Obama rules out Israeli-Palestinian peace deal before leaving office

[geek tragedy]

Put this one alongside "reaching across the aisle to work with Republicans."

http://www.timesofisrael.com/obama-rules-out-israeli-palestinian-peace-deal-before-leaving-office/

US officials said Thursday that President Barack Obama has made a “realistic assessment” that a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians is not possible during his final months in office.

...

At a press conference last month, Obama reiterated his long-held conviction that the only way Israel would be secure, and the Palestinians would meet their aspirations, was via a two-state solution. He indicated then, but did not spell out, that the US was not about to start a new peace effort, saying “it’s going to be up to the parties” to do that, “and we stand ready to assist.”

Kerry sought to be broker an accord in 2013-2014, but the effort collapsed amid a stream of bitter accusations and recriminations between the sides.

With no realistic prospect of substantial negotiated progress, the Obama administration is said to remain determined to keep the idea of a two-state solution viable, and it is understood the president and the prime minister will discuss possible steps in that direction.

The two leaders will likely discuss means to prevent a further deterioration on the ground, including how to thwart further terrorism; tackle incitement more effectively; deal with the strained Palestinian Authority; and safeguard Israeli-Jordanian relations.

His successor is not going to have any appetite for this either. It took 50 years or so, but the US has finally figured out that it needs to butt out of the I/P dispute and let the two parties settle this, or not settle it, on their own. We are not Israel's, or Palestine's, keeper.

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. I believe god's telling close associates the same thing. n/t

[geek tragedy]

2. that probably happened decades ago, nt

[oberliner]

3. You don't think Bernie will be able to broker a deal?

I have high hopes for his administration in that regard.

[geek tragedy]

4. No, and I don't expect he'll be able to turn water into wine either.

The two sides are in a Gordian knot of radicalization and integration. They are not his, not our, problem to solve.

[oberliner]

6. i think solving the I/P conflict would be good for the US

And indeed for the world at large.

Well worth the effort - and then some.

[geek tragedy]

7. The US can't solve it, it's not a fire that can be put out but rather one

that needs to burn itself out.

We have bigger fish to fry than trying to solve a dirty tribal land war over a piece of goddamn desert.

[oberliner]

8. I think the US is the only country with the leverage to make it happen

The US came relatively close during the Clinton administration.

And I actually think a resolution to that conflict would have a wide-ranging effect well beyond what you are describing as simply a war over a piece of desert.

Many people around the world (including in the US) become radicalized in part due to their feelings about that conflict.

If that conflict was resolved, I think it would go a long way towards making this a more peaceful world.

[geek tragedy]

9. The US has no leverage.

That's what happens when you decide to unconditionally support one side in a conflict--you lose all of your leverage.
Netanyahu called Obama's bluff on that, and there went the US's leverage.

The rest of the Middle East has learned the hard way that there are more pressing issues than Israel/Palestine. Iran hates ISIS more than it hates Israel, the Saudis hate Iran more than they hate Israel, etc etc.

Time for the US to move on. let the Europeans show some leadership for once--they have a lot more leverage than we do.

[shira]

5. Hell no. Bernie and a reincarnated Rabin couldn't broker a deal. n/t

[Little Tich]

10. There goes the two-state solution. n/t

[geek tragedy]

11. It was gone before Obama took office.

[Little Tich]

12. Perhaps it was never more than a dream... n/t

[geek tragedy]

13. It died with Rabin nt