Israel to award Obama prestigious medal in visit

[jsr]

Source: Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel will award President Barack Obama the country's Presidential Medal of Distinction during his upcoming visit.

Israeli President Shimon Peres' office said Monday that Obama will be recognized for his "unique and significant contribution to strengthening the State of Israel and the security of its citizens."

Obama is scheduled to visit Israel in March - his first as president.

Obama has often had a tense relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the Jewish state's West Bank settlement policies and the lack of peace process with the Palestinians.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_US?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[midwest irish]

1. Conspiracy

There will be a right wing chain email created that says Hamas or Skeletor or something gave him the medal. I guarantee it.

[Arkana]

13. I personally look forward

to seeing the chain emails about how Obama agreed to turn over the power of Castle Grayskull in exchange for the medal.

[iandhr]

2. Is this like...

Last edited Mon Feb 18, 2013, 01:26 PM - Edit history (1)

... since the United States gave their President a medal we have to do the same for yours?

[TeaPotty]

9. Actually, it's from the Israeli left

Hey guys, been reading here for a while, and created an account to add my 2 cents as an American Jew who has lived in Israel for close to a decade.

This medal is coming from Peres, and is a gesture from the Israeli left. Obama really has done a lot for Israel, in contrast to the Conservative alternate reality.

This conservative bs media extends into Israel, and Israelis have just begun waking up with the last election.

Obama made some "open mic" comments about Bibi and the direction the country is taking.

This was near the election end, but it was enough to cripple Bibi who lost mandates despite combining with another party!

With the trend continuing, recent polls show Bibi would be crushed in a re-election by an Israeli public who believed for years that Bibi represented American ideas and interests due o his slick tongue and good English.

Bibi's efforts to put together his government isn't going very well, with everyone looking for a bite of him.

This medal is just another nail in the Conservatives' coffin, though definitely deserved for Obama.

[Wait Wut]

11. Great input!

I hope this isn't going to be your only post here. We occasionally get people signing up that just do a 'hit and run'.

Thanks and welcome to DU!

[TeaPotty]

12. Thanx for the warm welcome!

Now that I have an account, I'll post when I feel I should add my 2 cents.

[Ash_F]

15. Welcome to DU

Here's to gains in both countries closer to the center.

[iandhr]

19. Good stuff.

Thanks for the info.

[Purveyor]

3. This is from the 'Onion'...right? ;) eom

[Wait Wut]

4. While I don't give a damn about the medal...

...I love the visual of RW head exploding because Pres. Obama is an 'anti-semite, Muslim who hates Jews'.

[DavidDvorkin]

8. New right-wing meme: Shimon Peres is an antisemitic secret Muslim who hates Jews and Israel.

[Wait Wut]

10. !

[TeaPotty]

16. Actually, that's not far from reality

The Israeli Conservatives and their media are pretty close to describing Peres that way.

I think the NeoCons in both country use the same guide to gov obstruction.

[Wait Wut]

18. I'm sure it goes further than that.

With all the cuddling Bibi does with our Cons and visa versa, I'd be willing to bet there's a lot of cash buying elections. We let the 'Mitt and Bibi are friends' slip through our fingers. Not a big deal on the surface, because our guy won. But, Mitt's 'fundraiser' in Israel was never really questioned.

[R Merm]

20. Not mitt or bibi being friends, but the money Sheldon Adelson is spending in both countries that is

the common denominator.

Interesting article about what Adelson is doing to the Isreali newspaper industry.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/02/when-fair-and-balanced-came-to-israel.html

[TeaPotty]

22. ^This

Sheldon Adelson bankrupted quite a few independent Israeli newspapers at a time when Israeli online news wasn't mature yet.

His strategy was simple: give his newspaper out for free.
Here is the online English version:
http://www.israelhayom.com/

Took everyone a while to figure out it's propaganda, not news.
Obama's re-election was carried by headline: "America Chose Socialism".

[djean111]

5. Awwwww.....now Rubio is gonna want a nickel-plated water bottle.......

[OKNancy]

6. good one

[bemildred]

7. I'm sure Obama will especially treasure that one.

"See? This is my Prestigious Israeli Award Medal of Distinction".

[Arkana]

14. Here's hoping he wears it whenever he meets with Netanyahu.

"Oh, by the way, I won a medal when I visited your country because apparently the sane people there like me. Kif--show him the medal I won."

[Catherina]

17. He can place it right next to his Nobel Peace Prize n/t

[Historic NY]

21. Does "George the Lessor", wear his?..