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Need a Hand?
Your Next Project Starts with Brownstoner
Legion- that was one of the worst assessments of Middle East reality I have ever read. Not only does it not take into account history, the plight of the Palestinians and its implications for peace in the region, but it sounds like the foreign policy of medieval France. There’s enough blame on both sides but the reality is, bibi doesn’t care about peace. He doesn’t care about the billions we’ve given Israel, the deaths of so many young people, the prospect of more generations of war, the illegal land grabs of the settlers. Btw, illegal in Israeli law- they can’t stop the religious fanatics from building illegal settlements, nor from stealing Palestinian owned land and property.
It isn’t up to us to police everyone but a country we have given billions in aid too? We damn well have something to say. and you’re reading Podhoretz? The man is so right wing he needs a rabies shot.
uhh MM and Slopefarm,
correct me if I’m wrong,
but isn’t that exactly what was done about 60 years ago?
I mean the part about giving the Palestinians a chunk of land of their own?
Those who forget the past are destined to repeat it.
Santayana
“”I turned it on for 5 minutes, and then had to turn it off.”
– ADHD”
Well, that, too. ; )
Why aren’t you watching, Pete?
“His government is cobbled together of factions”
Hey! I had nothing to do with this! : P
“I turned it on for 5 minutes, and then had to turn it off.”
– ADHD
“Netanyahu is a very shaky prospect of his own. His government is cobbled together of factions- mostly right wing- that he cobbled together by promising them things he never should have.As for our allies- Considering the less than full esteem many of them hold Israel for its actions, I hardly think they would pick Netanyahu over Obama. You’re being completely unrealistic.”
I think that about sums it up nicely. If anything, standing up to Netanyahu puts us on a higher footing with our allies, many of whom are sick of Israel. He is not representing the majority of Israelis who know that any real peace with the Palestinians comes with giving them a sustainable chunk of land they can call a country, a land that has habitable areas in it, so they can get out of refugee camps, and start rebuilding a nation. Anything else can be negotiated, as in the “mutually agreed upon swaps” which Obama has emphasized from the first time he gave the speech. Funny how that is always forgotten.
And, if Netanyahu indeed “schooled Obama” in front of Congress, which did not happen, btw, then shame on him. Where is his respect for the office of president? Where is Congress’ respect for an American president, that they let a foreign dignitary diss the president on their own turf? Well, since that did not happen, because he was not “schooled”, I guess the Pod is smoking the lawn again.
Like I said, legion, I think he is grandstanding for the home crowd. I do not think his public comments are a meaningful barometer Obama’s trustworthiness, or even Bibi’s real opinion. I also think it ironic that you think we should take our cues as to how our president is doing from what leaders of other countries say in public.
In the long run, Israel has a problem. Demographics over time are against it, as the Palestinian population is growing much faster. My view is that Israel is more secure with an economically viable Palestinian state. Clinging to ever-expanding settlements makes that a more difficult solution to reach.
I realize there is no real negotiating partner on the other side. Players on both sides are quite adept at drawing their opponent offsides, making it look like the other side is more intransigent. I don’t think Israel need capitulate to anything and I do not think capitulation is a proper read of Obama’s speech. I do think Israel needs to take a longer and more subtle view of its real interests and how best to get there. Expanding settlements and blustering about the ancestral home produces purely a shortrun political gain domestically for Bibi and helps guaranty that there will be no moderate constituency on the other side to negotiate with.
“Those who occupy it, own it. Period.”
I would never rent to you ever. ”
ha pete,
That did sound a bit like a Rent-Controlled tenant rant.
sorry. :o(
Oprah is lecturing her audience. I turned it on for 5 minutes, and then had to turn it off.