Israel's political tsunami has arrived

[Jefferson23]

Reactions to Abbas and Netanyahu's addresses to the UN are clear illustrations of Abbas' ascent to political rock star status and Netanyahu's increasing international isolation.

By Barak Ravid

Half an hour before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas went up to the podium at the UN General Assembly, Salva Kiir, president of the world's youngest country, South Sudan, was giving his own speech. As he went on, a slow buzz began to spread throughout the hall.

World leaders, foreign ministers and ambassadors came in one after the other and filled the empty spots in the auditorium. The seats reserved for guests and journalists were also quickly taken. When Kiir finished his speech, everyone expected Abbas to speak next, but due to a change in the schedule the president of Armenia ascended the stage. The large crowd of people impatiently anticipating the day's main event heaved a communal grunt of dissatisfaction over the unexpected warm-up show.

Had a stranger stumbled into the General Assembly on Friday, they might have thought Lady Gaga – or at least Madonna – was about to perform, and not the somber Abbas. Dozens of people who couldn't find a seat stood along the walls of the hall, while others sat down on the stairs. When Abbas' name was announced, the crowd rose to its feet and received him with applause befitting nothing less than a rock star.

Abbas' speech was unrelenting. A few of the things he said would even make Yossi Beilin or Shimon Peres cringe. When he talked about Palestine as a land holy to several religions, he mentioned Muslims and Christians, but failed to mention the Jews. He spoke of Israel's ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in East Jerusalem and said that the IDF and settlers abuse farmers and sick people on their way to the hospital.

remainder: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israel-s-political-tsunami-has-arrived-1.386487

[Jefferson23]

1. We'll see if the WH does as Bibi asks:

"The criticism Netanyahu received from former President Bill Clinton that evening made Netanyahu so mad that he asked his aides to request that the White House issue a statement distancing itself from Clinton's statements."

I have said before it was no coincidence imo of the timing of Clinton's statement, hopefully Bill will not back peddle even if the
WH does put distance from it.

[bemildred]

2. "enough, enough, enough"

And comparing Bibi to Ghaddaffi, tsk tsk.

[azurnoir]

3. Idunno IMO comparing Abbas to Lady Gaga was enough

and produced a distressing mental picture Abbas in lingerie'

[bemildred]

4. But which is more insulting?

Would you rather be compared to Lady Gaga or Ghaddaffi?

Sounds like Abbas gave a ripper of a speech though.

[azurnoir]

5. okay ya got me there Ghaddaffi is more insulting

but here is a link to the full text of Abbas's speech at the UN


http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=422938

[bemildred]

6. Thanks.

I predict his argument will not be refuted in detail, but there will be lots of name-calling and "Look! Over There!"

[Jefferson23]

7. A host of opinions:

Palestinian recognition: new era or impasse?

The Independent's Robert Fisk rages that Obama is "pathetic" in his support for Israel. Jerusalem Post journalist Caroline Glick says no scenario within the UN allows Israel to win. And Al-Akhbar journalist Houssam Kanafani says Abbas's move to request statehood has become a trap.

Palestine is the focus for Friday 23rd September 2011. IN THE PAPERS

By Nicholas RUSHWORTH Are Palestinians on the verge of a new era or in an impasse? A demand for statehood goes ahead with a US veto in the UN Security Council on the cards. Robert Fisk in The Independent says “the facts continue to prove that the US administration remains a tool of Israel”. The journalist describes Barack Obama as a “pathetic president” speaking only of the troubles the Israelis face. “A Martian listening to him would think that the Palestinians were occupying Israel rather than the other way around”. Fisk also questions the proximity of US-Israel ties by asking “how come the US Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, took the flight to New York from Tel Aviv for the statehood debate on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s own aircraft?”

The Bahrain paper Gulf News headlines: “US veto at UN will kill all hopes of peace”. It says: “it should be clear that the Palestinians already have a state, and have done for many years. The issue is not statehood but international recognition”. And comments that the United States came into being without asking anyone’s permission when it rejected British overlords. The paper describes Washington’s “total lack of commitment to the peace process as one of the worst disappointments of the Obama administration”.

A cartoon in the International Herald Tribune, meanwhile, shows Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas saying to Obama: “We should give up and not fight?!! What kind of policy is that?” and Obama replies somewhat forlornly “… my own”.

Columnist Caroline Glick in The Jerusalem Post describes events as “surreal”. They are being seen, she says, as a sort of OK Corral with a winner and a loser. However, she argues “there is no scenario in which Israel wins at the UN”. Glick slams the Netanyahu government for refusing to consider a strategy for victory outside the hostile confines of the United Nations. She adds that if there is no quick US veto, a long, drawn out period of deliberation will hang over Israel’s head like a Sword of Damocles.

Houssam Kanafani, a journalist writing in the left-wing Lebanese daily Al-Akhbar, says that while the move by Abbas is meant to pressure Israel to resume peace talks, it has become a trap for him that could spark a third intifada. The journalist argues that Abbas could get out of the trap if there is a long period of deliberation on Palestinian aspirations for statehood leading to a compromise.

And Jonas Gahr Store, Norway’s foreign minister and chairman of the Ad Hoc Liaison committee for the Assistance of the Palestinian Authority, writes in the International Herald Tribune/New York Times that Palestinians are fully capable of running a state, the main obstacle is the occupation.

The other main story in today’s world press is the global financial downturn and fears of a double dip recession. The Wall Street Journal Europe leads with the headline: “Economy enters danger zone” alongside a picture of the International Monetary Fund’s Managing-Director Christine Lagarde. The Guardian leads “British PM tells Europe: act now to save global economy”. And, still with the UK press, the Daily Telegraph says: “World on brink of new economic crisis”.

http://www.france24.com/en/20110923-press-review-international-palestinians-statehood-fisk-obama-israel-netanyahu-protests

[bemildred]

8. Ha ha. Ms Glick finds the situation "surreal".

And Mr Kanifani thinks it's a "trap".
Heads exploding all over the place.

[Jefferson23]

9. You have to laugh, what else can a bystander do, right? lol n/t

[bemildred]

10. When you have a dispute as polemicized and commercialized and fantasized

as this one it is always a good thing see pundit heads exploding.

And people with no sense of humor amuse me. :-)

The most interesting thing happening right now is Mr Abbas. Everybody else is still predictable.

[Jefferson23]

11. He owes the Palestinians, they seem pleased with the markers he has

completed thus far. I wish him well.