Obama desperately needs a Plan B

[Jefferson23]

After its meeting with Abbas on Monday, the U.S. will realize no framework agreement is possible.

By Barak Ravid | Mar. 17, 2014 |

On the eve of the White House meeting on Monday between U.S. President Barack Obama and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, it looks like the American peace initiative launched eight months ago is at death’s door. There are fundamental gaps between the two parties, public demands that have hardened positions, and a deep lack of trust between Jerusalem and Ramallah.

The Obama-Abbas meeting is not expected to make any dramatic changes to this bad situation. The Palestinian president will arrive at the Oval Office with intent to reject the U.S. framework paper. In the last year, Abbas has done everything to avoid a clash with the U.S. but his advisers convinced him that he too can say 'no' to Obama and fly back home safely.

The Americans, particularly U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, have been focused in recent months on Plan A: Achieve a framework agreement of principles for resolving the core issues that would be a basis for continuing the negotiations. Thus far, however, there is almost no clause in the American document on which the Palestinians and Israelis agree.

Kerry has demonstrated great optimism about the framework document, but apparently misread the situation. It is not clear whether he misunderstood things or simply heard what he wanted to hear. He thought he could nail this document last December, but three months later, such an agreement is nowhere in sight.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.580204

[SolutionisSolidarity]

1. Even assuming Kerry/Obama cared about the peace process, it's moot now.

There were only a few paths forward that were conceivable. If Obama pressured Saudi Arabia and Israel, and Russia pressured Iran and Syria, it may have been possible to force a settlement. But with the neo-conservatives in firm control of America's foreign policy, the only way peace will occur is by genocide/ethnic cleansing of the disputed areas. Vive la guerre froide.