Posted on 01/21/2010 9:24:23 AM PST by kress
US president tells Time Magazine Israel, Palestinians unwilling to make the bold gestures. Mitchell's visit to region clouded by tough statements from both sides accusing the other of cynicism
President Barack Obama said his administration overestimated its ability to persuade the Israelis and Palestinians to resume meaningful peace talks.
Obama said both parties have been unwilling to make the bold gestures needed to move the process forward. If the US had anticipated that earlier, the American leader said he might not have raised his expectations so high.
"Both sides — the Israelis and the Palestinians — have found that the political environment, the nature of their coalitions or the divisions within their societies, were such that it was very hard for them to start engaging in a meaningful conversation. And I think that we overestimated our ability to persuade them to do so when their politics ran contrary to that," the American leader said in an interview with Time Magazine published Thursday.
"From (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas' perspective, he's got Hamas looking over his shoulder and, I think, an environment generally within the Arab world that feels impatient with any process. And on the Israeli front — although the Israelis, I think, after a lot of time showed a willingness to make some modifications in their policies, they still found it very hard to move with any bold gestures," said Obama.
Addressing Iran, Obama said the US was "moving into a dual-track approach. Which is, if they don't accept the open hand, we've got to make sure they understand there are consequences for breaking international rules.
(Excerpt) Read more at ynetnews.com ...
Say it ain't so Barry!!
Damage control. Every thing he touches turns to crap! Strikes: Copenhagen, Olympics, Corzine, Coakley (probably just supported for the name), Foreign Policy, Terrorism ... list can go on and on. I thought that with 3 strikes you were out.
Translation: "Well, I'll be damned. It turns out you can't just toss out fine words and grand ideas and expect that they'll magically happen...."
Hope, meet Reality.
What a bunch of crap! Obama promised the waters would stop rising, lights would come into my face and cause me to vote for him, and now, now, he says that he can’t even bring peace to the middle east!!!!!! I R betrayed!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
