Exclusive: U.S. vows to assign blame if Israel-PA talks fail

The Administration is working on behalf of the PA and against Israel. ---- really? What sanctions did israel suffer because of its non-obidience of land grabbing and Ethnic cleansing? Seems there is no Power on Earth that can face tiny israel thanks to AIPAC+Zionist Congressmen!

There aren`t enough Israelie votes in America to manipulate or control 300 million Americans so don`t blow a good thing. ----------- but you know that American jews are ORGANIZED,United and Powerful. Just see AIPAC+Congressmen!

The Administration is working on behalf of the PA and against Israel.Someone needs to get up and tell them to go home where they hurt their own citizens .It is pathetic how they treat the reform movement in Iran too.

Sad to know that in the 21st.centuray there are people who still believe in fairy tales as promissed land and chosen people.

There aren't enough Israelie votes in America to manipulate or control 300 million Americans so don't blow a good thing.

Settlements are obascal to peace

930 times God's word states that Jerusalem belongs to Israel......not once does koran say anything about Jerusalem.Pals should be happy Israel gave them anything! Do not give away Jerusalem.....EVER. Obama doesn't represent most Americans, and he doesn't represent Israel God does. And God gave you Jerusalem....no mere man should take it from you. GOD BLESS ISRAEL!!!!!

Wow. Bibi is going to have to tell the truth for once, and Lieberman will need to be locked away in a cell somewhere so his big mouth doesn't blow it. Good luck, anyway.

"Way To Go America" Yeah way to go alright! Means the poor Palestinians are going to be "directly" clobbered by the US Military this time, giving the IDF a break. The US Military will probably take this as an R&R in what they like to do raping, pillaging, plundering and finishing off the genocide of the Gazan Palestinians whom have been sufficiently softened and near dead so they can't fight back, by the US/Israel total blockade of that tiny piece of desert.

Jews have no right to "return" to the land of Palestine at all. That concept is ridiculous. Have all Caucasians got the right to "return" to Georgia or Anglo Saxons back to Saxony in Modern Germany?. The worldwide Jews have got little genetic connection to those who fled Israel 2 thousand years ago because of conversion and interbreeding with non Jews.

"If one side, in our judgment, is not living up to our expectations,..." Just what are the expectations? That Israel will keep giving up everything?

Israel is the bully in this conflict-occupying Palestinian land and building illegal settlements and fortifying them with special ac- cess roads for Jewss only and a wall a that makes normal life im- possible for the Palestinian people. This is the evil in the Middle East that must end today and Obama should go for the jugular on this with the threat of withholding aid as it is what many Americans want also. Indeed, they will be in the streets and before Israeli embassies protesting if he doesn't deliver. The Europeans should help also by threatening to remove Israel's privilages and recognize Hamas as the elected officials of the Pale- stinian people. (To hell with the settlers let them go back where they came from) No more Mr. Nice Guy for Israeli officials either. They need a good boot out the door ...Dutch

The U.S. & Obama. "Oh How The Mighty Have Fallen" !

Under General Assembly Resolution 273, Israel was admitted on the condition that it grant all Palestinians the right to return to their homes and receive compensation for lost or damaged property, according to General Assembly Resolution 194, paragraph 11. Israel AGREED to this as a CONDITION of their admittance to the UN. Israel reneged! They cannot be trusted to keep any promises.

It's high time, the US administers the leadership needed to resolve this conflict. The Palestinians deserve a sovereign state. But there is something in this communique that is very odd, however... 'Palestinian State with contiguous territory'. Does that include Gaza... as an adjoining province in the new Palestinian State. Anyone with an atlas or a Google map application can see... that Gaza doesn't border the West Bank. So what gives... is this being geographically blind or is Gaza not part of the solution.

China holds American debt. What if China decides to suddenly sell of American debt? What if China finds an alternative America to invest? Debt addicted America has to play nice to China. : )

We will wait and see !

If Obama thinks there will be a viable, independent, and sovereign Palestinian State, he is sadly mistaken. A Palestinian state would soon be ruled by Iran and Syria, just as Gaza is now ruled by Hamas leaders in Syria and just as Iraq will be ruled by Iran when our troops leave and the Taliban will take over Afghanistan. This decision to go to indirect talks is a major step backwards. We are no longer using the "road map" but have taken a detour in the wrong direction. For more than a year, Abbas has refused direct talks. His childishness has paid off. Almost every domestic and foreign policy decision Obama has made so far has failed. Pushing a health plan that Americans don't want while unemployment soars has damaged our economy. Taking a weak stance in foreign policy decisions has brought us contempt from our adversaries. North Korea, Iran, and Syria laugh at us. Now that Obama is destroying the U.S. as a world leader, will he attempt to destroy Israel as well?

A recent US poll shows US CITIZEN support for Israel at an all time high. According to the poll, Israel is the 5th favored country by Americans, only after the usual stalwarts of Australia, Ireland, The UK, and France. The Palestinians are at the BOTTOM 5 with Iran, Syria, Libya, and the Sudan. 75% of Americans rightly blame the Palis for all the problems. Obama, Clinton, and the Kapo Emannuel should do the math. But then, they have a history of not caring what the public thinks which is why it will be NoBama 2012

a swap of lands. The former won't happen and the latter has been Israel's position for the longest time. Love it!

Israel is gonna get a slap on the hand and three billions in aid.

just how is that diplomacy? I guess O will do the same with the Falklands?

to bet that the US will name someone other than the Palestinians? A thousand to one? A million to one? Don't think they'll get any takers though.

7 more years of obama is a very scary scenario... Thankfully it won't happen..he's already self destructing after year 1.. He,Pelosi and Read can ride off into the sunset and write books about their great accomplishments that will go down in history as the worst US administration ever.

" If the talks fail, the U.S. will assign blame and take action " It would be a monumental first if the U.S. were ever to assign blame and take action against Israel. Up until now, every failure in the process is automatically the fault of the Palestinians - that is the firmly estabished American policy.

the political structure of israel is such that it became almost impossible to obtain the least toward peace. One has very few parties that are politically structured: likud, Kadima, labour etc. Then come parties of non political nature like Israel Beitenu (russian immigrants), various rabbinical obediance parties such as Shas (Sefaradic and north african religious party), other religious parties of different religious tendencies. With such a composition and given that kdima, the russians and the religious are against the constitution of a palestinian state, it becomes almost impossible to obtain, at the present Knesset composition and present coalition, an agreement for an acceptable peace program. the only way out is, perhaps, for BIBI to resign and call for new elections. it seems as if people are tired of war and incertainity, they perhaps vote for peace.

This is why we have no economic policy, high unemployment, no health care bill, no energy policy, no environmental or climate legislation. The US is only interested in blaming others for not making progress (both parties, but Administration in particular). It that way, the US Administration is very much like arab governments, especially the pals: It's always someone else's fault, never your own. Total inability to take responsibility for anything.

Thus far EVERYTHING Obama has attempted has failed or is about to fail Obama desperately needs a face saving win Both N. Korea & Iran laugh at his patehtic attemps to influence them, China is telling Obama how to run the USA Obama spends more money than any previous President without getting a fraction of their results Obama's Presidency will be a far greater failure than Jimmy Carter's, and he'll take less time to prove that he failed

There used to be great support for Israel. No more. The covers are off and we don't like/are appalled by what we see.

This may be difficult for you to understand but a peace deal is in the national interest of the United States. It is Obama's job to work on behave of the national interest of the United States. The Israeli's don't have to listen to him or do what he says, but it his right to take the appropiate action that advances the US's interests and if that means assigning blame, so be it. It has nothing to do with "dictates"

and the verdict is: the Palesinians are to blame and more land and rights should be taken away from them.

or his other records ?

Since, if the U.S. administration blames Israel, this could well strengthen political opposition to Obama, Israel is actually in a strong negotitating position through American mediation. This could be interesting. But its time for the peanut galleries and amen choruses on both the right and the left to let the negotiations proceed without kibitzing.

... but not your opinions... ... am not sure if the'll be impressed by our 'condescension'... Shabbat shalom, E,

"Israel flatly rejects the establishment of a Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan river. The Palestinians can run their lives freely in the framework of self-rule, but not as an independent and sovereign state." - Likud election platform, Jan. 2009 Netanyahu is a weak leader, fearful of his party, and unwilling to get into a fight to convince the ideologues of the wisdom of compromise. While giving a speech about the need for the "two state solution", this was not approved by the government nor by Likud itself. Too revolutionary for them, and opposed bitterly by many there. Unless the Arab side "helps" Netanyahu find an excuse for his reluctance to proceed in the peace talks, the US will have to blame him, as Shamir was blamed by Papa Bush, and fell from power. If Netqanyahu had realism, he would have gone for peace with Syria. That would have put the Palestinian talks on the back burner and saved Netanyahu's butt. "Man has to know his limitations", said Clint Eastwood.

...if the talks were to fail... Chances are that both sides may end up to be equaly blamed. The punishment of Palestinians is easy: let them continue to live in squalor. And Israel? Most probably ending the protection in the UN (the veto) and elsewhere. Israel would remain without a single friend.

So many posters including # 12 (Meeker), thinks that since they do not like Pres Obama, that he will lose the election. So many variables will go into this next Presendential election. The tide will turn in Obmaa's favor, just as business cycles have ups and downs. The Opponent is probably the most critical factor. And a third party candidate will ensure an Obama victory. Look at the states that he carried and my lose in 2012: Obama could lose 100 electoral votes & still win re-election. He could lose N.C., Ohio, Missouri, Virginia & florida and still win. The Republican candidate has to be very good. IN OTHER WORDS--Expect Obama and his team to be pushing for Israeli-Palestinian peace for (7) seven MORE years.

if you dissagree you are obviously anti semetic (even if most jews are not semites and arabs all are)

...and even now you just criticise Obama but do not offer a solution. So, we abandon the US? Tell America that we do not accept its dictates? And that's it?

#34--Obama is not America personified but a left-wing ideologue who has riddled his administration with haters of Israel. That said, the "welfare payment" Israel receives is miniscule in comparison with the billions and trillions of dollars now wasted on bailouts of unions, insurance companies, and banks and Israel should seriously consider doing without--Israel, unlike the scientific and economic basket case Palestinian thugs ObamaLand is comfortable with has its own resources such as its development for America and the world market of Intel's latest greatest microchip processors.

What's the point of this article exactly? To warn the Zionists that Obama is tired of their BS? As if! Everyone with a brain knows the Zionist lobby runs the show. Why would they cooperate when they can continue to steal Arab land with impunity? Is he saying they will be blamed this time? I'd like to see that. He will likely blame both parties whcih will mean nothing. There will never be peace with the Zionists, ever, b/c they want military domination instead and because Americans are to ignorant to break free of their manipulation. This is a non-article.

What this decleration outcome will be that Israel will Bomb Iran and a war will engulf the entire Middle East and destory the entire economy of the U S and the E U. Does Obama beleive that Isreal will just stand by and allow their fate to be in the domain of an ameircan administration that all it knows is fulfilling the Islamic dream of the total destruction of Israel. what fools

He had the most JEwish cabinet members and advisors compared to any president. Dennis Ross his advisor was Jewish. Find me one Arab or Palestinian that was his advisor. Second, Clinton blamed Arafat for not accepting a cottage cheese type of state with Israel trying to annex the Jordan Valley cutting the west bank in 3 cantons, not allowing any sovereignty over Arab East Jerusalem, controlling Palestinian borders, airspace, no connection to Gaza, etc. Stop with the lies, even Clinton's advisor Aaron Miller who is Jewish I may add admitted that Clinton and Barak tried shoving the cottage cheese state down Arafat's throat.

I believe the reason we are in the mess we are in today is due to America's past pro-Israel bias. This lead to Israel failing to uphold its obligations and commitments and violating past agreements by expanding settlements and such. It is time for America to be a fair and honest broker for once...and maybe the failures of the past "negotiations" will finally change.

how naieve...the lazy journalist and "worldly" citizen only know this conflict and nothing else about what is happening in the world. My dear, settlements are so irrelevant.... when shia and sunni muslims start living peacefully with each other then we can think about them wanting to coexist with jews and christians...until then, everything u say is ignorant drivel.

and we all know who it is that loves "Peace Talks" as long as they never go anywhere near peace treaties. In any event a Bi NATIONAL state is on the way. Very little chance of stopping it now. Viva la Palestina.

US President Obama has proven again and again that he is a thinking man with high strategic thoughts .He knows that without solving the Middle East Problem in a just way acceptable to the Arabs, especially the Palestinians, he has to go to war against ALL Moslems on behalf of the right-wing Netanyahu and Lieberman government. He knows that only a fair solution to the Palestinian people would bring Iran to the negotiationg table in regard to its nuclear ambitions. He rightly chosed the right path to justice. Israel would be staying alone in the dark, despite strong Jewish lobby in Washington. At the end, Mr. Obama think too to free himself of one of the most ugly lobbies in US history. US young soldiers will not die for Israel, not now and not later in history.

Correction: President Clinton assigned 100% of the failure of the talks to Yasser Arafat.

The big settlements have to go so that Palestinians have enough land for those who choose to return. Who is at the State department, Dennis Ross?? Or is he being a spoiler from the White house Assign blame? Like former president Clinton, did, wrongly blaming Palestinians. Is this his idea?

bibi the babbler will do all in his power to get that third intifada up and running. Then he'll talk tough and say to the world how the state of israel's existence is threatened and the Israli leaders longing for peace and his generous offer to Abbas to get back on track has been refused with violence that goe to show they want to destroy us and on and on ad nauseum. But he has to stir up this pot fast, real fast. The EU is coming down on him and public staements against Israeli war crimes in Gaza are out of the bag.

Given its completely even handed assignment of blame in the past, to whom do you think blame will be assigned by the AIPAC controlled Congress? What a farce!

not the old ' colonialist ' argument again hardman? that was centuries ago before international law and it was WRONG then as it is now, what exactly is your point? or are you pointless..

obama thinks he is emperror of the world. like the failed emperors of rome, he rules from afar and sends his dictates through his emisseries.

to miss a opportunity - now that the whole world is finally paying attention they will see the inaction and delays that the PAls always resort to when peace talks start - as has happened MANY time before.

Even if the US were to somehow reach the conclusion that Israel held responsibility for the failure of these talks, does anyone really think that there would be consequences? I would believe it when I see it....

had enough the comedy stretches far and wide . the whole of the americas occupied by europeans all shouting " this is our land " the antipodes likewise dark arabs conquering 56 countries and shouting this is our land . had enough do think it through before posting !

The USA promises to act ,in the same way it does as Hamas smuggles arms into Gaza,declares publicly it does not recognize Israel,and will wage war,in the same way Hizbolla and its Syrian ally bring arms into Lebanon where there is a serious build up ,in preperation for the next round ,and Obama sits quietly and does nothing . Time to vote out this anti Israel,pro Arab President .

the establishment of a palestinian state which then acquires weapons, rockets and becomes a second gaza is not in the security interests of israel. if the situation indicates that this is likely to be the outcome, israel is entitled to refuse. the clock is ticking on the obama presidency.

what! since the usa is the broker how can it possibly allocate blame to anyone but itself ?? these idiots in washington take some believing ! its do as we suggest or you are to blame !!!!!!!!

The USA is a great nation with a great part to play in the Jews` role in the world, but sadly when we put our trust and reliance solely in them - then from within them will come the realization that we can only rely on our Father in Heaven.

to assign blame like refusal to be ruled by Dhimmitude under Sharia Law ? or to assign blame like the refusal to 'let my suicide bombers go' by opening gaza gates ? or to assign blame like refusal to commit collective suicide thru Road Map ? or to assign blame like refusal to get nuked by Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps ? or to assign blame like the Obama Administration non demand to put an end to terror PLO-PA incitement illustrative of OIC-Arab League Amr Moussa campaign against Israel .?

You seem to miss an essential point. The jew State is not compelled to do anything if it so wishes. I mean what is the worst thing that could happen? The yanks drop their blanked support at the U.N.? Think of it as an opportunity for the little State that thinks it could prove to the world it really can regardless of anyone's support.

If AIPAC+Zionist Congressmen give OK to Mr.Obama it will be OK. you know All American Presidents had to Cave in to the Jewish Lobby. anyhow let us hope for PEACE!

Finally the US has grown some B---s!!

This is an excellent step before indirect talks take in effect. The tone must be set with a fair and tough objective to both sides. Peace between Israelis and Palestinians is inevitable. Let?s make it happen!!

Maybe Bibi will change his mind and see peace as a desirable objective after all! US pressure is the only way to make sure settler lobbies don't hijack the future of Israel.

it the Cairo speech wasn't enough of a slap in the face now we get this letter trying to set Israel up as the fall guy in negotiations. Notice how the arabs embraced this concept as if to say there is no way we could be singled out as the problem. So the fix is in. The arab league gives the palestinans cover, they go to the negoaitions with the same stupid demands, right of return, surrender of Jerusalem, dismantle settlements and on and on. All non starters. the problem is that Obama is so deaf to everything but his own voice that he thinks he willl leverage this into pushing Israel to make concessions. But Obama is badly miscalculating as he is with heathcare. he seems only care about defining his role in history .. healthcare, peace in the meiddle east, climate change ... all picked to get his head on Mt.Rushmore. However, if anyone looks at his poll numbers, after this stunt, he will be lucky to get his name on a garbage truck. Wake up Obama, america supports Israel 3:1

... shabbat shalom... E.

This is the joke of the day....blame who? Where is the blame about the settlements, frozen?

When it comes to Israel Obama can blame Bibi's government if the talks fail. When it comes to the Palestinians who is Obama going to blame. If he blames Abbas....Abbas will say it is Hamas' fault or vice versa. Or both Hamas and Abbas can find fault in Islamic Jihad. This will be fun to watch.

Unless America cuts welfare payments to Israel, Israelis are not interested in what Americans say. Israel has ignored and laughed at criticism from America before. Lately, Israel has grown used to criticism from all quarters. As long as it remains only talk, it will continue to be ignored and laughed at. It is only when the American government pulls the grasping Israeli hand out of the pockets of the American taxpayers that Israel will become more amiable to American demands.

How immature! It's your fault! No, it's your fault! Now, I'm gonna punish you! No, you can't, it's not my fault. I know you are, but what am I? My goodness, grow up! Heaven help the world against the spoiled brat idiots they've got in Washington these days. Truth is, they need Israel than Israel needs them. Let the world go to hell...

Gonna probably be the palestinians fault if the talks fail, because they have a long track record of blowing up buses or doing something else really stupid every time they have a chance at peace.

2-states is not going to happen. Incitement has killed that option. When rock are thrown down on Jews worshiping below the Temple Mount it is time to stop talking about "peace" and to "make peace" with strong military action. While incitement continues the Americans can blame all they want but still no peace. The Land is Israel's.

three cheers for the USA for hacking the Gorgean knot.

sorry, but the USA comitting themselves to the Palestinians and the Arab League ''to blame'' the guilty party is - silly! firstly, whatever the outcome, it is is not going to be the fault of one party only. making such statement invites, particularly the PA ,to be intransingent and build their tactics solley on making israel looking the guilty one. that is the sad fact. since the arab conditions - from the onset- are steep and unacceptable to isreali [jerusalem and refugees ++] there is no incentive for them to lower their demands. Verdict; israel's FAULT! should however by reasons i can not forsee, the USA find the palesinians as non cooperative - what would the the american do / can do? absolutely NOTHING. the whole arab world will be standing as a fence to justify their stand and the result... back to where we are today. USA pressuring israel, is another story! all is WOFTAM!

Yishai Kohen, I agree 100% with you !! For sure Obama would like to blame Israel. I just hope Israel will not bend to any demands to give up land, the Golan included

If you want to be neutral you must exclude every country that voted against Israel in the UN, and every country that buys oil from the Arabs, can you find one? then maybe Israel will trust the party. The US is the only country that believes that Democracy and freedom have to be given pryority, most Muslim country including Turkey are now moving toward Shaaria, or religious totalitarianism.

"Its the end of the world as you know it and I feel fine"

The USA is toothless and no one will care when the Obama administration 'assign's blame.' The blame is the Obama administration itself. It threw away any leverage it had with Israel and then grovelled when Netanyahu demanded. Netanyahu went home bragging about how he has crushed Obama and Obama replied by kow-towing. The failure of the 'Obama Peace Initiative' lies with Obama and no one else. It is astounding when the guy who pays the piper refuses to call the tune, or stop paying the piper. . . Obama is a decent guy, a great speaker, and spineless.

It was true, he wasn't serious about a country only the struggle to get one. When presented with a workable plan he refused and started the second intifada. Look the Pals would rather work at destroying Israel than building a country. The proof is their inflexibility when negotiating. They come to the table with certain demands and refuse any alterations(my way or the highway approach). If truly interested in peace they would have some flexibility, while Israel makes concessions the offer none then blame Israel. Lets see if things are different this time.

The United States has been giving lip service to this problem for decades, while Israel continue to build on occupied lands with our aid. Its hard to believe now that the US will actually do what they say.

Were I a Palestinian, I would appeal for a relatively neutral third party to arbitrate blame. USA cannot be objective, and while Israel probably does not see Obama as being as pro-Israel (or at least not as likely to accede to Israeli wishes running contrary to peace) as previous administrations, the Palestinians should see USA as still heavily slanted toward Israel (in other words, the most Israel-aligned nation on the face of the Earth). I would rather see a "blame jury" panel of 5-9 neutral-ish Far East or South Pacific island states decide who is to blame. Of course, they'd be deciding shades of gray, not pure black and white.

Obama will be a failed one term president.

If one takes this at face value it is what has been needed all along. They say "occupation since 1967". Hopefully, any border adjustments will not be simply equivalent but also equivalent land with water supplies etc. Netanyahu also needs dictation from America. His allies won't let him do what is necessary. But there will have to be careful planning to deal with the mayhem in the territories as the final deal unfurls.

Have you any idea how pathetic/funny it looks to have a blonde blue eyed bearded 'settler' shout THIS IS OUR LAND in a Brooklyn accent at a Palestinian shepherd? luckily the decision wont be yours in a final peace agreement.

America committed to a viable independent state=Israel being cut up and becomes a non viable state. Doesn't seem the U.S. is a country can look to as a friend. A friend that wants to cut you in two can't be considered a friend. Pakistan was two parts when it split from India. Why when it comes to Israel the situation must be different. Why wasn't india forced to give Pakistan and East pakistan continuity? Why despite thousands of rockets and Hamas being pro Iranian and anti U.S. would the U.S. help Hamas by giving thema corridor to attack Israel and the P.A.?

America, once proud and strong, is now a debt-ridden wreck embroiled in two wars and domestic discontent. Let them "blame" whomever they wish if this latest round of pointless "peace talks" fail.

This statement means that the USA has an idea of how it should end or what if both sides stuck to their current positions? It would go no where do how about the USA advise how they think it will look at the end so we know we are on the right track on contingious state: Even 48 partition didn't offer Palestinians a contingious state that was independant of israels border. Look at the map and you note a narrow "ismithus" between gaza and wb but the idea of sovereignty over that crossing not being Israeli, due solely to the fact that it requires you to pass through israel is strong reason why there must be 100 percent security guarantees backed with sureties valued in the only terms of value between these two parties, land personally, if Jerusalem and ROR to Israel is off the table how far off from peace are we? If we are to build two states it shouldn't be that one imploded from demographics an election later. And congress recognized the annexation so let's see how this president tread

One of the reasons the so called peace process has come to a halt is US outrageous bias in favor of Israel. The Obama administration need to change its approach and stop tip toeing around Israel and prove to the Palestinians and the Arabs that it is an honest broker committed to an even handed approach. The problem with previous US administrations has always been their concern about reelection and appeasing the pro Israel lobby in the US. Such approach has played a key role in alienating the Arabs and the Muslims and is the main reason why anti US sentiment is sky high. The early promise which Obama brought with him when he was elected had soon been squandered when he backtracked on his early commitment to pressuring Israel to comply with previous agreements and end its occupation. So any change in US policy must be a good thing to the cause of peace in the Middle East.

After 62 years at laboratories, even with the best diplomats in the world this patient called ME solution can't even begin to breed. Now comes a NEW know it all and declares that he will stand there until the patient will come out of a coma, and guess what? if he doesn't he will tell on him. Thats diplomacy 2010. Has anyone asked if the patient wants to come out of the coma? Peace can be achieved only if the parties want peace at any price.

actually reach a peace agreement and instead turned to violence. Did the Arabs change their behavior? Of course not. Indeed, since 1920 the Muslim-Arabs have been using violence against the Jewish community of the country, and having been blamed for it, time and again. Has it stopped them. Perhaps instead of blaming people, the US asks that UN Security Council 242 be implemented, as is: Gaza to be transferred to Egypt and most of the West Bank to Jordan. After all, 242 does not mention the need to set up an additional state in the area nor does it mention the "Palestinians", "Palestine" or "Palestinian state", concept that were advanced very late in history for Muslim-Arab political expediency: to ensure that stage by stage Israel is no more.

And with Obama on the ropes already, he has to shore up the last vestige of support for him; the Jewish vote. From what I hear, he has lost a lot of support even there, so he's going to have to tread very lightly. In 2012 when we have a Republican POTUS, things will get back to normal, with the government supporting Israel as we the people do. Stand strong, Israel!

It astonishes me that it's reported the US's main concern "is establishing a Palestinian state" and its "core" would have a "Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation." So: 1. Israel's security is secondary. 2. Israel would have to give the "Palestinian" state land from pre-1967 Israel in order to establish "contiguous territory." Was this "document" written in Iran, Syria, or Ramallah? If it is from Washington, it is obvious that the Obama administration demands that Israel comply and that Israel will be blamed for not caving in to this demand for national suicide. Bottom, line is that it is hard to believe that even the Obama administration would do that.

Its always the PA's fault. Abbas is living a dream if he thinks different. He just got himself a written document that he is going to be blamed for it.

Hey, don't call me a spoil-sport, but as complicated as this thing is (except for the fine folks at both extremes of the spectrum), aren't we ultimately looking at a conclusion based heavily on subjectivity--which is subject to more things than you can shake a stick at--which is indeed sticky, at best.

Jordan is "Palestine". Judea, Samaria, and Gaza are Israel. If the Arabs ***need*** to have their Jew-free state, it already exists; Jordan, which with a majority "Palestinian" and even a "Palestinian" Queen, Rania, is all they're going to get. If they want to rename their Jordan "Palestine", then fine, but everything west of the Jordan River is Israel. The Arabs can express their politial desires, vote, etc. in their own land. But these foreign (i.e. Arab) residents can ONLY remain here in OUR land on condition that they accept this and agree to live here in OUR land in peace. This is non-negotiable. PS The 10 month building freeze is ending soon and we WILL build- to catch up with what was stupidly denied us until now. Demand exists- and how.

Unlike the Israelis, the Pals have no consensus position on what compromises they can make on any of the hard issues - refugees, borders, Jerusalem and settlements. All they have is their maximalist positions and no fall-back. The Pals think that negotiations consist only of the Pals making demands and the Israelis accepting them. Boy are they in for a shock. And let's not forget that Clinton emerged from Camp David in 2000 assigning most of the blame for failure to Arafat. Plus ca change, plus ca reste la meme chose.

Natanyahu will have a hard time to swallow an american mediation, that might push him to accept what Barak's governmnent have already accepted in 2000 at Taba. At the same time no American mediation will push Israel furtrhyer than that. Despite Nataniahu difficulties he will finally accept. However, the palestinians as usual will be trapped into the formula. They will never accept anything that does not include the right of return, Israel's acceptance of culpability for the 48 refugees and a total withdrawal to 67 borders. None of that is or will be included in any American plan of mediation. American's proposals have already been rejected by palestinian "moderates". Ask president Clinton about it. Ask Ulmart.

He'd earn a pat on his bowed head from HM King Faisal of Saudi Arabia.

OK, so the borders of Israel are the security fence and not the the defunct armistice lines of 1949.

want to "end the occupation that started in 1967" and ,if so, would this be a surprise to the US? Hardly.Over 40 years of "indirect talks" has lead to nothing but an establishment of illegal settlements and a firmer grip on the occupied Palestinians.It is high time for the International Community to act, with the US at the helm and the UN close behind. I'm almost sure that Palau, the Marshall Island and Micronesia can be pursuaded to joint the civilized world. "The Palestinians don't want us to leave" will not work in the future, how far away that future is, is anybody's guess. I would hope to see, in my life time, the most brutal occupation on earth come to an end. "How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't see"?