The way Congress hoop-hollered Netanyahu the other day during the joint session speech was very troubling and embarrassing IMO. First, it made the US appear as Israel's total lapdog and puppet and specifically of Netanyahu. It was completely unbecoming, reckless and unflattering for the US to signal that to Israel and the rest of the world. Second, it harmed the US's ability to play any fair and effective role in solving the Palestinian issue. They saw that grovelling spectacle and so did all other Muslims and/or Arabs (a few are Christian) and it signalled that the US will side with anything Israel requests over them. Third, it was shameless pandering for short term personal kudos with the Jewish, Evangelical and some other religious based voters, influence and funding at the expense of a serious longtime foreign relations problem. It's one that's also consistently caused the US problems with being too biased towards Israel and not just with terrorism. The US needs friends in the Muslim world too--there's over a billion of them and in places of key strategic influence. How much oil does Israel produce? Or gas? Or natural resources? Fourth, it made the US look weak and pathetic and even almost delegating its sovereignty and direction to a foreign leader for his nation's--not the US's--uses and interests. Take a look at how the British reacted to Obama's speech in London yesterday before: Obama: He came, he spoke, he conquered Westminster - UK Politics, UK - The Independent Once again, the US got a great boost from the POTUS there. Obama is proving to be a very effective leader for the US in foreign policy insofar as message delivery, popularity, rationale, effect, etc. He even got an honour no other POTUS ever received beforehand--a 'joint session of Parliament' speech in Westminster Hall--and he hit the ball out of the park with it. Yet, if you watch the video of that speech, the British gave him the standing ovation at the end. They NEVER hoop-hollered him during his speech or otherwise acted as if the UK was his 'little bitch,' if you will. The UK is a powerful country in its own right with its own character, history, etc. To the British, they are allies and Obama is supposed to be the leader of an ally, not a proxy PM or leader to whom they grovel. In no way whatsoever is what I'm saying anywhere meant to say that the Palestinians and their allies and supporters don't have to compromise or clean up much of their act. They absolutely do and form just as much of the problem. There's plenty of overreaching and wrongdoing by all sides here IMO. But it needs to get solved and not being part of the problem helps do that.