President's visit marks the end to Israeli insularity

Can I assume the adjective here is facetious? Pleasant for whom? Is the status quo acceptable, long-term, on ANY front? With Iran, with the Palestinians, with the fast-changing Arab political landscape? No. To an empathetic outsider, Israel seems to be sleepwalking,dreaming in delusion. Expand the settlements, build a wall, let the dream of a peaceful two-state solution fade (we know it's no longer an option, we just can't say so publicly)... The government does nothing to nurture its alliances, open dialogues with neighbours, revive talks with the Palestinians. If the US President takes care of Iran's nukes, diplomatically or militarily, his Administration will have done Israel a huge favour with considerable risks and costs to his country. What will he get in return? Nothing much. Not from his 'friend' Bibi. No one in Israel should believe that, long-term, this lopsided friendship will not wear on American resolve. The public mood in the US is shifting. Even Republicans are becoming much more wary of ill-advised, costly and unrewarding, foreign entanglements.

you mean being rewarded for bad behavior with a presidential visit, then I guess you're right.

The original title of this story read isolation, and the premise that Obama's visit would end it, falls flat. Orwell would be proud, insularity is so much more cute and cuddly. I don't care how thin you slice it - it's still baloney.

What you state in your article about isolationism is small change compared to Israels REAL problem with isolationism.Until Israel brings about the end of the occupation, the dismantling of settlements, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the West Bank, then Israel will continue to be globally isolated. Any attack on Iran,apart from being illegal and hypocritical given Israels own illegal program, will only serve to bring about tragedy on the Israeli state. Anyone who thinks otherwise is totally naive or mislead.

Israel's isolation is by choice - of it's own government. President Obama's visit will change nothing in this regard. It's time for the Israeli government to do what it gets paid for - to lead and make tough choices. The world, and the US are waiting, and Israel's isolation continues to grow.

it depends on committing to something substantial like setting a date to resume negotiations; agreeing to discuss/negotiate the core issues; and not deflecting with this and that reason (there are opponents on both sides for their own reasons, but these are not the majority). President Obama's trip to the region will be a success once these substantial understandings are delivered by the Israelis and the Palestinians. We're not interested in anymore excuses about whether a party is demonstrating seriousness for peace. Again - date, core issues, and no deflections.