Obama yet to deliver on Middle East

[kayecy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8335114.stm
By Jeremy Bowen Middle East editor, BBC News, Saturday Oct 31st

Diplomatic push

But Washington's failure to deliver the Israelis has caused serious political damage to the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

He has done what he has been asked to do by the Americans. His security forces get excellent reports from their American and European advisors and instructors.

Reluctantly, Mr Abbas agreed to a photo opportunity in New York shaking hands with the Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu under the gaze of President Obama.

The photo says a great deal: Mr Netanyahu, having scored a victory by resisting the pressure for a settlement freeze, has a wry smile, Messrs Obama and Abbas look tense.

Then Mr Abbas agreed to an American request to delay debate of the Goldstone report into possible Israeli and Palestinian war crimes in Gaza. In the resulting Palestinian political storm, he changed his mind. But the damage was done.

He is still insisting that he will not negotiate with Israel until there is a settlement freeze. Israel is still building in the occupied territories. The US is still trying to get them to talk.
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[kayecy]

1. Has anyone seen an explanantion why Obama has back-tracked on this?....nm

[Buzz Clik]

3. Good question. He certainly promised eternal peace.

And look at the history in the region -- it's been nothing but harmony and bliss since January 2009. And now this. I wish Obama would quit provoking the Israelis and Palestinians into hating each other.

[Buzz Clik]

2. Yeah. It's the US President's job to clean up the mess after every ME shitstorm.

[bemildred]

4. "What is taking him so long???????"

What a load of horse-flop.

[BobRossi]

5. No time for that peace crap.

He's got to line the pockets of his banker buddies first!