor’ for standing up for the Jewish state in his speech Wednesday before the United Nations.

Obama was defying the ‘automatic majority’ that opposes Israel when he called on the Palestinians to delay seeking UN recognition - and threatened to use his veto if they brought the question before the Security Council.

‘I think this is a badge of honor and I want to thank you for wearing that badge of honor,’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Obama. 

To view the article in its entirety, please click here. 

Netanyahu is opposed to Palestinians receiving state membership in the United Nations because it is a “shortcut” that bypasses peace negotiations. They both stand united in their belief that without direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, peace between them will not exist. Speaking to Obama earlier today, the Israeli Prime Minister said:

We both agree that this is the only way to achieve peace. We both agree that Palestinians and Israelis should sit down together and negotiate an agreement of mutual recognition and security. I think this is the only way to get to a stable endurable peace. But you’ve also made it clear that the Palestinians deserve a state, but it’s a state that has to make that peace with Israel. And therefore, their attempt to shortcut this process—not negotiate a peace—that attempt to get a state membership in the United Nations will not succeed. I think the Palestinians want to achieve a state through the international community, but they’re not prepared yet to give peace to Israel in return. 

Netanyahu then went on to express his gratitude and respect for President Obama, stating:

I think that standing your ground, taking this position of principle—which is also, I think, the right position to achieve peace—I think this is a badge of honor and I want to thank you for wearing that badge of honor. And also to express my hope that others will follow your example Mr. President.   

To view a video of Netanyahu’s statements to Obama, please click here or watch below.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also praised Obama, saying, “I congratulate President Obama, and I am ready to sign on this speech with both hands.”

The Washington Post’s coverage of the speech also noted Obama’s solid positioning as a stalwart supporter of Israel:

President Obama delivered his clearest statement of support and sympathy for Israel on Wednesday in a speech that rejected the Palestinians’ bid to have the United Nations recognize their statehood.

Obama’s address to a hushed U.N. General Assembly drew strong support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the president’s opposition to the Palestinian diplomatic effort a ‘badge of honor.’

At a time when he is facing fierce criticism from Republican presidential candidates over his past treatment of Israel, Obama evoked the horrors of the Holocaust to describe the Jewish state’s tenuous security position and made no mention of Israel’s construction of settlements on land the Palestinians envision as their future state.

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