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Rahm Emanuel's father: An Israeli terrorist?

Friday, 7 November 2008

Obama picks 'Rahmbo' as chief of staff

The appointment of Rahm Emanuel triggered widespread interest in Israel, the native country of his former Jewish underground fighter father.

The older Emanuel, a paediatrician born in Jerusalem, was a member of Irgun, the hard-line militant group which fought for Jewish independence until 1948.

It was described as "terrorist" at the time by Britain. Mr Emanuel's appointment could reassure Israel that Mr Obama will continue America's close alliance.

The Ynet news service quoted Michael Kotzin, a leader of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago, as saying Mr Emanuel is a frequent attender at Israel-related events.

He co-sponsored a Bill defending Israel against a world court advisory opinion in 2004 criticising the route of the military's separation barrier for cutting deep into the West Bank, and co-sponsored another Bill congratulating Israelis and Palestinians who work together for peace.

He is credited with choreographing the famous handshake between Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin on the White House lawn in 1993.

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The Irgun was a terrorist organization along with the Jewish Stern Gang. They were responsible for bombings and murders within Britsh Mandated Palestine. Menachem Begin and Yitshak Shamir
were both menbers of the Irgun. Both Begin and Shamir became the sixth and seventh prime ministers of Israel. These were of course Zionists, who paved the way for Israel to become a state.

Posted by u know who | 03.04.09, 00:27 GMT

Change must come from the top down in the US, because the most of top-level government positions are corrupted and highly influenced by AIPAC. All the money from any pro-Israel movement flows into a big bowl that is used then to pay and influence those people with power in Washington.
Change can only come through well-educated, bright people who will start getting deeper into US politics and resist against the financial pressure used by AIPAC (Israel).
Only this would bring peace to Middle-East.

Posted by John Grave | 03.03.09, 02:13 GMT

No surprise here. Our government has been filled with Israeli Agents & dual citizens of Israel since long before the Bush Administration. Our country is run by Israel & we mainly fight wars with our men's lives to expand Israel real estate.

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss...& the same old staff too.

Posted by L. Matlock | 04.02.09, 14:15 GMT

Israel was founded on terrorism. Huh. Seems they have plenty in common with their neighbors.

Posted by KARLA LINDQUIST | 24.01.09, 22:32 GMT

I don't know why the appointment of Obama as President raised the world's hopes that better change would come along. US Foreign Policy towards the Middle East and it's close alliance with Israel will never change no matter who takes office. And at the end of the day, Obama like every other US president throughout history, only cares about his interests for power and money, which comes from AIPAC, one of the most powerful and influential lobby groups in the US that ensures US full support for Israel, both military and economic. Not to mention that $8 million is flowed to Israel alone every day from the US, which is way more than what Africa alone as a continent, minus Egypt, receives each year in total (www.IfAmericansKnew.org). The world will always be unfair as long as "change" does not come from us the people.

Posted by Michelle | 13.11.08, 17:19 GMT

As a first new administration appointee, things don't bode well for any change in U.S. policy towards Israel, I'm afraid. Until we appear to become even handed in that part of the world, there will be further trouble heading our way. The same goes for Obama's latest negative comments about Iran before he is even inaugurated. Emanuel's appointment put the latest foreign policy talk to the right of Bush!

Posted by steve orchard | 10.11.08, 03:45 GMT