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September 23, 2009
Awesome Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Interview on CNN After Dictator Obama Gets Pushy
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have been brought together in New York for their first face-to-face meeting since the Gaza war eight months ago.
Obama is keen for the men to discuss ways of achieving Middle East peace but neither the Israeli Prime Minister, nor the Palestinian President appeared to want the meeting at all.
Mr Obama summoned both of them anyway and before the meeting began he made it sound like he was about to bang some heads together.
"We cannot continue the same pattern of taking tentative steps forward and then stepping back," he said.
"Simply put, it is past time to talk about starting negotiations, it is time to move forward. It is time to show the flexibility and common sense and sense of compromise that is necessary to achieve our goals."
All last week, both Mr Netanyahu and Mr Abbas resisted requests by Mr Obama's envoy, George Mitchell, to soften their positions so the talks could restart.
In New York, Mr Obama made it clear he wasn't happy with that.
"And so my message to these two leaders is clear. Despite all the obstacles, despite all the history, despite all the mistrust, we have to find a way forward," he said.
There are those in Washington who believe that Mr Obama should have kept his powder dry until later in the process, and that by acting now he risks significant political damage if it fails to do the job.
But he is using his political capital now and telling both sides that, whether they like it or not, they will start negotiating straight away. He has given them less than a month to show some progress.
"Senator Mitchell will meet with the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators next week," he said.
"I've asked the Prime Minister and the President to continue these intensive discussions by sending their teams back to Washington next week. And I've asked the Secretary of State to report to me on the status of these negotiations in mid October."
This is as tough as an American president has ever talked on this issue, especially with Israel. But already, Mr Netanyahu has shown he is prepared to call the President's bluff.
Last night on Lateline, the former US ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, explained why Mr Obama's task will be so tough.
"Obama stands in Israeli public opinion polls at around 6 per cent and falling," he said.
"Netanyahu stands at around 60 per cent and rising and that's a situation in which the President cannot succeed in achieving Middle East peace unless he brings the Israeli people with him."
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Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu pt.2...he really speaks up to Wolf on this one especially! God bless BiBi.
Wild Thing's comment.......
BiBi did good. He kept repeating over and over no matter how many times Wolf tried to get him to weaken and change his mind.
He had to give some BS about Obama being an OK guy ( augh) but that is expected since BiBi needs to take the high road unlike how the left would do something and just be full out obnixious.
"And so my message to these two leaders is clear. Despite all the obstacles, despite all the history, despite all the mistrust, we have to find a way forward," Obama said.
WTF? Who does this former community organizer think he is. What arrogance. What ignorance.
Posted by Wild Thing at September 23, 2009 06:50 AM
Comments
Bibi has balls-Obama doesn't. Bibi ain't afraid to call a spade a spade and give it to you straight. A real man does that you know. Obama is sick twisted metrosexual who can't pour water out of boot with instructions on the heel!
Posted by: Lynn at September 23, 2009 08:24 AM
Didn't Jimmy Carter give us everlasting peace in the MidEast! Heh, yeah that three way handshake really worked. obama is also looking for the same handshaking photo op. Regardless how shallow and meaningless it is.
Posted by: TomR at September 23, 2009 11:03 AM
This afternoon obama blasted Israel at the UN, that the settlements growth is unacceptable among other things. Talk about lowballing another leader and an ally. Obama hasn't a clue.
In both those videos Benjamin Netanyahu is not, or at least does not look like a happy camper. His defense of the rocket attacks was stellar. His flat out refusal to answer hypothetical questions was also good.
Israel is between a rock and a hard place and obama's put him there. Now Israel is battling the whole middle east and Washington.
Posted by: Mark at September 23, 2009 04:10 PM
Lynn, I agree, what a huge difference
in the two of them. huge!
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 23, 2009 07:08 PM
Tom, LOL yes what happened with that
from Jimmy Carter.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 23, 2009 07:10 PM
Mark, your right, BiBi is really
controlling his being upset.
I hope he knows how much we cheer
for him and are all for him.
Posted by: Wild Thing at September 23, 2009 07:14 PM
