Obama-"I believe in a two state solution...Settlements must be stopped."

[jenmito]

He's talking now to the press with Netanyahu. Covered on MSNBC.

[nini]

1. finally!!!

:-)

[karynnj]

19. Why finally?

This is what both Biden and Kerry said in back to back speeches - in front of AIPAC.

In addition, in the last year and a half in the Bush administration, they were for the two state policy and pushed for that at the Annapolis meetings. That is important as this really can be said to be bipartisan foreign policy.

There was an interesting conference in Jordan from Friday through Sunday - dealing with development, though obviously the biggest obstacle to development is the uncertainly due to terrorism. Senator Kerry was there and one long comment was interesting in that it spoke to needing the "facts on the ground" have to change. He spoke of Biden and him saying that before AIPAC. He then spoke of how the Arabs need to have the rhetoric in the street and textbooks to change and they need to change the game. Everyone needs to do something, but the rewards of peace are huge. He essentially called on them to support the moderates. He makes the case that everyone needs to see the benefits going forward. Even though he was tough on the Arabs, as well as the Israelis, he got substantial applause - and later agreement - and praise for his eloquence - by King Abdullah of Jordan and from the European representative.

Here is the link - http://www.weforum.org/en/knowledge/Events/KN_SESS_SUMM_28780?url=/en/knowledge/Events/KN_SESS_SUMM_28780 click on webcast - about 41 minutes in. (Kerry arrived about a half an hour late because the Senate was in session on Thursday and he had a hearing on the Middle East with Tony Blair as a guest.

What is clear is that Kerry, Biden, Mitchell, and Obama are all saying the same thing. Kerry attending this meeting is clearly there to praise the steps that have been taken and to push them to take the real steps needed to normalize the area. He (and the others) are doing the same with Israel. This is a stronger push very early in Obama's administration - and there is NO DOUBT that he is orchestrating this. This makes it more likely that he has the time to do the needed work. Both Clinton and Bush both waited until near the ends of their Presidencies to make a push to push a deal. It also seems to me that all of them are making the point that it is the region that has to make the deal.

[DJ13]

2. .... or else what?

Every President since Reagan took that line, but none have been brave enough to put any teeth behind it.

[jenmito]

4. We will nuke Israel!

I'm assuming. :D

[jenmito]

3. Netanyahu says he shares desire to move peace process forward.

[HopeOverFear]

5. i.e. " I DON'T support a two-state solution"

[jenmito]

6. The closest he came to saying he wants a two-state solution is he wants to live side by side

in peace with the Palestinians. I'm glad Obama said HE wants a two-state solution, though.

[jenmito]

7. "What if your outstretched hand is considered as weakness to extremists...?"

He said he saw no evidence that was happening and he knows that NOT talking with Iran hasn't worked.

[jenmito]

8. Obama-"If israel and Palestinians make peace, it will help with the Iranian threat."

[Hippo_Tron]

12. That is true but it goes the other way as well

If Israel and Iran make peace, it will help get a two-state solution. Hamas and Hezbollah are proxies for Iran and Syria.

[jenmito]

13. How is that "the other way"? That's maybe a way to to help get a two-state

solution but it's not "the other way" to help with the Iranian threat. But I agree with what you mean, although I doubt it's realistic that Israel would make peace with Iran. They don't even want US to talk with Iran, really.

[Hippo_Tron]

15. I don't think there can be a sustainable two-state agreement without Syria and Iran

Hamas is a resistance organization and thus by definition they need something to resist. Any peaceful solution is not desirable to them no matter how much the Palestinians benefit because they have an interest in preserving a state of war. A state of war ensures their political power. The only way to get rid of them is to cut off their funding and their funding comes from Iran and Syria.

[jenmito]

17. Oh-maybe you just said "Israel" when you meant to say "Syria"?

I agree with you.

[Hippo_Tron]

21. No I mean Syria and Iran, Israel needs to make peace with both of those states

Syria and Iran are the only two states that have an official policy of continuing to fund these resistance groups.

But on the other hand the Likudist elements of Israel don't have much interest in peace either. So long as there is turmoil, they do better politically.

[jenmito]

9. Mark Whitaker, MSNBC, said he thinks Obama got MORE from Netanyahu than expected.

Netanyahu never even spoke about peace for the Palestinians. Now at least he is willing to start the peace process immediately and wants the Palestinians to "govern themselves" and live side by side with them.

[Cha]

16. Sounds so

encouraging. I remember reading on DU(obviously false), about a month ago, that Obama was going to be out of town when Bibi came to DC..so according to that, they've come a long way!

[jenmito]

18. I agree...

And I saw that on DU, too. I'm glad it wasn't true.

[jazzjunkysue]

10. This is bold and brilliant. We can stop this conflict any time we decide we really want to.

The haggling has got to stop somewhere. Each side can list their grievances, but, the decision not to waste any more resources on retribution may finally be at hand.

No one thought we could elect a black president. No one thought we could end this conflict. Maybe we just did both.

[jenmito]

14. If anyone can make it happen, Obama can.

He's a master at bringing people together.

[karynnj]

20. No we can't - in the end, this has to be a solution that the

people in the region agree to. What is impressive is that George Mitchell is an incredibly good choice and people like Kerry and Biden are saying the SAME things to Israel that they say to the Arabs - and they are making sound arguments for peace.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Good! nt