Juan Cole agrees that Obama and Netanyahu seemed uncomfortable with one another after their meeting; and that they fundamentally disagreed. And he makes this fine point about the new Palestinians-must-recognize-Israel-as-a-Jewish-state demand that has come into the Israel's talking points:
Netanyahu wants the Palestinians to acknowledge that Israel is a "Jewish state." I don't understand this demand. Israel is not a Jewish state, it is a multi-cultural state, with about half a million non-Jewish Russians and Ukrainians and 20% of its population is Arab. If "Jewish" is meant religiously, then observant Jews are actually a minority of the population in Israel. If "Jewish" is meant racially, then it is a particularly shameful demand. It is like demanding either that the US be recognized as a "Christian" country or as a "white" country. Obama was ill-advised to use the diction, himself.
Obama's statement:
It is in U.S. national security interests to assure that Israel’s security as an independent Jewish state is maintained.
Thanks to Susie Kneedler for the spot.
