Barack Obama Interview With Israeli Television

Yesterday, US President Barack Obama sat down with Yonit Levi of Israel’s Channel 2.

Q President Barack Obama, shalom, and thank you so much for talking with us today.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you very much.

Q I’d like to actually open up by asking you about hope, which was such a prominent notion in your campaign and in your presidency. And how can you convey that concept of hope to Israelis, who’ve seen so many failed attempts at a peace process?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, look, it’s always a challenge. One of the things I used to say during the campaign but also at the beginning of my presidency is, being hopeful is not the same as being blindly optimistic. I think you have to be clear-eyed about the situation.

And Israelis, rightly, look at the past and have skepticism about what’s possible. They see the enmity of neighbors that surround them in a very tough neighborhood. They see a track record of attempts at peace where, even when concessions were made, a deal could not be consummated. They see rockets fired from Gaza or from areas in Lebanon, and say to themselves that the hatreds or history are so deep-seated that changed is not possible.

And yet, if you think back to the founding of Israel, there were a lot of people who thought that that wasn’t possible either. And if Herzl or Ben-Gurion were looking at Israel today, they would be astonished at what they saw — a country that’s vibrant, that is growing economically at a extraordinary pace, that has overcome not just security challenges but also has been able to overcome challenges related to geography. And so that should be a great source of hope.

Q Is a peace agreement, in your opinion, it can be reached in the first term of your presidency?

THE PRESIDENT: I think so. I had an excellent meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. And I think that he is somebody who understands that we’ve got a fairly narrow window of opportunity. On the Palestinian side, moderates like Abu Mazen and Fayyad are, I think, willing to make the concessions and engage in negotiations that can result in peace. But their time frame in power may be limited if they aren’t able to deliver for their people.

There’s a constant contest between moderates and rejectionists within the Arab world. And then there’s the demographic challenges that Israel is going to be facing if it wants to remain not only a Jewish state but a democratic state. So you look at all these pressures and you say to yourself, we probably won’t have a better opportunity than we have right now. And that has to be seized. Now, it’s going to be wrenching. It’s going to be difficult.

Q Do you believe Benjamin Netanyahu is the right man? Do you believe that he can bring peace?

THE PRESIDENT: I think that not only is Prime Minister Netanyahu a smart and savvy politician, but the fact that he is not perceived as a dove in some ways can be helpful in the sense that any successful peace will have to include the hawks and the doves, on both sides, and in the same way that Richard Nixon here in the United States was able to go to China because he had very strong anti-communist credentials, I think Prime Minister Netanyahu may be very well positioned to bring this about.

And in our conversations yesterday, I had the impression that Prime Minister Netanyahu isn’t interested in just occupying a space, a position, but he’s interested in being a statesman and putting his country on a more secure track.

So I hope that opportunity is seized. But ultimately, one of the things you learn very quickly, whether you’re President or a Prime Minister, is that your power derives from the people. And it goes back to your first question — the Israeli people are going to have to overcome legitimate skepticism, more than legitimate fears, in order to get a change that I think will secure Israel for another 60 years.

Q You know, you met with him on Tuesday and you both said that the meeting was excellent. And, you know, perfect photo, an idyllic photo notwithstanding, it wasn’t exactly — hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing in your relationship so far.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, some of this has been greatly overstated. I mean, the last time that the Prime Minister came here, we had a terrific meeting. It was so good that it spilled over. And the reports then came out that somehow I had snubbed the Prime Minister, when in fact what had happened was the Prime Minister was interested and eager enough in working out some issues that he wanted to convene with his team, and then I came back and we had this meeting. That —

Q And the fact that there was no — there were no briefings, no photo-ops in that meeting, it doesn’t —

THE PRESIDENT: Well, all of that fed this impression that somehow there were more strains than there were.

Now, I don’t want to be disingenuous. There have been differences. I think that our view on settlements, for example, is consistent with all previous U.S. administrations. But the fact of the matter is, is that that view was always voiced not in the spirit of trying to undermine Israel’s security, but to strengthen it — because we believe strongly that if we can achieve calm on the ground, that will help in the negotiations that lead to peace. And in fact, the moratorium that’s been in place I think has been conducive to us rebuilding trust on all sides. And as a consequence, I’m more optimistic about the ability to get into direct talks.

Q Will you, by the way, extend — request that Israel extends that settlement freeze after September?

THE PRESIDENT: You know, what I want is for us to get into direct talks. As I said yesterday, I think that if you have direct talks between Abu Mazen, Netanyahu, their teams, that builds trust. And trust then allows for both sides to not be so jumpy or paranoid about every single move that’s being made, whether it’s related to Jerusalem or any of the other issues that have to be dealt with, because people feel as if there’s a forum in which conflicts can get resolved. And the problem, what we’ve had over the last several years is just a constant erosion of trust that has been counter productive.

Q Now, I must ask you this, Mr. President, there are people in Israel who are anxious about you —
THE PRESIDENT: Right.

Q — and who — you know, I’m quoting their sentiments — feel like you don’t have a special connection to Israel. How do you respond to that?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s interesting — this is the thing that actually surfaced even before I was elected President, in some of the talk that was circulating within the Jewish American community. Ironically, I’ve got a Chief of Staff named Rahm Israel Emmanuel. My top political advisor is somebody who is a descendent of Holocaust survivors. My closeness to the Jewish American community was probably what propelled me to the U.S. Senate.

And my not just knowledge but sympathy and identification with the Jewish experience is rooted in part because of the historic connection between the African American freedom movement here in the United States and the civil rights efforts of Jewish Americans and some of the same impulses that led to the creation of Israel.

And so I think what this arises from — some of it may just be the fact that my middle name is Hussein, and that creates suspicion. Some of it may have to do with the fact that I have actively reached out to the Muslim community, and 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, 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.

Q So that fear, the tangible fear that some Israelis have that their best ally in the world might abandon them is —

THE PRESIDENT: Well, it’s pretty hard to square with the fact that not only have I in every speech that I’ve ever given talked about the unbreakable bond to Israel, not only did I describe that special relationship and condemn those who would try to drive a rift between us in Cairo in front of a Muslim audience, but if you look at our actions — and Prime Minister Netanyahu will confirm this, and even critics I think will have to confirm that the United States under my administration has provided more security assistance to Israel than any administration in history. And we’ve got greater security cooperation between our two countries than at any time in our history. And the single most important threat to Israel — Iran, and its potential possession of a nuclear weapon — has been my number one foreign policy priority over the course of the last 18 months.

So it’s hard to, I think, look at that track record and look at my public statements and in any way think that my passions for Israel’s survival, its security, and its people are in any way diminished.

Q You mentioned Iran, and obviously you instituted tough sanctions against Iran. You said that in the meeting with Netanyahu. How long are you going to give the Iranian President, and what are you willing to do if he continues with his nuclear program?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, what I’ve said consistently is, is that it is unacceptable for Iran to possess a nuclear weapon, that we’re going to do everything we can to prevent that from happening. What I’ve also tried to do is build an international consensus so that Iran can’t somehow play a victim, can’t suggest somehow that they’re being singled out by the West. They are the only country that has not been able to convince the International Atomic Energy Agency that they are pursuing nuclear power for peaceful means. It’s not hard to do, but they haven’t been able to do it because all indicators are that they are in fact pursuing a nuclear weapon.

So we just pursued the toughest sanctions that have ever been applied against the Iranian government. We followed those up with U.S. sanctions that are going to be tough. Allies and partners are following up with those sanctions. We want to continually ratchet up the costs of them pursuing this nuclear program.

Now, will that work? We don’t know. And we are going to continue to keep the door open for a diplomatic resolution of this challenge. But I assure you that I have not taken options off the table.
Q Are you concerned that Prime Minister Netanyahu might try unilaterally to attack Iran?

THE PRESIDENT: You know what, I think that the relationship that — the U.S. and Israel is sufficiently strong and that neither of us try to surprise each other but we try to coordinate on issues of mutual concern. And that approach is one that I think Prime Minister Netanyahu is committed to.

Q You know I must ask you — I was — forgive me for getting nostalgic — I was here — well, not here — in Chicago the night of the election. And I remember seeing that great mass of people and looking at them and looking at you, and thinking, there is no man on Earth that is capable of living up to those expectations. (Laughter.) Do you feel that burden every day?

THE PRESIDENT: Oh, absolutely. Look, our campaign I think became a repository for a lot of hopes and a lot of dreams — and I think that’s a good thing. But we understood that governance is different from campaigning. It’s hard. It’s complicated. It involves making choices, some of them not very attractive choices, and that at any given stage there are going to be some people who are disappointed.

But what keeps me hopeful is not any oversized view of my own capabilities; what keeps me hopeful is that the more I meet people here in this country, the more I meet people abroad, the more convinced I am that there’s a common humanity, a common set of aspirations that people have for their children. I think there’s a core decency to people that sometimes history, institutions, lack of opportunity prevent from being realized, and that the general trajectory of history is in a positive direction.

But it takes time. And so my job is to do my small part to move the ball forward. One of my favorite phrases is from Martin Luther King, who said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” And I believe that. And I think that that’s consummate with Jewish traditions, that sense that if we are working hard, if we apply the principles of Tikkun and repairing the world, that it’s possible for us not to create a perfect world, but one that’s a little more just, a little more fair, a little better for our children. I continue to believe that.

Q My final question, Mr. President. Much has been made about, obviously, your victory and being the first African American President. Can I ask you to share with us that moment, where the enormity of the historic significance sort of hit you?

THE PRESIDENT: I don’t think it still has hit me yet.

Q Really?

THE PRESIDENT: We were just talking about how you broke some ground as a woman anchor, and I’m sure that’s not what you think about every day; you think about, can I get this story done? Am I performing in a way that meets my standards?

And that’s how you feel when you’re in the presidency. I think you have a lot of responsibilities and a lot of concerns, and each day you are just trying to make sure that you are, A, doing the best you can; B, making sure that you’re making decisions for the right reason.

And I do think that there have been moments in the presidency when I’m making a decision about deploying young men and women into the battlefield, or we’re making very consequential decisions about the world economy, where the answers are not always a hundred percent obvious, and you’re making judgment calls — and it’s during those moments where you are reminded that you can’t behave like a politician. You can’t put your finger out to the wind, you can’t base your actions on polls. You have to make a decision on what you think is right, and then let history judge how you did.

Q Can you tell us what is the thing you miss most about your life before the presidency?

THE PRESIDENT: Taking walks. There is a value to anonymity in terms of just being able to wander around, sit on a park bench, take your kids to get ice cream without having Secret Service and helicopters over you. That part of this life I’ll never get used to. In fact, I remember when I first visited Jerusalem, I could wander through the Old City and haggle for some gifts to bring back to Michelle, or stand at the Wailing Wall, and people didn’t know who I was. And that is a profound pleasure that is very hard to experience now.

The last time — the second time I went to the Wailing Wall, I put my prayer — and somebody pulled it out, and the next thing I know it was printed in the newspaper. (Laughter.) And that I think was —

Q We have to do our job. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: — that was a pretty good metaphor for the changes that you experience as time goes on.

Q Indeed a change. Thank you so much, Mr. President.

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. I enjoyed it. Take care.

27 thoughts on “Barack Obama Interview With Israeli Television”

  1. well, the man surely is intelligent, and a very good politician

    i just wish his words matched some of his actions

  2. Jim from Iowa

    Give your all and what does it get you? Into the trash with the rest of the garbage. I had a dream, a dream for you Bibi. And if it wasn't for me, then where would you be, Mr. Gypsy Rose Lee?

  3. Beware. There's a big election in November and he's saying the right things now to try to get votes for the Democratic Party. They have realized that the majority of America sides with Israel and not with left wing liberal philosophy that sides with the Arab and Palestinian untruths. It's a tough transition for him to make, given his Muslim background. Expect a change, depending on which way the political wind is blowing.

  4. He might change his opinion again or he might not. The important thing is that we have, now at this difficult time, a powerful politician with impeccable left-wing credentials speaking up for and defending Israel.

    Perhaps he does it because he fears the next elections (which he has no part in), perhaps he does it because he was mugged by reality. The point is that Obama, the great hope of the international left, is, at least currently, on OUR side. Left-wingers now have to dismiss Israel AND Obama and moderates, including those who voted for Obama will increasingly recognise those left-wingers who dismiss Obama as radicals who are simply wrong aboyt everything.

    And that's a success for Israel.

  5. "He does what politicians do." – Rev. Jeremiah Wright. And he will be feeling the heat for the remainder of his time in the White House.

  6. I have been reading ant-Obama blogs for sometime now and still would like to hear what he has done or said to deserve the title of 'left wing liberal' or of being anti Israel. The truth is that the right wing all over the world have little regard for facts. Carter engineered peace between Israel and Egypt but is still not regarded as a friend of Israel. Obama cut taxes for the majority of Americans and his Health Insurance (not healthcare) reform is much more moderate than what exists in Canada or Europe. Yet he is being profiled as a socialist by the sub-literate right all over the world. Can someone on the right please explain what this man has done or said that is so radical.

    1. Michael Zvi Krumbein

      There's your statement, "like Canada or Europe". Yes, compared to Canada or Europe he is moderate and pro-Israel. But by U.S. standards he is not. (Kind of like Jim.)

      Friends let friends make their own security decisions. Friends don't complain when you build in your capital. Friends don't force through "health care reform" when most of the country is against it. Obama is not our friend, and I am speaking both as an American AND as an Israeli.

      1. Jim from Iowa

        Now you can double your pleasure and be wrong-headed as a citizen of two different countries. Friends don't let friends drive drunk. Or vote Republican. I can't help you if you insist on making Obama your political boogeyman. 12 step programs for Republicans is probably the only answer for folks like you, Michael.

        1. I actually enjoyed reading this. I mean, "four more years" and such during the Obama campaign was completely common, making former President George W. Bush as the Democratic boogeyman. Except, when Obama receives the same treatment, Republicans are wrong-headed and need a 12 step program.

          It's rather cute that the memory of seemingly a large number of Obama-supporters I have met had their political memories reset after 2008. Oh except when they need to blame Bush more.

          1. Those 8 years of Bush had an affect on us all. Have you forgotten so soon what it was like? Let me remind you, Chris.

            It's astounding. Time is fleeting. MADNESS takes its toll. But listen closely (not for very much longer). I've got to keep control. Let's do the Time Warp again.

            Is it all coming back to you now…those dreary Bush years, Chris? Or is it like you're under sedation? I want to move the country forward with Obama not get caught in a time warp with the GOP. You can come, too, if you like.

        2. Michael Zvi Krumbein

          Oh, so you agree that the government should have dropped the charges against the New Balck Panther Party for keeping Republicans from voting – after they had won a default judgement? Now that we have testimony that the Voting Rights division has a policy of not bringing charges against a member of an official minority group (categorically), I guess you have your wish. Of course, a democracy it isn't.

  7. Mikosh makes a good point. BHO is saying all the right things because he knows how to, not neccessarily because he believes it. November is looming. Personally I'm tired of the extreme right views on BHO, they're not helpful and some are downright false. But facts are facts. His performance on Israel is not great. There are those politicians who swing in a direction because they can see the electorate demanding it, but at least they stick to it. Then there are those who say whatever it takes to get elected, but don't follow through. Which one is Obama?

  8. Yes, all that nagging feeling that Obama isn't exactly on the up and up really has to do with Obama's middle name. Has nothing to do with the fact that his spiritual mentor, in whose church he sat for 20 years, the man who married him, baptised his kids, and inspired him, was a vocal paranoid lunatic antisemite. It is about his middle name.

    How can an American Jew really vote for this man and retain any self respect at all? How does that happen?

  9. Hussain ibn Abdallah for President!
    (NOT!)

    This guy failed so much, he even received the Nobel peace price, for what? He has barely started his presidency…

    “… Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.” more here

    Or just watch this (I’m sure Jim would love this film!!!)

    1. Jim from Iowa

      You really need to convince the 75% of Jewish voters in Florida, Ohio and Virginia who are going to vote for Obama if you’re going to have any real impact on the election. This ludicrous propaganda (even has menacing soundtrack they use in slasher/horror films) won’t get that done, Tom.

      1. Well, sorry, and really no offense to you Jim, but I don’t think facts, figures and numbers would convince anyone in States like FL, OH and VA. They need more “emotional” subjects and strong pictures. I agree with your soundtrack assumption 😉
        Btw, are there any Jews in OH and VA who would make a difference anyway? I know FL is full of Jews, but the other states?

        1. Jim from Iowa

          With large metropolitan areas in OH and VA, I would think there would be a higher than average number of Jewish voters (certainly more than Iowa). Who else is this film trying to convince not to vote for Obama, rapture-ready Evangelicals? They’re already locked in for Romeny. In fact, about 90%, evenly split between Romney and Obama are already locked in and nothing is going to change their minds. So both sides are spending their money and time trying to convince the other 10% of the electorate. This is where we are with our politics in this country.

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