If there was some UN vote concerning Israel, I'm sure many of the Israeli representatives and lobbyists would be working overtime during this so-called holiday to ensure a favorable outcome. The absence was indeed a boycott and a major reason is that they don't like him. He's not as sympathetic to the zionist cause as previous presidents and as a colored man can probably empathize with the plight of the downtrodden such as the Palestinians. There is also the traditional Jewish disdain for those those they regard should just remain "hewers of wood and drawers of water".

Since when is Sukkot a "so-called holiday:"? It is a real holiday though of course people who have no respect for Jews or Judaism wouldn't recognize that obvious fact.

Further given the respect for Jewish people and ESPECIALLY Israelis for labor, the insinuation that we do not respect workers is absurd. Israel was in fact founded on the principle that Jews should BE ALLOWED to do work that was forbidden us in Europe. This includes farming and other labor on the land.

Of course in the Middle East prior to the rebirth of Israel Jews, under the conditions of dhimmitude, were limited to "unclean" jobs unless powerful overlords agreed to made exceptions.

Zionism as a philosophy includes the idea that the redemption of the Jewish people is strongly founded on the principle that work, such as drawing water and hewing wood, is both necessary and good. Plus, Jews as a people strongly defend labor and workers, unions and worker's rights.

The_Observer's comment is flat-out bigoted as well as ignorant.

What a load of BS! Snub with a capital "S". They knew what he was going to say about the West Bank issue. And they spoke loud and clear by having four empty chairs. The rest of the world got the message too. Arrogance is what was shown at Masada way back too. Lets see if history can repeat itself?