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Obama Wants Israel to Take its Medicine

And Israel hates him for it

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 27, 2010 8:27 AM CDT

(Newser) – The president isn't a popular man in Jerusalem these days, thanks to his call for a freeze on Israel's illegal settlements in the West Bank, and rumors that he's hatching his own Mideast peace plan. “Barack Obama is a disaster for Israel,” one liberal commentator there tells Gideon Rachman of the Financial Times. But the uproar reminds Rachman of the British rage when the US insisted on “talking to the terrorists” of the IRA.

“As it turned out, the Americans were right to insist that there was a peace deal to be made with the IRA,” he says. “They are right again on the Middle East.” A two-state solution is ultimately in Israel's best interest. It won't be comfortable, but unless they strike a real deal soon, “the long-term survival of the Jewish state will be imperiled.” Whether they admit it or not, Obama “is actually doing them a favor.”

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Charlotte Wahle holds a sign during a rally to protest President Barack Obama's stance on Israel in New York, Sunday, April 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Protesters gather in the rain to denounce President Barack Obama's stance on Israel in New York, Sunday, April 25, 2010. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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As the bitter Palestinian joke has it: “We’re negotiating over how to divide a pizza
and the Israelis keep eating
bits of it.” - Gideon Rachman

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 54 comments

wolfy

Jul 6, 2010 4:24 PM CDT

http://www.thedailybeast.com/b.../

Tie95

Apr 28, 2010 5:35 AM CDT

Well,....I see the tail (Israel) Is no longer able to wag the dog (USA) as all the previous administrations allowed. There would have been peace long ago had the USA discontinued the unconditional support
of that couintry. By the way, why is it one can give a negative openion about any country, but if its Israel
they are racist?????

gnatrap

Apr 27, 2010 7:11 PM CDT

Hey Snowleopard, where do you get this information from. Since when wasn't Israel, Israel. Just because the British decided to grant them the land that was rightfully theirs, doesn't mean that they needed anyone's permission. There were no Palestinians, this is a group of disinfranchised Arabs that none of their brethren would take in, and now it becomes an Israeli problem. Get your facts straight before repeating the garbage that is so prevalent these days.

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Obama Wants Israel to Take its Medicine

And Israel hates him for it

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[Quotes (1)]

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Barack Obama • Israel • Middle East • Palestine • West Bank • Israel and Palestinians • IRA • Mideast peace • two-state solution • settlements

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