Continuing Resolution! and The Root Of The Problem!!!

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When I was young and aspiring to be  more adult  I made annual New Year's Resolutions.

After some 20 years of breaking them and lying to myself, I decided to simply have a "Continuing Resolution to be a Better Person.' "  My satirical logic, was if Congress could run the nation's fiscal affairs in that manner why couldn't I run my life that way.

Obama's cynical statement which, at the time he made it, he knew to be a lie, about keeping your health care plan, your doctor, hospital etc. is the height of political hypocrisy and display of  abject contempt for American citizens.

Many suffering from cancer and other serious medical issues have lost their medical teams etc. and Obama knew this would be the case.

I wondered what, if any resolution Obama would make this year and we found out in his last disingenuous press conference. He is going to be nicer to the press and media. How typically flip of the president who has proven to be all along what I always thought he was - a fraud!

In the last five years I have excoriated him at every turn.  A few times probably unfairly so only to find, as time passed, I was right all along.

I am now reading Doris Kearn's massive biography of Teddy Roosevelt and William Taft, a recovery gift from a dear family member. The book is over 700 pages and I am only a tenth of the way through but it is evident both these Presidents were men of integrity, had excellent pre-election credentials and were the kind of role models of which Americans could be proud regardless of their political persuasion.

This is not the case with Obama.  He is not someone I admire, someone I even believe and that is what makes his election so tragic.  What an opportunity he had to be a shining example , not only for those who voted or did not vote for him, but also for his own people.  He has failed everyone and, no doubt, in the next three years he will seek through guise and tricks to redeem himself and his image. I doubt he will be able to overcome the people's view and that is how 2014 begins in a political sense.  

How sad indeed.

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Obama's State Department is threatening to close our embassy with The Holy See and make it an adjunct of our's with Italy.  (See 1 below.)

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Dick
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1)Zion Evrony is the Israeli ambassador to the Vatican.

Today, twenty years ago, on a cold winter day in Jerusalem, Israel and the
Holy See signed the Fundamental Agreement, establishing full diplomatic
relations and exchange of ambassadors. The agreement was an historic
milestone not only in relations between Israel and the Holy See, but also
between the Catholic Church and the Jewish People. Forty-six years after the
establishment of the State of Israel, an Israeli embassy to the Holy See and
an embassy of the Holy See in Israel were opened. I am now the sixth
Ambassador of Israel to the Holy See.

When I go to meetings and events in the Vatican, pass the Swiss guards, and
walk the beautiful marble floors, I sometimes think about the long path we
have traveled, Christians and Jews in the last 2,000 years - from rejection
and denial, just over 100 years ago, to recognition, dialogue, and
friendship of today. This shift has taken place as a result of the
confluence and interplay of theological and political changes. I presented
my credentials to Pope Benedict XVI and I have already met Pope Francis
briefly several times. The meetings were warm and unforgettable and I
thanked both of them for their friendship to the Jewish People. Pope Francis
greeted me in Hebrew with "Shalom," and I invited him to visit Israel. Pope
Francis' message of modesty, caring for the poor, peace and interreligious
dialogue has a universal appeal. 

A century earlier, in 1904, the founder of Zionism Theodor Herzl met Pope
Pius X and asked his support for the establishment of a Jewish State. The
Pope rejected the idea categorically and the Holy See objected to the
Partition Resolution of 1947 on the basis of theological reasons and
practical interests. From 1948 to 1967, and especially during its first
years of statehood, Israel's approach toward the Catholic Church was
dictated not only by considerations of realpolitik, but also by the burden
of history - not always simple. In 1964, during his 11-hour-visit to Israel,
Pope Paul VI did not mention the name "Israel," and when he returned to Rome
he sent a thank you telegram addressed to "President Shazar, Tel Aviv,"
mentioning neither Israel nor Jerusalem.

But only a year later, in 1965, a historical and theological change took
place: the adoption of the document "Nostra Aetate" by the Catholic Church.
This document revolutionized the Catholics' position - exonerating the
Jewish People from the collective blame of Jesus' death, an accusation that
has been one of the main sources of religious anti-Semitism throughout
history.

After the Six-Day War, and in light of the new reality of Israel's control
over all of Jerusalem and the Christian Holy Sites, the Holy See adopted a
more pragmatic approach to the dialogue with Israel in order to solve daily
life problems of Christians living in the state. In 1984, for the first
time, the "State of Israel" was mentioned in a signed Papal document and the
historic religious bond between the Jewish people and Israel was recognized.

The Fundamental Agreement of 1993 was the next milestone. Yossi Beilin,
Israel's deputy foreign minister who signed the agreement, later commented:
"Even though it was a political agreement between two states, we all knew
that it was also a historic agreement of reconciliation between the Catholic
Church and the Jewish people."

The agreement is based on four fundamental points of mutual interest: the
establishment of diplomatic relations, the commitment to cooperate in
combating anti-Semitism, the promotion of cultural and academic exchanges,
and cooperation in encouraging Christian pilgrimages.

In the last 20 years, relations between Israel and the Holy See knew periods
of understanding and progress, but also of difficulties. Nevertheless, an
open dialogue always continued. The upcoming year, 2014, will be important
for a number of reasons: the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the
establishment of relations, Pope Francis' expected visit to Israel, and the
possibility of completing and signing the Economic Financial Agreement that
deals with issues of property and taxation. This year will be an opportunity
to celebrate and also to think together and plan ahead the future of our
relations.

Pope Francis' visit will follow the path of his two predecessors: the
historic visits of Pope John Paul II in 2000, and Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.
Both visits contributed significantly to the process of reconciliation,
recognition and dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Jewish People,
and also to Israel's relations with the Holy See.

The Economic Financial Agreement that we hope to sign soon would be another
milestone in the relations. The negotiations of this long-awaited agreement
are finally reaching a conclusion and, even though we have recently solved
and overcome important obstacles, some work has still to be done before
signing the document.

As for the future, some of the challenges we face, in addition to signing
the agreement, are, first, to further upgrade relations and start a broader
and more significant political dialogue on issues of mutual concern such as
the fate of minorities in the Middle East, the rise of radical Islam, and
Syria. Second, to achieve stronger cooperation in combating anti-Semitism by
creating a realistic, universal program of education, supported not only by
the Catholic and Jewish communities, but also by the network of Israeli and
Holy See embassies around the world focusing on the spirit and message of
"Nostra Aetate", on the unique importance of the State of Israel in Jewish
identity, and on modern Israel beyond the Holy Sites. Pope Francis' strong
words against anti-Semitism - "because of our common roots, a Christian
cannot be anti-Semitic" - should be spread to the furthest corners of the
world. Finally, it is also important to educate Jewish people on the new
approach of the Catholic Church towards Judaism.

Today's relations between the state of Israel and the Holy See are based on
mutual respect and dialogue, and although challenges remain, we have made
significant progress over the past 20 years. Pope Francis' upcoming visit to
Israel will further strengthen these relations.

Zion Evrony has been Israel's Ambassador to the Holy See since August 2012.
He is a 40-year veteran of Israel's foreign service. He previously served as
Israel's ambassador to Ireland and Consul General in Houston, Texas. He was
also head of Policy Planning in Israel's Ministry for Foreign Affairs in
Jerusalem.

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