Obama ends Middle East trip with visit to Petra ruins

[ZRT2209]

Source: BBC

...Correspondents say his four-day visit has yielded mixed results.

He brokered an Israeli rapprochement with Turkey but there was little progress on the Palestinian issue.

The BBC's North America editor, Mark Mardell, says the American leader's clear warmth towards Israel comes at a price, and many in the Arab world will feel let down.

Yet, our editor adds, he brought a subtle message to young Israelis that every people deserves freedom and a land of its own.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21909614

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. He is treating both sides the same

maybe the US could impose a better leader in Israeli and get rid of right wing Bibi. Israelis could do better with a more moderate government.

[former9thward]

9. "impose a better leader"

How do you suggest that would be done? Military overthrow?

[DFW]

2. My nephew was there, said they're amazing

He majored in Arabic studies and international relations at Georgetown, spent a semester in Jordan, and interned at the US embassy in Tunisia. He said the ruins at Petra were one of the most impressive things he saw during his time there.

[dipsydoodle]

4. Was your nephew's name Indie ?

[DFW]

8. Yup. That's him. I'm 128 years old. n/t

[karynnj]

3. Rather weak praise for what really is a major accomplishment

Turkey and Israel have not had relations for a few years. This was a major loss for Israel and any hope of regional improvement. Turkey and Jordan were the only two countries with good relations with Israel.

This, in and of itself, will not lead to Middle East peace, but it brings one more country into the process. Not to mention, Obama spoke truth to the students - the people most willing to hear it and the people whose lives will be most impacted if things are not improved. I KNOW that American Jewish students and young adults are far more aware of the need for Palestinian rights than my generation is. (I have a daughter active in Jewish voices for peace.)

The ONLY people who can make the decisions that could lead to anything approaching peace are the Israelis and the Palestinians. Obama is encouraging both to have the courage and strength to move in that direction. The US can not make peace - the ONLY thing that Obama and his SOS can do is to try to open the lines of communication between them and to help them take the simpler steps in making life between them better.

I would never equate restoring relations between Turkey and Israel with the far greater task of getting the Israelis and Palestinians to agree on the framework for two states, but the ACTIONS that the Obama administration took were those of opening the communications and getting them to take the steps needed to return to having relations.

I think Obama deserves far more credit than is given here. In fact, I would have expected the same - Obama helps Israel and Turkey to re-establish relations, but Obama failed to achieve Middle East peace - to be posted here WITH a sarcasm emoticon. Every President since Israel was established has failed to establish Middle Eastern peace. (In fact, what is noteworthy are the times when Presidents and their administration DID something to improve part of the situation.)

I have been reluctant to complain of Obama not getting credit that would have routinely gone to Bush, Clinton or some other President, but this time it really stands out.

[Iliyah]

5. I can't stand CNN and rarely tune in to MSNBC

on Sat and Sun. I've checked their sites and there is a small praise but that is it. If it were Bush, trumpets would be blowing now to the end of this term with Sunday talk shows bombarded with his caroling minions giving unconditional love while trashing the opposing party and trashing Obama-care, oh wait thats a ever ending traditional. Ya wonder why many of the Dems accomplishments don't resonate with the public, I'll say the corporate media. Nevertheless, 2014 House will become Dem and Dems to keep the Senate.

[struggle4progress]

6. "A rose-red city - half as old as time!"

-- John Burgon, Petra, c. 1841

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Urn_Tomb,_Petra_01.jpg

[ZRT2209]

11. Petra is cool

[JDPriestly]

10. Obama has appealed to young people on both sides of the Israel/Palestine

issue. Only they can resolve things and learn to live together in peace.