Obama drags Netanyahu, Abbas to the table (BIBI'S HERE! ILLUSTRATED)

abc news ^ | 9/22/09 | ben knight

[Cinnamon Girl]

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have been brought together in New York for their first face-to-face meeting since the Gaza war eight months ago.

US President Barack Obama is keen for the men to discuss ways of achieving Middle East peace but neither the Israeli Prime Minister, nor the Palestinian President appeared to want the meeting at all.

Mr Obama summoned both of them anyway and before the meeting began he made it sound like he was about to bang some heads together.

"We cannot continue the same pattern of taking tentative steps forward and then stepping back," he said.

"Simply put, it is past time to talk about starting negotiations, it is time to move forward. It is time to show the flexibility and common sense and sense of compromise that is necessary to achieve our goals."

All last week, both Mr Netanyahu and Mr Abbas resisted requests by Mr Obama's envoy, George Mitchell, to soften their positions so the talks could restart.

In New York, Mr Obama made it clear he wasn't happy with that.

"And so my message to these two leaders is clear. Despite all the obstacles, despite all the history, despite all the mistrust, we have to find a way forward," he said.

Mr Obama has a key asset in trying to shift the stalemate - the authority of being the US president - and getting personally involved does make a difference.

There are those in Washington who believe that Mr Obama should have kept his powder dry until later in the process, and that by acting now he risks significant political damage if it fails to do the job.

But he is using his political capital now and telling both sides that, whether they like it or not, they will start negotiating straight away. He has given them less than a month to show some progress.

"Senator Mitchell will meet with the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators next week," he said.

"I've asked the Prime Minister and the President to continue these intensive discussions by sending their teams back to Washington next week. And I've asked the Secretary of State to report to me on the status of these negotiations in mid October."

This is as tough as an American president has ever talked on this issue, especially with Israel. But already, Mr Netanyahu has shown he is prepared to call the President's bluff.

Last night on Lateline, the former US ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, explained why Mr Obama's task will be so tough.

"He stands in Israeli public opinion polls at around 6 per cent and falling," he said.

"Netanyahu stands at around 60 per cent and rising and that's a situation in which the President cannot succeed in achieving Middle East peace unless he brings the Israeli people with him."

[Cinnamon Girl]

Palestinian watches US President Barack Obama, left, meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on TV in a coffee shop in Gaza City, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. The Israeli and Palestinian leaders shook hands at the start of their first face-to-face meeting Tuesday, hosted by Obama, but the small gesture was unlikely to translate into a quick resumption of peace talks. Netanyahu and Abbas remain far apart on key issues, including Israeli settlement expansion and the agenda of future talks.

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R) during a trilateral meeting at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel September 22, 2009 in New York City. Obama is meeting with the two leaders in an attempt to restart peace talks.

Ozero: "I like you, Bibi, I really do. I'm just thinking it would be a heck of a lot easier to have peace with the muslims if the Jews moved out of Israel."

Another desperate attempt by Obama to be a hero and get attention.

from the article: Last night on Lateline, the former US ambassador to Israel, Martin Indyk, explained why Mr Obama's task will be so tough.

"He stands in Israeli public opinion polls at around 6 per cent and falling," he said.

"Netanyahu stands at around 60 per cent and rising and that's a situation in which the President cannot succeed in achieving Middle East peace unless he brings the Israeli people with him."

Would Abbas admit it if Bibi's steel grip crushed his hand? Just wondering.

And look who shows up for the party.

[Nervous Tick]

>> Mr Obama has a key asset in trying to shift the stalemate - the authority of being the US president - and getting personally involved does make a difference.

This has been a vanity of US presidents since Carter. Since before that, probably.

The results of their efforts say otherwise.

The philistines are a sorry, intractable bunch of mooselimb garbage. No presidential posturing can change that fact.

[SevenofNine]

Yeah Hillary have show up that Hillary you can’t throw peace talk party without HER LOL!

[Nervous Tick]

>> And look who shows up for the party.

Is it just me, or does Hillary! look like she’s on antidepressants?

By the way, is that Samantha Power in the background of the Hillary picture?

[Cinnamon Girl]

Israeli officials say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will boycott the upcoming speech by the Iranian president at the U.N. General Assembly and encourage other leaders to do the same. Bibi is scheduled to speak on Thursday.

[SevenofNine]

Yeah I would too LOL!
Probably Bibi want sleep in he tired so he probably do his homework just longe around hotel room working on his notes just watch Daytime TV

He probably said he is sick go out and get donut or something

[HokieMom]

At JMU, Carter says Israel must stop building settlements

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 22, 2009

HARRISONBURG — Israel must stop building settlements in Palestinian areas if peace is ever to be achieved in the Middle East, former President Jimmy Carter said last night as he received an award for his humanitarian efforts.

“As President Barack Obama has made clear, the key factor that prevents peace is the continuing building of Israeli settlements in Palestine, driven by a determined minority of Israelis who desire to occupy and colonize east Jerusalem and the West Bank,” Carter said.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/article/CART221_20090921-233601/294632/

[taildragger]

And their is hints Obozo will meet with him....

UN****** believable..

[taildragger]

And their is hints Obozo will meet with him....

UN****** believable..

[certrtwngnut]

Just saw Bibi on w/Wolf the Blitzed. He ripped Wolfy a new one. I don’t think Wolfy will be sitting comfortably for a while.

[Cinnamon Girl]

Of course. Why not? Doesn’t he say that having a little chat with achmadenanutcase will settle everything?

[montag813]

Oh man, Secretary Hillary "f**king Jew b**tard" Clinton and Samantha "U.S. troops should invade Israel" Powers with Avigdor Liberman! If only we had a tape recorder in the Clinton/Powers limosine on the way back to the hotel.

[kabar]

"And so my message to these two leaders is clear. Despite all the obstacles, despite all the history, despite all the mistrust, we have to find a way forward," he said.

WTF? Who does this former community organizer think he is. What arrogance. What ignorance.

[trisham]

Biting my tongue here.

[montag813]

Just saw Bibi on w/Wolf the Blitzed. He ripped Wolfy a new one. I don’t think Wolfy will be sitting comfortably for a while.

All Bibi had to say was "Alex, 'I'm a Doofus" for $100"

[stephenjohnbanker]

Alinsky’s granddaughter?

[rod1]

Wolfy should be so embarrassed as to never go on TV again after his (You’re definitely not smarter than a five year old) performance on Jeopardy.

[444Flyer]

I'll bet 0’s hands were all cold and sweaty when he shook Bibi's.

[Venturer]

Probably the only thing that Bibi and Abbas can agree on is that Obama can go have sex with himself.

[SevenofNine]

I did see Bibi just smack him around LOL!