Rahm Emanuel Bows to the Left on Israel

Rahm Emanuel is visiting Israel to deliver a speech at Tel Aviv University on Wednesday, aiming to signal to American progressives that he is a trustworthy figure regarding U.S.-Israeli relations. According to an advance copy, Emanuel will state, "Without question, the alliance is at a crossroads. It cannot stand or survive as it has been." He plans to emphasize that the U.S. expects Israel to cease "needless war-making" and rejoin the international community. Emanuel also intends to highlight past confrontations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who he says called him a "self-hating Jew" in 2009. Emanuel told a reporter, "I did it 18 years ago, and I didn’t need a war to do it. And I’m going to do it right here."