March 2010
Posted by: administrator
When it comes to Middle East peace, President Obama appears more interested in criticizing Israel than rallying support for a peace agreement. The latest example came yesterday, when Obama’s Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton blasted Israel for the second time this month, accusing our strongest ally of undermining President Obama’s failed Middle East peace process:
New construction in East Jerusalem or the West Bank undermines mutual trust and endangers the proximity talks that are the first step toward the full negotiations that both sides want and need.
But before the Obama administration continues to bash Israel, they should take note of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address yesterday:
The Jewish people were building Jerusalem 3,000 years ago and the Jewish people are building Jerusalem today. Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is our capital.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has already made major concessions towards peace, including a nine month freeze on all settlement construction outside of Jerusalem. Unfortunately the Obama administration believes it can save face in Middle East capitols by blasting these settlements and security policies. Not surprisingly, The Washington Post editorial board disagrees, noting “American chastising of Israel invariably prompts still harsher rhetoric, and elevated demands, from Palestinian and other Arab leaders.”
For the sake of Middle East peace, it is time President Obama stop undermining such an important ally.