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In other words, the Likud and AIPAC attack dogs are out, coverage by their favorite media. Or are they just distracting harsh criticism from the Obama administration for Israel’s settlement expansion, anti-democratic legislation and further isolation in the Arab world.

US Ambassador under fire for criticizing Israeli policy, construed as Anti-Semitism*

The US Ambassador to Belgium, Howard Gutman, finds himself under fire this morning for comments he made about the roots of some Muslim anti-Semitism, comments from which the White House distanced itself. But opponents of the president, particularly those oppose to his handling of issues pertaining to Israel, pounced.

GOP presidential frontrunner Newt Gingrich, tweeted that: “Pres Obama should fire his ambassador to Brussels for being so wrong about anti-semitism: http://t.co/e8miZBs1″

William Kristol, chairman of the Emergency Committee for Israel, took the opportunity to charge that this is part of a larger problem for the president.

    “Pardon us for retaining our belief that Muslim anti-Semitism in the Middle East predates 1967, and even 1948 — and in any case is the fault of the anti-Semites, not of the Jews,” said Kristol. “Ambassador Gutman’s comments were not way out of line with Obama’s worldview. Nonetheless, we expect he will be recalled because the Obama administration won’t want to expend political capital defending him. He should be recalled, of course. But what the events of recent days emphasize is that the problem is not with one ambassador or with one cabinet secretary. The problem is President Obama.”

Republican Jewish Coalition executive director Matthew Brooks called the comments “outrageous.”

    “The linkage in the ambassador’s remarks, blaming Israel for anti-Semitism, is a short step from the linkage that President Obama has expressed several times himself, that Israel is to blame for the unrest and instability in the Middle East.”

Hillary Clinton criticizes exclusion of women from Israel’s public life …

Mondoweiss:  Hillary says Israeli restrictions on women remind her of Rosa Parks and Iran

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voiced deep concern over a wave of anti-democratic legislation in Israel and in particular a bill proposing to limit donations to human rights organizations. Clinton also criticized the growing exclusion of women from Israel’s public life.

In a closed session at the Saban Forum attended both by Israeli and American decision-makers Clinton addressed the issue of discrimination against Israeli women. She expressed concern for Israel’s social climate in the wake of limitations on female public singing and gender segregation on public transport….

Clinton, a longtime advocate for women’s rights, noted she was shocked at the fact that some Jerusalem buses have assigned separate seating areas for women. “It’s reminiscent of Rosa Parks,” she said, referring to the black American woman who refused to give up her seat to white passengers in the 1950s.

Referring to the decision of some IDF soldiers to leave an event where female soldiers were singing, she said it reminded her of the situation in Iran.

When women and girls are the enemy

Ultra-orthodox Haredi Jews gather at the gates of a local girls school, screaming abuse

Israeli prime minister suspends campaign to lure home ex-pats after uproar among American Jews

JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister suspended a television ad campaign aimed at luring home Israelis living in North America after it sparked an uproar among American Jews, his spokesman said Sunday.

The government-sponsored advertisements, which were broadcast on Israeli TV and in large American markets, tried to warn Israelis that their children could lose their Israeli and Jewish identities if they were raised in the United States and not in Israel. That set off virulent opposition among American Jews, who complained that the commercials were demeaning to their Jewish identity.

Defense Secretary Panetta Says Israel Must Mend Arab Ties

WASHINGTON (New York Times / BBC News VIDEO)  — Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta spoke sternly on Friday to America’s closest ally in the Middle East, telling Israel that it is partly responsible for its increasing isolation and that it now must take “bold action” — diplomatic, not military — to mend ties with its Arab neighbors and settle previously intractable territorial disputes with the Palestinians.

    “I believe security is dependent on a strong military, but it is also dependent on strong diplomacy. Unfortunately, over the past year, we have seen Israel’s isolation from its traditional security partners in the region grow, and the pursuit of a comprehensive Middle East peace has effectively been put on hold.”

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

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