THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: President Barack Obama demonstrated in his latest Mideast policy speech that "Washington does not understand what we face," according to a senior Israeli official.
The official says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was disappointed the speech did not address the Palestinian demand to repatriate to Israel millions of Palestinians, most descendants of people who were driven from or fled homes in the war over the Jewish state's 1948 creation.
Speaking ahead of Mr Netanyahu's White House meeting with Mr Obama, the official said, "There is a sense that Washington does not understand the reality, that Washington does not understand what we face."
Mr Obama last night ordered Israel to accept Palestinian demands in a peace deal as he pledged American support for human rights in the Middle East.
Mr Obama was more explicit about the parameters of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal that ever before. He said Israel had to accept the Palestinian demand for it to accept the 1967 borders.
A Jewish state "cannot be fulfilled with permanent occupation" of Palestinian lands," he said.
"Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognised borders are established for both states," he said. "The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, and reach their potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state."
The embrace of a key Palestinian demand is likely to anger Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli premier, on the eve of his visit to the White House on Friday. » | Friday, May 20, 2011
My comment:
Obama is a greenhorn. He's fond of talking, but that's about all. I think the world has already started switching off when he speaks. Even the Saudis summed up his Mideast speech in two words: "meaningless drivel"! Obama certainly doesn't understand Israel's dilemma, nor does he comprehend the realities of life there for Israelis on a day-to-day basis. The power of Obama is on the wane. He's a spent force. – © Mark
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