Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Is Obama planning another move against Israel?



Israel Fears Obama Heading for Imposed Mideast Settlement -Ari Shavit

President Obama's demands point to an intention to impose a permanent settlement on Israel and the Palestinians in less than two years, political sources in Jerusalem say.

Israeli officials view the demands that Obama made at the White House as the tip of the iceberg under which lies a dramatic change in U.S. policy toward Israel.
(Ha'aretz)


Obama May Double His Bets -Warren P. Strobel

The administration is said to be preparing a major peace initiative that would be Obama's most direct involvement in the conflict to date, and would go far beyond indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks.
(McClatchy-Miami Herald)


President Obama's Mideast Gamble -Ben Smith

Obama's new focus represents an acceptance of the Arab narrative that Israeli intransigence lies at the heart of the Middle East conflict.

David Rothkopf, a former Clinton administration trade official, said the new model is [meant] to build support among Arab leaders for a U.S. plan and then present that to Israel - to serve as the Arabs' lawyer, rather than as Israel's.
(Politico)
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2 comments:

LHwrites said...

Most of what is said here, I hope is not true. However, I think there is merit to appearing to work from the Arabs point of view (the last article cited) in that, in reality, they are the ones that have not really negotiated in good faith. I would like to believe nothing unfair to Israel will be demanded, but if Obama were to come to the table with a position acceptable to Arabs (how he will work out Jerusalem, acceptably for Israel, is hard to imagine) it would put the Arabs in a difficult position to say no if Israel seemed to accept. HOWEVER< I do not believe it will get that far because by working with the Arabs Obama will see first hand that they will not negotiate in good faith nor be willing to negotiate on contested terms. There may be peace in the MidEast but it seems it will take next generations of more moderate Arabs to do it.

Bruce said...

If i thought this was merely posture, i might be able to agree with you. But my worst fears appear to be coming into focus. We seem to have an Arabist in the White House. Thus, President Obama will not see Arab rejectionism for what it is.

I keep expecting to wake up and shake it off.