Bush vs. Obama: It's Just the Start

Obama: Bush 'politics of fear' haven't made US or Israel safer

(NEWSER) - He didn't name names, but he didn't need to. President Bush used an appearance before Israel’s Knesset today to accuse Barack Obama of the “foolish delusion” that “we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals.” In comments aimed at Obama’s support among American Jews, CNN notes, the president compared the Democrat to Hitler appeasers, saying, "We have an obligation to call this what it is—the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history." More»

(NEWSER) - Not all foreign leaders prefer Barack Obama to George W. Bush. Joshua Keating of Foreign Policy lists five heads of state who probably miss Dubya:

• Silvio Berlusconi. "The conservative Christian from Texas and the lecherous billionaire" were good buddies; Bush hosted the Italian president often at his ranch and declined to call him out on his personal indiscretions.
• Benjamin Netanyahu. Bush gave Israel almost unconditional support and, according to the PM, tacitly agreed to allow the “natural growth” of existing settlements in the West Bank—something the Obama administration disputes.

Prez-elect aide denies report he'll call up Israeli foe

(NEWSER) - An aide to Barack Obama has denied a report that the president-elect is planning low-level or back-channel negotiations with Hamas, the Jerusalem Post reports. Obama considers Hamas a terrorist oranization and won’t deal with its leaders “until they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by past agreements,” Obama’s chief national security spokeswoman said. More»

Mission to trace assets of murdered Jews facing resistance from Israeli government, businesses

(NEWSER) - The quest to return assets of Holocaust victims to their heirs, instigated by the Israeli parliament, is now focusing on Israel itself, the Wall Street Journal reports, and it's meeting as much resistance at home as it did in Europe. Many European Jews invested in what was then Palestine during the '20s and '30s, only to die at the hands of the Nazis before they could realize their dream of emigration. Israeli banks, and even the government, are accused of short-changing their heirs. More»

Iran responds with threat; Tel Aviv worries about US backing

(NEWSER) - Israel has 12 months to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons or risk Tehran’s wrath, a former Israeli defense official said. “The time that is left to be ready is getting shorter all the time,” Shabtai Shavit told the Telegraph. “We should do whatever (is) necessary in case sanctions don’t work. What’s left is military action.” More»