President Obama just made extensive remarks about Israel and Palestine

[cali]

He stressed that working toward peace and a two state solution would be a priority. Talked about the suffering of the Gazans, and his concern about the current state of affairs.

[EFerrari]

1. I wonder if the Carter Center has a line in to the White House.

There was a story this morning about the CC trying to negotiate between the two sides before the last violent episode.

Ex-Carter Admin Official: Israel Ignored Hamas Offer Days Before Attacking Gaza; Violated Ceasefire with Attacks, Blockade


Robert Pastor is a senior adviser to the Carter Center and a professor at American University who met with exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal in Damascus on Dec. 14, along with former President Jimmy Carter. Pastor says Meshaal indicated Hamas was willing to go back to the ceasefire if Israel would lift the siege on Gaza. He says he passed along the statement to the Israeli military, but he never heard back. Two weeks later, Israel launched its three-week assault that left more than 1,300 Palestinians, most of them civilians, at least a third children, dead.

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/22/ex_carter_admin_official_israel_ignored

[sandnsea]

2. There will be no blockade

That was the most important thing that was said today. Next to the torture and other comments.

[Idealism]

3. I can't believe he mentioned the Arab Peace Initiative

That is a blasphemous phrase to the Israeli government

[democrank]

4. Wish I had heard this.

Let there be peace.