Stephen Collinson from Agence France-Presse identifies the Israeli government as the greatest obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians and President Obama doesn't really disagree. From last night's press conference:
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Okay. Stephen Collinson, AFP.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you came to office pledging to work for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yeah.
QUESTION: How realistic do you think those are hopes are now, given the
likelihood of a prime minister who’s not fully signed up to a two-
state solution and a foreign minister who’s been accused of insulting
Arabs?PRESIDENT OBAMA: It’s not easier than it was, but I think it’s just as necessary. We don’t yet know what the Israeli government is going to look like.
And we don’t yet know what the future shape of Palestinian leadership
is going to be comprised of.
What we do know is this; that the status quo is unsustainable.
