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Obama: Expectations for Middle East peace too high
Ynet News ^ | 01.21.10, 18:34 | News agencies

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 ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: israel; middleeast; obama; peace
So, is the idiot finally seeing the light on this issue or is this just more damage control?
1 posted on 01/21/2010 9:24:23 AM PST by kress
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To: kress
You mean to tell me the much vaunted HopeyChange™ has NOT been successful??

Say it ain't so Barry!!

2 posted on 01/21/2010 9:28:56 AM PST by NMEwithin
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To: kress

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.


3 posted on 01/21/2010 9:29:56 AM PST by fujimoh
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To: kress
President Barack Obama said his administration overestimated its ability to persuade the Israelis and Palestinians to resume meaningful peace talks.

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...."

4 posted on 01/21/2010 9:32:08 AM PST by r9etb
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To: kress

Hope, meet Reality.


5 posted on 01/21/2010 10:02:56 AM PST by Wee-Weed Up
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To: kress

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!


6 posted on 01/21/2010 10:06:04 AM PST by vpintheak (How can love of God, Family and Country make me an extremist?)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
An ostrich would make a better President.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

7 posted on 01/22/2010 4:04:25 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Happy New Year! Freedom is Priceless.)
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