In their first official White House meeting, US President Barack Obama tried to reassure American Jewish leaders that there was a mistaken perception that the United States is pressuring Israel more than the Palestinians or Arab countries.
Several in attendance said Obama referred to the dispute over the settlement issue - in which the US has publicly pressed Israel to halt all settlement construction, including for natural growth, despite Israel's insistence that it can't comply - as a "family" debate.
"People seemed to be quite satisfied that he used that term," said one Jewish leader.
Apparently, regardless of how high up people are in their own organizations, meeting with the President of the United States seems to make them feel part of the inner circle...enough to believe almost anything.
It's true, for instance, that Abe Foxman (Anti-Defamation League) said, "He (Obama) understood why we are anxious. He understood and said they have to find ways to the requirements they have made of the Palestinians." (you can fool some of the people some of the time).
On the other hand, OU's Nathan Diament pointed out in referring to the discrepancy between the Obama administration and Israel about the Bush agreement concerning building in Yesha that "It's important that he acknowledged the reality." (you can't fool all of the people all of the time)
But who's more gullible? American Jewish leaders sitting with Obama or the readers of ynetnews.com where it was written that Hamas claims that Israeli intelligence operatives are transfering gum to Gaza dealers that increases sex drive, encouraging them to distribute them free of charge in order 'to destroy' the younger generation.
And how do they know this? Because when a young girl exhibited sexual interest, her father claimed it to be the result of her having just chewed some suspicious gum. A convenient excuse for a teenager with a father she knows hates Jews? Or fact?
Obama's unprecedented pressure on Israel. Israeli operatives smuggling libido-increasing chewing gum into Gaza. Which is more likely?
