Obama plans to confront Netanyahu over settlements, borders, 2 states, the whole megillah

by on March 31, 2009 8

Yes I just violated my anti-ethnocentric Yiddish policy in that headline. Apologies to everyone. Rosten: rigmarole.
Akiva Eldar in Haaretz says that Obama will be basing his Israel/Palestine policy on the report by the 10 realist luminaries who say that resolving injustice in Israel/Palestine is the key issue to fighting Islamic terror. Group is led by Henry Siegman, who Eldar says is seen in Israel as "far left." In Israel, I'd emphasize. We're here, we're queer, get used to it.
(Thanks to Ilene Cohen, who says this is important evidence that the jig is up for Israeli rejectionism.)

Posted in Israel/Palestine, One state/Two states, US Policy in the Middle East, US Politics

{ 8 comments... read them below or add one }

  1. Mooser says:
    March 31, 2009 at 11:32 am

    Violate your own personal no-Yiddish policy with "The Gantseh Megillah" at:

    http://www.pass.to/glossary/Default.htm

    As the song says:
    Brush up your Yiddish!
    Start speaking it now.
    Brush up your Yiddish,
    And they'll all kow-tow!

    And then add to it several nifties from The Phobia List:

    http://phobialist.com/

    Whatsamatter? Agateophobia got you down?

  2. Richard Witty says:
    March 31, 2009 at 12:26 pm

    Will the realist view satisfy Palestinians and the left?

  3. LD says:
    March 31, 2009 at 12:57 pm

    All that matters is will it satisfy the Palestinians. Then it has to satisfy the Israelis.

    The end.

    We can all have our armchair opinion of the matter but the Palestinians need to decide whether they have the components for a viable State.

    And a plan for the right of return.

  4. Me says:
    March 31, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    I just hope that the MSM and/or Mondoweiss cover not only the words which will be uttered by Obama when "confronting" Netanjahu, but also the actions which may or may not follow the words.

  5. Rowan says:
    March 31, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    Obama will certainly not "confront" Netanyahu. He will listen respectfully, nod in agreement at certain points, and retire to consult with his advisors. That's all that will happen. I guarantee it.

  6. ahmed says:
    March 31, 2009 at 2:24 pm

    Not to worry, Netanyahu says he can work with Obama

    "Netanyahu 2009 is very pragmatic. He puts Israel's interests first, but he does not ignore that one of those most important interests is the close relationship with the United States," said Zalman Shoval, a former ambassador to Washington who advises the prime minister-designate.

    The new U.S. administration is equally pragmatic, Shoval said, "and realizes it can have a partner who, no less than they, wants to succeed."

  7. Duscany says:
    March 31, 2009 at 3:31 pm

    I find it hard to believe that Obama will put any real pressure on Israel (comparable for instance to the pressure he's currently putting on General Motors and Chrysler). I remember reading a story about the days when George Schultz was secretary of state. He would go talk to the Israeli prime minister and politely ask in reasonable tones that Israel do (or not do) one thing or another. And the prime minister would agree and nothing would ever happen. And the reason was that the Israelis didn't take Schultz (or any American prime minister) seriously. The Israeli prime minister was used to rabbis, labor leaders and other politicians coming into his office yelling, pounding the table, issuing non-negotiable demands. And then the Americas would come around and speak to him in a civil and respectful manner. Naturally the Israelis didn't think the Americans really meant it.

  8. DICKERSON3870 says:
    March 31, 2009 at 7:39 pm

    RE: "Yes I just violated my anti-ethnocentric Yiddish policy in that headline. Apologies to everyone."

    ME: Apology reluctantly accepted. (LOL)

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