J.Post April 8: Obama's Peace Offensive in Israel

Sir, - Martin Sherman remains peerless. The intelligent reader who seeks a deeper understanding of rapidly unfolding events beyond their superficial reportage, depends a great deal on the likes of Martin Sherman for an insightful glimpse into the depth of serious meaning that often lies hidden in the simple description of events. His article "Obama in Israel: The sinister subtext?" is a prime example of Sherman's gift of articulating that which many Israelis suspected after being overwhelmed by Obama's charm offensive.

Sherman offers cogent arguments, supported by impeccable logic and an incredibly rich vocabulary to make his points, which he further strengthens by a fertile array of quotes from the subjects of his articles or literary sources. He begins his thesis with a most valid question concerning Obama's decision to bypass Israel's Knesset and deliver a message to a pre-selected group of students whom he urges to organize pressure for the promotion of peace, and if necessary even circumvent their democratically elected officials. What indeed is the nature of this aforementioned peace?

Is this the peace agreement that the government of Israel has been insisting must be negotiated by both sides without pre-conditions, and which the PA has for many months refused to accept but rather has chosen to stir up violent attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF personnel? Or is this rather Obama's subtext peace plan based upon indefensible 1967 borders and the release of hundreds of terrorist prisoners, totally ignoring the growing hostility that surrounds Israel?

Martin Sherman has got it right!

ZEV CHAMUDOT

Petach Tikva

[Image credit: Flickr user DonkeyHotey]