The 57 State Solution, not a chance

Reading numerous articles about the upcoming meeting between United States President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, there seems to be one thing missing -- any obligations or requirements for the Palestinians.  Jordan's King Abdullah used a speech at an economic forum on Friday to push the idea of expanding an Arab initiative for peace with Israel to include the entire Muslim world, the "57 state solution".   (Reuters)

(Hmmm... I remember Obama saying he had visited all 57 states, but he was talking about United States, or so he says .... but I digress ...)

But Wait!  According to Abdullah and the Times of London, this was Obama's idea:  "Obama wanted to promote a peace plan involving all Muslim countries and not just Arab nations.   Obama is due to address the region in a speech in Cairo next month and foreign ministers of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference are due to meet in Syria on May 23." 

An Arab peace initiative, backed by leading U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, offers Israel normal relations with the 22 countries of the Arab League in return for returning lands to Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians.

Israel has reacted coldly to the plan, citing concerns over the return of Palestinian refugees. Palestinians this week have commemorated the fighting in 1948 that caused at least 700,000 Palestinians to lose their homes in territory that is now part of Israel. Israel sees the fighting as its war of independence.

"The Arab peace initiative has offered Israel a place in the neighbourhood and more -- acceptance by 57 nations, the one-third of the U.N. members that do not recognise Israel," King Abdullah told a World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan.

"This is true security -- security that barriers and armed forces cannot bring," he said.  (Reuters)

Steven Huntly has some keen insight in his article, "U.S. tough on Israel, light on Palestinians"

Outreach to Islam is central to Obama's strategy of shifting away from the foreign policy of George W. Bush. He won't want anything coming out of his Washington session with Netanyahu that could spoil the speech. That kind of thinking had to figure, in part, in Obama's praiseworthy decision to reverse himself and oppose release of photos of alleged detainee abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan. Inflammatory images igniting anti-U.S. protests in the Muslim street wouldn't be a good scene-setter for Obama's June 4 speech.

Are you growing weary or those who bash Israel?  Are you growing weary of hearing how evil Israel is and how wonderful the misunderstood Palestinians are? 

 ...   Israelis are to blame for Palestinian suffering and, until that specific suffering is alleviated, the President of the United States cannot ask Iran to halt its nuclear progress.

I grow weary, disconsolate.  [snip]

Moderate, fashionable American Jews—you know, the kind who risked nothing to protest the recent persecution of innocent AIPAC officials, the obscene imprisonment of Jonathan Pollard, the even more treacherous kidnapping and disappearance of Gilad Schalit, the perpetual shelling of Sderot from Gaza—some of these Jews have now begun screaming for a “two state solution,” as if signing on to this mantra will truly save and redeem us.

Well, perhaps—but only if that “two state” solution includes the huge, uninhabited land of both Jordan and Egypt. Apparently, the West Bank and Gaza do not have enough land to support the number of Palestinians (who have been refused citizenship in every Arab country) who would flood the too-tiny region. However, neither Jordan nor Egypt really want the Palestinians; every Arab knows that they (their terrorist and gangsta leaders, now backed by Iran and Syria) spell Big Trouble. They brutally take over, civilian populations and ruling regimes alike, and are currently advancing an Islamist agenda.

I am weary.  (Consolation in a time of madness  --Dr. Phyllis Chesler

The Economist barfs up this gem "Barack Obama must not just scold Israel’s leader but also promote his own plan soon":

FOR the first time in many years, an Israeli government is scared stiff that an American administration may squeeze it until its pips squeak. That is surely a good thing, if it makes the Israelis more amenable to giving the Palestinians the fair deal—in essence, a proper state of their own—that might bring peace to the two peoples and to the wider region of the Middle East. So when Barack Obama meets Binyamin Netanyahu in the White House on May 18th, he must be tough with him.

Yes Dr. Chesler, I grow weary also reading articles like the above.  But maybe Sammy Benoit writing at American Thinker has the right perspective, "The posturing going on between the two is necessary for political reasons which have nothing to do with the upcoming meeting. It's almost as if they are "frenemies" a person who is your friend but seems like your enemy."

Barack Obama needs to appear to push Bibi to satisfy his liberal base, by making a clean break with the Bush administration.  Bibi needs to appear obstinate to satisfy the "right wing" leaning parts of his coalition. Barack Obama and Bibi Netanyhu's position on the Palestinian Issues and on Iran are closer than you think.

Both Barack Obama and Bibi Netanyahu believe in a two-state solution, Obama has said it publicly, Bibi has danced around using the words but everything he has said,  including that he will honor previous agreements, displays that he believes it.

On the other hand, both leaders realize that they shouldn't "hold their breath" waiting for an Israel/Palestinian peace. Obama needs to look the part of a Middle East peacemaker, but doesn't really think it's possible.  (continue reading)

Haaretz reports, "U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding that Israel not surprise the U.S. with an Israeli military operation against Iran." 

Heaven forbid that Israel should act alone to defend herself without help or permission from the United States -- at least that the impression many want to convey to the world.  I say to Israel "do what you need to do, when you need to do it, how you need to do it."

Final thought to Israel:

If Obama is for something -- RUN, RUN AWAY FROM HIS IDEAS.  IF OBAMA IS FOR IT, YOU SHOULD BE AGAINST IT.

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 Trackposted to The Pink Flamingo, Rosemary's Thoughts, third world county, Woman Honor Thyself, and The World According to Carl, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Comments

[MK]

"I say to Israel "do what you need to do, when you need to do it, how you need to do it.""

Here-here, because when the crap hits the fan hussein won't be coming to their rescue, no matter how much he pretends he will.

I hope bibi tells hussein to shove his sell-out plan cos that's what it is.

[Skunkfeathers]

Barry will rue supporting the Palestinians at any cost; THEY don't give a rats' ass for Israel, or for Barry's political legacy. Only their own political endgame, which means squeezing Israel out.

Barry is an idiot in foreign affairs.

[Ron Russell]

When Bebe comes to Washington this next week one this is sure, he will not get the same warm reception that has been given to Arabs who have visited the White House recently, but I sure he expects that. As for Obama telling Israel what they should do about their own security I doubt that Netanyahu will listen. I suspect he is his own man. Quite unlike the weak-kneed coward we currently have in the White House.

I doubt that Bebe will buy what Obama is selling like many in this country have. Unlike Obama Bebe knows history, knows the threats facing Israel, knows that in the final anaylsis that Israel must rely on Israel and not on anyone else.

Obama does not like the Jewish state. There is absolutely nothing, nothing in his background to indicate anything but hatard for the Jewish state and I'm quite sure Bebe is aware of Obama's history. Just as he is aware of his country's own histroy and its continuing struggle with its Arab neighbors dating back to the war for independance in 1948,the Suez-Sinai War in 1956, the six-day war in 1967, the Yom Kippur war in 1973 and the list goes on. Israel cannot afford to lose a war because it would mean their destruction and Bebe is aware of this. Sadly, Obama could care less and secretly would be pleased to see Israel pass into history.

Netanyahu, should listen to nothing Obama says, for nothing will be in the Jewish states interest.

[Rosemary]

Hi Debbie. I like that last bit of advice. RUN! lol.