James Baker slams Netanyahu's 'diplomatic missteps' [Israel]

Haaretz ^ | Tuesday, March 24, 2015 | Staff

[Star Traveler]

Former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker harshly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the J Street conference in Washington on Monday, echoing White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough's comments earlier in the day.

Baker acknowledged his disappointment with "the lack of progress regarding a lasting peace," saying that the chances for a two-state solution diminished since Netanyahu's reelection last week.

Baker further slammed Netanyahu's "diplomatic missteps and political gamesmanship," saying that the prime minister's "actions have not matched his rhetoric," according to Politico.

Earlier in the day, White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough offered a similar rebuke of Netanyahu – specifically the prime minister's claims that no Palestinian state would be established on his watch.

“We cannot simply pretend that those comments were never made,” McDonough told the conference.

Baker continued by claiming that hardliners on both sides are the biggest impediment to peace.

[hlmencken3]

You might be thinking of someone else. Spencer Abraham?

Baker’s family goes back at least to the pre-Civil War South, and were not known for being friendly to non-similar ethnic groups.

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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Should note that Baker isn't an old, washed up politician. He's a foreign policy advisor to the leading Republican candidate. His left wing positions on Israel count.

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Jeb Bush Condemned Over Speech at Anti-Israel Conference [Mark Levin]

[SaraJohnson]

BiBi did not make diplomatic “missteps” during the election. Anyone with a brain that does not want to murder Israel KNOWS Obama’s demands would result in the death of Israel.