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Last update - 10:51 19/05/2009
Obama, Netanyahu, and two states for spoiled brats
By Bradley Burston
Tags: Obama, Netanyahu, Israel News 

Click here for more articles by Bradley Burston


Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the Obama White House, the first such meeting since both men came to power, has been widely billed as a key indicator of the Obama administration's intentions in the realm of Mideast policy.
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"What may be Israel's most intransigent government ever elected," The Economist suggested this week, "is scared stiff that an American administration may squeeze it until its pips squeak."

Fevered conjecture over the talks has tended to center on whether and how the prime minister will say aloud five of the world's most anemic magic words: two states for two peoples.

At the same time, even some of Netanyahu's more acerbic critics freely if ruefully concede that any Obama drive for a two-state solution has been sandbagged by the inability of the Palestinians to coalesce politically for the sake of that second state.

"The snag," continues The Economist in an editorial, "is that the two halves of the Palestinian movement are at daggers drawn and have fluffed repeated opportunities to reconcile."

There is a lesson here for both sides, and it goes beyond what Barack Obama has in mind for them:

Over the years, Washington and the world have coddled both Israel and the Palestinians, whose behavior has come to resemble that of spoiled children.

Are they not deserving of sympathy? Of course they are. Never since the events of 1948 has the region seen a decade of such consistent violence, an extraordinarily high ratio of civilian casualties, and a universality of despair, as in the Second Intifada (2000-2004), the Second Lebanon War (2006) and the Gaza War (2008-9).

As with parents who become more and more indulgent the more clueless they realize they actually are - and the more out of control their kids get - Washington and the world have allowed Israel and the Palestinians both to run off the rails in whatever direction they happen to see fit at the moment.

Why? For the same reason that bad parents spoil their children:

They're afraid of them.

For generations, both Israelis and Palestinians have been snowing their respective allies, who have been afraid, either electorally or physically, of being perceived as not loving them enough.

In the case of Israel, the White House has stood often on the sidelines, politically neutralized, as the Jewish state undertook initiatives, in particular, settlement construction, which have proven painfully costly, morally dubious, and otherwise harmful - first of all, to Israel itself.

As the peace process unraveled in the late 1990s and then-prime minister Netanyahu burned through political capital in visits to Washington, senior Clinton administration Mideast official Aaron David Miller famously recalled that "all of us saw Bibi as a kind of speed bump that would have to be negotiated along the way until a new Israeli prime minister came along who was more serious about peace."

In the case of the Palestine that has yet to arise, global donors who lavished hundreds of millions of dollars and euros in aid, failed to require that the funds be spent on the needs of the needy, and the phantasmagoria of corruption that ensued led directly to the rise of Hamas, the crippling of Fatah, and the collapse of the peace process.

As in the case with spoiled children, as Israel and the Palestinians received more and more attention, they focused more completely on themselves, cataloguing, memorizing, publicizing and, frequently, exaggerating, every real and imagined injury, dismissing and ignoring damage and injustice done to the other.

Like spoiled children, hardliners on each sides spin a narrative in which the other side "started it," and bears sole responsibility for the entirety of the fighting which no one seems capable of stopping. Like brats, they have no room for another narrative, for someone else' distress, to feel remorse or extend sincere apologies to address wrongs they themselves have committed.

Like spoiled children, they have been treated all too often with excesses of sympathy and compensatory, largely unappreciated gifts, rather than the respect and honesty that would better have served them.

Like spoiled children, the hardliners demand to be allowed to continue whatever destructive behavior they choose, for the sake of fairness.

This behavior, in turn, engenders revulsion on the part of the neighbors [Israeli or Palestinian] who thus become favorably disposed, or at least, complicit, when harsh punishments are heard being meted out in the neighboring household [air strikes, crippling aid embargos, rocket attacks].

The result, for Israel, has been an unaddressed clash with its own future, as the number of Arabs living in Israel and the West Bank continues to rise, and Gaza continues to seethe, with no solution remotely in sight.

The consequence, for Palestinians, has been the self-immolation of their movement for independent statehood, and, in blaming the occupation for all ills, an acquired, abject incapability to alter for the better a tragic present.

Small wonder, then, that this remains the most infuriating peace process in the world. For the present, you don't have far to look to see why the Obama administration may, in the end, decide instead to devote its energies to more promising pursuits.

This may be the time to ask what, exactly, it is that Netanyahu has to lose by endorsing in broad strokes the two-state formula first conditionally endorsed by his Likud in 2003. On Monday, hours before the meeting, pollster Mina Zemach said that more than 50 percent of the Israeli public currently favors the two-state solution, and a total of 78 percent "would be willing to live with it" in the context of a future peace.

The answer, of course, is that on both sides, there is always someone who is ready, like a spoiled child, to wreck everything if things don't go his way. Take Netanyahu's own brother-in-law, Hagi Ben-Artzi, who was quick to point out that just by uttering five simple words, the prime minister, inaugurated two months ago, could return from Washington to find himself out of a job.

"I believe that he learned the lesson from his prior term, and won't fall into the same trap again, in which [having agreed to the Wye peace accord], he immediately returned home and was toppled by the parties of the right. I assume that he doesn't want to see this repeat itself at the beginning of this term."

With the perspective of the spoiled child, Ben-Artzi continued that at a time when there was a new Hitler in Tehran, threatening to annihilate the Jews, all the questions of an Israeli-Palestinian peace, two-states, settlements, Jerusalem and the like, should be put aside altogether as "nonsense."

"When you've got cancer," he said, "you don't bother yourself with a scratch on the foot."

And what of Israel's crucial ally, Washington? According to Ben-Artzi, Israel should feel free to attack Iran on its own, even if America is against it. "After the big war with Iran, we'll talk."

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  1.   The facts are much better explained elsewhere .. 15:59  |  redbourn 18/05/09
  2.   Bad parenting on the part of Brad B. 16:18  |  Jacob Blues 18/05/09
  3.   The spoiled brats 16:18  |  WHG 18/05/09
  4.   80% of territorial Palestine independent & Islamic 16:20  |  Menachem Ben Yakov 18/05/09
  5.   two states for spoiled brats 16:30  |  Nili 18/05/09
  6.   Let`s get this straight:Israel has not been spoiled nor coddled; 16:40  |  glenna 18/05/09
  7.   TO #1 16:50  |  Noek 18/05/09
  8.   Obama, Netanyahu, and two states for spoiled brats 17:04  |  Joseph 18/05/09
  9.   spoiled brats don`t defend agains murder attempts 17:18  |  davi 18/05/09
  10.   what a poor analogy 17:24  |  margo 18/05/09
  11.   WHG 17:30  |  davi 18/05/09
  12.   bradley and more huff and puff instead of facing fact 17:31  |  v hardman 18/05/09
  13.   Spoiled Brats? That would be the PA 17:38  |  Robin 18/05/09
  14.   #4 no ones leaving 17:42  |  julie 18/05/09
  15.   where are you from margo? 17:51  |  david 18/05/09
  16.   First end the occupation, then a peace process 18:16  |  jens 18/05/09
  17.   Not all brats are created equal 18:29  |  JD 18/05/09
  18.   Close Bradley, but not quite... 18:54  |  David 18/05/09
  19.   60 Years of Whining is Enough! 19:16  |  MIKE 18/05/09
  20.   There will come the time when the "Parents" are going 19:20  |  Kris Lazar 18/05/09
  21.   spoiled journalists who spout moral equivalency 19:41  |  Roger 18/05/09
  22.   THE DARKEST OF THE NIGHT IS RIGHT BEFORE DAWN 19:51  |  indrajaya 18/05/09
  23.   THE DARKEST OF THE NIGHT IS RIGHT BEFORE DAWN 19:51  |  indrajaya 18/05/09
  24.   Back in the Govornment again 19:59  |  Mark Lincoln 18/05/09
  25.   spoiled brats 20:50  |  JAN 18/05/09
  26.   If You Want Something... 20:53  |  Yosemite 18/05/09
  27.   to #6 20:53  |  Alex 18/05/09
  28.   Bizarre statement 21:01  |  Colin Wright 18/05/09
  29.   re 6 glenna 21:24  |  Neil 18/05/09
  30.   indrajaya 21:32  |  oz 18/05/09
  31.   legacy 21:37  |  oz 18/05/09
  32.   Only Israel are spoiled brats 21:40  |  Marilyn 18/05/09
  33.   Utterly despicable to describe Palestinians as "spoiled brats" 21:40  |  peacelover 18/05/09
  34.   Only Israel are spoiled brats 21:40  |  Marilyn 18/05/09
  35.   jens 21:42  |  bar kochva 18/05/09
  36.   To Roger #21 `spoiled journalists who spout moral equivalency` 21:57  |  Colin Wright 18/05/09
  37.   Bradley is wrong 22:00  |  Shepherd 18/05/09
  38.   Jens is very logical 22:00  |  Secular 18/05/09
  39.   Sometimes a bad solution is the necessary solution 22:01  |  zion22 18/05/09
  40.   Poor Bradly Artson 22:07  |  Rabbi Manuel Gold 18/05/09
  41.   this is a nothink article 22:14  |  Avraham 18/05/09
  42.   Not everything must be Edipus in Thebas 22:16  |  Marco Mauas 18/05/09
  43.   #16 jens how about the arbs pulling back to arab palestine jordan 22:47  |  v hardman 18/05/09
  44.   Wye river: palestinians responsibilities 22:56  |  steve 18/05/09
  45.   One state or two states but lets have peace 22:58  |  Robert Norman 18/05/09
  46.   There is only one solution... 22:59  |  Maureen Ann 18/05/09
  47.   #25 zion 22 and human rights violations ok for jews 23:01  |  v hardman 18/05/09
  48.   Finally some even talk 23:23  |  Fabrizio Perotti 18/05/09
  49.   open your eyes 23:29  |  steve 18/05/09
  50.   So Bradley Wants Obama to Appoint Him To Head Chrysler? 23:39  |  Meron 18/05/09
  51.   Beware, one of these brats is armed to the teeth 23:39  |  John 18/05/09
  52.   Zion 22 is right 23:50  |  MIKE 18/05/09
  53.   David #18, not even close 23:55  |  zeev 18/05/09
  54.   Israeli Republic of Free Palestine 23:57  |  Lasmarch 18/05/09
  55.   Israel wants Peace, Hamas and Fatah want Piece 00:52  |  Baruch Gold 19/05/09
  56.   Abbas Will Never Say Those Five Words Either 01:28  |  RickD 19/05/09
  57.   Israel`s next step with getting US help with Iran 01:32  |  binny 19/05/09
  58.   53 Islamic Theocracies is a Child, Tiny Israel is Called a Brat 02:19  |  UsedToPostHere 19/05/09
  59.   SPoiled Brats? 02:55  |  Haaretz Fan 19/05/09
  60.   Two states for spoiled brats? 03:50  |  Dr Reality Check 19/05/09
  61.   Those the see equivalence between ... 04:05  |  Jasper 19/05/09
  62.   The quagmire of spoiled children 07:27  |  allang 19/05/09
  63.   After we the war [with Iran] we`ll talk 08:04  |  Richard 19/05/09
  64.   Spoiled brats - how do we define them? 09:44  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 19/05/09
  65.   Bradley I Was Talking About The Peace Process... 10:06  |  Yosemite 19/05/09
  66.   The future without the Jordan just Solution. 10:45  |  Akram Zekaria 19/05/09
  67.   David #18, not even close - 3rd try 11:15  |  zeev 19/05/09
  68.   The quagmire of spoiled children 14:13  |  allang 19/05/09
  69.   Margie`s `Olive Branch` with barbs attached #49 15:48  |  Roo 19/05/09
  70.   Really allang you have no idea what you are talking about 16:11  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 19/05/09
  71.   OBAMA IS TEMPORARY ISRAEL IS FOREVER. 16:28  |  Petra 19/05/09
  72.   Roo 16:38  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 19/05/09
  73.   Roo 16:39  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 19/05/09
  74.   C 16:43  |  Excellent article 19/05/09
  75.   Margie`s `Olive Branch` with barbs attached #73 17:51  |  Roo 19/05/09
  76.   Jews were welcomed in palestine 18:18  |  muslim-- 19/05/09
  77.   Movement of Palestinians to Jordan a good idea 18:24  |  Witness 19/05/09
  78.   offer after offer 18:26  |  muslim-- 19/05/09
  79.   Netanyahu`s win win 18:31  |  miki 19/05/09
  80.   # 70 Margie..... yes we are underachievers 18:34  |  allang 19/05/09
  81.   # 71, PETRA 18:36  |  indrajaya 19/05/09
  82.   Roo #75 re Margie 18:48  |  Jasper 19/05/09
  83.   76: Really? 19:05  |  Edders 19/05/09
  84.   Dear "muslim" #76, you only see what you want to see 19:13  |  DavidAK 19/05/09
  85.   Yo, Brad!! 19:23  |  Heather Czerniak 19/05/09
  86.   #76 muslim and disordered history 1920 1929 19:32  |  vhardman 19/05/09
  87.   Jasper 19:49  |  Roo 19/05/09
  88.   Roo (re:Margie) 20:13  |  Guido 19/05/09
  89.   Speaking out 20:46  |  MJB 19/05/09
  90.   Margie from SA Same old mantra same old baloney. 22:21  |  Labhras 19/05/09
  91.   roo again 22:31  |  Margie in 19/05/09
  92.   Ben Gurion once said............... 00:39  |  Antonio da Silva 20/05/09
  93.   Margie in Tel Aviv...again 01:39  |  Roo 20/05/09
  94.   Have you ever noticed 03:31  |  Labhras`s admirer 20/05/09
  95.   .. 33. Israel must be ready for its 2nd war of independence ! 05:57  |  Akram Zekaria 20/05/09
  96.   The Palestinians are spoiled too? 06:23  |  CaptAhab 20/05/09
  97.   NO to two state 06:27  |  Friend 20/05/09
  98.   Part1 - And Now for the [Bad] News 09:07  |  Eli Wapniarski 20/05/09
  99.   Part2 - And Now for the [Bad] News (Israel) 09:24  |  Eli Wapniarski 20/05/09
  100.   Part3 - And Now for the [Bad] News (Palestinians) 09:40  |  Eli Wapniarski 20/05/09
  101.   Part4 - And Now for the [Bad] News (Conclusion) 09:51  |  Eli Wapniarski 20/05/09
  102.   to Eli Wapniarski #98 11:28  |  zeev 20/05/09
  103.   Re: 102 - Zeev 20:10  |  Eli Wapniarski 20/05/09
  104.   Eli Wapniarski #103 02:35  |  Tim R 21/05/09
  105.   to Roo / Lasmarch - Real reasons the WB is a basket case 04:26  |  ZISD 21/05/09
  106.   to ZISD #105 10:18  |  zeev 21/05/09
  107.   Zeev-102: You are not the kind of a person who wants to 12:25  |  Akram Zekaria 21/05/09
  108.   102~ Zeev "who are .. the obstacles for peace ?" 13:44  |  Akram Zekaria 21/05/09
  109.   to Eli Wapniarski #103 - 4th try 10:37  |  zeev 22/05/09
  110.   Zeev #109 00:34  |  Tim R 23/05/09
  111.   to Tim R #110 04:50  |  zeev 23/05/09
  112.   Zeev #111 16:03  |  Tim R 23/05/09
  113.   #3 WHG 22:22  |  Courcey 23/05/09
  114.   RE: 113 - Courcev 08:23  |  Eli Wapniarski 24/05/09
  115.   Courcey #113 11:28  |  Tim R 24/05/09
  116.   To Zeev #106 (2nd try) 15:58  |  ZISD 24/05/09
  117.   Twin Hallmarks Indulgence and Deprivation 21:09  |  Shaul Ben-Yimini 28/05/09
  118.   to Eli Wapniarski #114 - 2nd try 02:20  |  zeev 29/05/09
  119.   to ZISD #116 - 3rd try 02:23  |  zeev 29/05/09
  120.   to Tim R #115 - 2nd try 02:26  |  zeev 29/05/09
  121.   answer to glenna 22:03  |  flo 29/05/09
  122.   Zeev #120 23:52  |  Tim R 29/05/09
  123.   to zeev # 119 17:12  |  ZISD 30/05/09
  124.   to Tim R #122 19:38  |  zeev 30/05/09
  125.   Zeev #124 Part 2 of 2 13:58  |  Tim R 31/05/09
  126.   Zeev #124 Read My #122 Again - Part 1 of 2 16:20  |  Tim R 31/05/09
  127.   to ZISD #123 - 2nd try 16:44  |  zeev 31/05/09
  128.   to Tim R #125 17:28  |  zeev 31/05/09
  129.   to Tim R #126 17:54  |  zeev 31/05/09
  130.   Zeev # 127 22:05  |  ZISD 31/05/09
  131.   Zeev #127 11:02  |  Tim R 01/06/09
  132.   Zeev #129 Third Try 15:02  |  Tim R 01/06/09
  133.   Zeev #129 (...Continued...) Third Try 15:22  |  Tim R 01/06/09
  134.   to ZISD #130 - 14th try 19:00  |  zeev 28/06/09
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