Obama, in Indonesia, Criticizes Israel on Housing

[oberliner]

Source: NY Times

JAKARTA, Indonesia — President Obama, stepping into an Israeli-Palestinian dispute during a homecoming visit to the world’s largest Muslim majority nation, criticized Israel on Tuesday for its decision to advance the approval of some 1,000 new housing units in East Jerusalem during a sensitive time in the peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

“This kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations, and I’m concerned that we’re not seeing each side make the extra effort involved to get a breakthrough,” Mr. Obama said during a joint news conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here. He added, “Each of these incremental steps end up breaking trust.”

Mr. Obama arrived here Tuesday afternoon from New Delhi on a long-awaited visit that is now being cut short by a cloud of volcanic ash headed toward Jakarta. The ash is expected to interfere with air travel on Wednesday, forcing the president to leave several hours ahead of his scheduled departure for Seoul, where he will attend the G-20 conference of world leaders.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/world/asia/10prexy.html

[thereismore]

1. I doubt I will ever see a peaceful resolution of the Jewish-Palestinian problem. nt

[Jim Sagle]

2. Among his many other problems, our president seems to have an apartment complex.

[Frank Booth]

3. Don't worry, Netanyahu already told him to fuck off, and predictably many

Americans are siding with Netanyahu over the American president.

[Jim Sagle]

4. Damn straight.

:beer: