The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to brand US President Barack Obama's visit "Operation Unbreakable Alliance." "Obama’s trip to Israel will be run like a military operation in most every way. It even has a code name: Unbreakable Alliance in English, and Brit Amim (A Covenant of Peoples) in Hebrew,"
"The Prime Minister’s Office came up with a large number of creative ideas for the American president’s visit, but diplomatic protocol combined with ceremonies, speeches and a heavy schedule of meetings have made such initiatives largely irrelevant."
GlobalPost's Senior Correspondent in Israel Noga Tarnopolsky said the unveiling of Operation Unbreakable Alliance signals Netanyahu's nervousness about the way Obama's upcoming trip to Israel may be perceived by the media. "I think by now its safe to say that everyone knows the Obama- Netanyahu relationship has not been a happy one," Tarnopolsky said. "Netanyahu was weakend by the last elections and it is very likely that he will receive Obama on March 20 without a new government in hand. He needs this trip to go well very, very badly." If it goes well, she said, it could burninsh Netanyahu's claim as the only legitimate candidate for prime minister.
"But Netanyahu and his team are gaffe-prone and uneasy right now — and I'd say "Operation Unbreakable Alliance" is one sign that they are concerned things may not follow their desired narrative," Tarnopolsky added.
Netanyahu won a smaller than expected victory in elections in January. In the run up to the American elections last November, Netanyahu was perceived as favoring Republican nominee Mitt Romney for president and Obama and Netanyahu have had a tense relationship from the beginning of Obama's presidency.
The office of Israeli President Shimon Peres announced Monday that Obama would be presented with the Presidential Medal of Distinction in March, according to the Guardian. It would recognize Obama's "unique and significant contribution to strengthening the State of Israel and the security of its citizens."
The prime minister's official Facebook page offers three
choices for logos to represent Obama's visit:
Though neither government has confirmed dates for the visit, Israeli media has been reporting that it will be from March 20 to 22, according to Agence France Presse. The White House has reiterated that Obama is not bringing any peace proposals with him on his trip.
Netanyahu said on Sunday that his talks with Obama would focus on Iran's nuclear program, Syria and the Palestinian peace talks.
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestine/130218/obamas-visit-israel-gets-official-logo When President Barack Obama visits Israel next month, he’ll be awarded the Presidential Medal of Distinction, Israeli President Shimon Peres’ office announced Monday.
Obama, the first sitting U.S. president to receive the recognition, will be awarded the medal for making “a unique and significant contribution to strengthening the State of Israel and the security of its citizens,” according to a release announcing the news.
He’ll receive the award at a dinner at Peres’ residence in Jerusalem, slated to be attended by senior figures from Israeli public life and the Obama administration. The award is given to “private” individuals and organizations that have made “outstanding contributions to bettering the world.”
Previous winners of the award include former Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, the Music Director of the Israel
Philharmonic Orchestra, Attorney Uri Slonim, and Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz. It’s not the first time the two presidents have exchanged awards.
Obama bestowed Peres the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, last year at the White House. Twelve others also received the award in 2012.
The Medal of Distinction comes as Obama makes his first trip to Israel as president–a trip expected to receive wide attention in light of the Obama administration’s at-times turbulent relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Despite getting off to a rocky start with Netanyahu by pushing for a comprehensive freeze of Israeli settlements, Obama’s vocal support for Netanyahu through the November crisis with Gaza and U.S. financial support for the “Iron Dome” anti-missile program, could pave the road for greater trust in the relationship, and more flexibility from Netanyahu when it comes to the disputed Iranian nuclear program.
And in his State of the Union address last week, Obama said
when he travels to the Middle East, he’ll deliver a message
signaling that the U.S. will “stand steadfast with Israel in pursuit of security and a lasting peace.”
http://www.politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/02/18/on-israel-trip-obama-to-get-medal/# |
