Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: Here's the concern: When someone says that they
are committed to Israel's security AND that the most important thing for
Israel's security is cutting a deal with the Palestinians then the very real
concern is raised that they think that they can express that commitment by
forcing the Jewish State into doing things "for its own good".
This is nothing new. All the people who have had it wrong for the last two
decades are still confident that they know better than us. They still
embrace a childish notion that somehow everything will be fantastic if we
just retreat before or after signing some papers on the White House Lawn.]
==============

Obama tells rabbis he plans to meet soon with Netanyahu
September 10, 2015 5:07pm
http://www.jta.org/2015/09/10/news-opinion/politics/obama-tells-rabbis-he-plans-to-meet-soon-with-netanyahu

WASHINGTON (JTA) — President Barack Obama told rabbis in a pre-Rosh Hashanah
phone call that security talks with Israel had resumed and he hoped to meet
with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by early next month.

On Thursday, in his annual pre-High Holidays call to the rabbis, Obama said
that he was ready to meet with Netanyahu during the United Nations’ General
Assembly opening session, which starts next week and runs through Oct. 6.
Netanyahu until now has rebuffed such overtures because of his disagreement
with the U.S. leader over the Iran nuclear deal.

“Our consultations have already begun with Israeli military and intelligence
officials,” Obama said.

“My hope is to have a long discussion with Mr. Netanyahu about these issues
when he comes to the United Nations during the General Assembly of the
United Nations, or immediately after that,” he said.

Netanyahu, who adamantly opposes the sanctions relief for nuclear
restrictions deal reached in July between Iran and six major powers, has
suspended U.S.-Israel discussions on security cooperation until he was
certain that opponents of the deal in the U.S. Congress could not defeat it.

Congress has yet to vote on the deal, but it became clear late last week
that Obama had garnered enough voters to head off any bid to kill the deal,
and on Thursday, Senate Democrats successfully killed the legislation that
would have rejected the agreement.

The Iran deal was the main focus of the call, which rabbis use to help plan
their High Holidays sermons.

“Acknowledging the vigorous debate that has occurred within the American
Jewish community and in Israel, the president explained that the deal is
consistent with his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, and he
expressed his willingness to discuss additional ways to enhance Israel’s
security and further strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship as the deal is
implemented,” the White House said in its readout of the phone call, which
drew 500 rabbis from across the denominational spectrum.

Obama fielded questions after his opening statement and addressed issues
including the Voting Rights Act, combating anti-Semitism worldwide, climate
change and Israeli-Palestinian peace. He praised the Jewish community for
its work in advancing civil rights.

“There’s a long recognition based on religious traditions and the memory of
what it’s like to be a stranger,” he said.

The president also said that he was still dedicated to advancing
Israeli-Palestinian peace despite the collapse last year of U.S.-brokered
talks.

“Israel’s long-term security does depend on somehow resolving the
Palestinian issue,” Obama said. “We’re going to have to work on these
issues, and they’re going to be messy and challenging in the years to come.”

Obama said he would stand by Israel on matters of security, but called on
U.S. Jews as well as Israel to closely consider the Palestinian question.

“There’s going to have to be some soul searching in Israel and the American
Jewish community because they’re tough questions,” he said.