News flash! AztecWilliam Praises Pres. Obama.

[AztecWilliam]

I believe in giving everyone his or her due. I have been almost 100% critical of Barack Obama's performance in office. Now, however, I am delighted to announce my support for a recent shift in the administration's stance on the Israeli/Palestinian issue. In a recent speech given by the Pres. during his trip to the Middle East, Mr. Obama staked out a new and, one hope's, positive view on what should be done to settle that difficult issue.

Here's what is new. The long-held demand by the Palestinians has been that Israeli settlements in the West Bank must first be removed before serious talks with Israel would proceed. The President now says that the talks should begin without preconditions,and that the issue of the settlements will be resolved later.

This is an important change. By taking, for the moment, the settlements issue off the table, Pres. Obama has robbed the Palestinians of their No. 1 excuse for not negotiating with the Israelis. In the view of no less a critic of the Pres. than Charles Krauthammer, a final agreement to create a sovereign Palestinian state would be followed automatically by the abandonment of the West Bank settlements. That is what happened with the settlements in Gaza when the Israelis pulled out some years ago. No doubt there would be a great deal of turmoil among the Israelis, but they won't as a practical matter, have much choice. It would be a terrible idea for Israeli citizens to remain as a very small minority inside a new Islamic Palestine.

It seems to me that this change in position by Obama is very smart and indicates that, at least in this case, he is capable to pragmatism.

AzWm

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In Krauthammer I trust!
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[azteccc]

Interesting, but the leaders of Israel are comparable to our mid-2000's neo-cons militarily. While the Israeli people want a permanent solution, the government does not.

[AztecWilliam]

Apr 24, 2013 11:04:10 GMT -8 azteccc said:

Interesting, but the leaders of Israel are comparable to our mid-2000's neo-cons militarily. While the Israeli people want a permanent solution, the government does not.

Oh, really? Is that your opinion only, or can you supply references that support that view? I cannot believe that there is any Israeli politician who would not welcome a satisfactory peace agreement with the Palestinians. The key word is "satisfactory." To meet that criterion, the Palestinians would have to formally acknowledge the right of Israel to exist. Also, borders acceptable to Israel would have to be agreed to. The first of those two criteria should be relatively easy*, the second not so much so.

Of course, an agreement that would lead to peace (i.e., a two-state solution) will be worthless if, upon promulgation of said agreement, the Palestinians start shooting rockets into Israel again.

Israel has survived, even thrived, under conditions that resemble low-intensity, intermittent warfare. Still, it is hard to imagine that there is a single Israeli who would not welcome a genuinely workable peace plan. I refer to the people of Israel generally as well as to the politicians.

AzWm

* It is easy to say "We formally and without reservation acknowledge that the state of Israel has a right to exits." Those are just words. The hard part is to put aside over six decades of hatred for the people of Israel. When you have a third generation who have been taught the most slanderous lies about Jewish people, it will be hard for many to accept the idea that all those anti-Israeli and anti-Jewish teachings have been in error.

[aztecwin]

Apr 7, 2013 11:10:45 GMT -8 AztecWilliam said:

I believe in giving everyone his or her due. I have been almost 100% critical of Barack Obama's performance in office. Now, however, I am delighted to announce my support for a recent shift in the administration's stance on the Israeli/Palestinian issue. In a recent speech given by the Pres. during his trip to the Middle East, Mr. Obama staked out a new and, one hope's, positive view on what should be done to settle that difficult issue.

Here's what is new. The long-held demand by the Palestinians has been that Israeli settlements in the West Bank must first be removed before serious talks with Israel would proceed. The President now says that the talks should begin without preconditions,and that the issue of the settlements will be resolved later.

This is an important change. By taking, for the moment, the settlements issue off the table, Pres. Obama has robbed the Palestinians of their No. 1 excuse for not negotiating with the Israelis. In the view of no less a critic of the Pres. than Charles Krauthammer, a final agreement to create a sovereign Palestinian state would be followed automatically by the abandonment of the West Bank settlements. That is what happened with the settlements in Gaza when the Israelis pulled out some years ago. No doubt there would be a great deal of turmoil among the Israelis, but they won't as a practical matter, have much choice. It would be a terrible idea for Israeli citizens to remain as a very small minority inside a new Islamic Palestine.

It seems to me that this change in position by Obama is very smart and indicates that, at least in this case, he is capable to pragmatism.

AzWm

============================================
In Krauthammer I trust!
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How can we (Obama) make this call for Palestine? I agree it would be a good idea, but will Palestine go along?

[AztecWilliam]

The Palestinians have been so committed to the destruction of Israel that it will be hard for them to change course. Any leader who comes out in favor of a genuine peace along the lines of a two-state solution risks assassination. It's clear that they have left themselves little room for maneuvering. Remember that Arafat turned down a proposal in 2000 that give the Palestinians about 97% of what they were asking for. No doubt he had in mind the example of what happened to Anwar Sadat after he made peace with Israel.

AzWm