Kerry to Visit Next Week to Discuss Israeli-Palestinian Confidence-building Measures

[Jefferson23]

In his first visit in over a year, the U.S. secretary of state is hoping to persuade Netanyahu to implement more serious measures than those he presented recently in Washington.


Barak Ravid Nov 18, 2015
http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.686979

[geek tragedy]

1. His tour includes chasing unicorns in Ramallah and tilting at windmills near Tel Aviv.

I respect Secretary Kerry, but President Obama is much more clear-headed as to what's going on in Israel/Palestine.

[Jefferson23]

2. It's getting worse there and I think Kerry's role is to see that it not escalate.

You've heard Bibi and even Schumer of late? The rhetoric is off the charts stupid.

Obama seems to be the only adult in the room at home too.

[geek tragedy]

3. Sure, that's what his goal is. But the Israelis elected Netanyahu precisely

because he's going to make things worse vis a vis the Palestinians.

If there was serious interest in stopping things from getting worse, Netanyahu and the right would have lost.

[Little Tich]

4. How about Kerry telling Netanyahu to resign?

So many things would improve for Israel if that racist POS just left.

[geek tragedy]

5. it's not up to us to tell Israelis who their leader should be.

[Little Tich]

6. Friends should be able to tell each other the truth... n/t

[geek tragedy]

7. We are not friends, we are enablers. nt

[King_David]

8. Obama said friendship with Israel was "eternal"

ISRAEL will have “no greater friend” than the US in pursuit of peace in the Middle East, Barack Obama promised yesterday.
On his first visit to Israel as president, America’s leader described the two nations’ alliance as “eternal”.


http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/4852548/Barack-Obama-says-Israel-will-have-no-greater-friend-than-the-US.html

[geek tragedy]

9. Obama's presidency is not eternal.

In 13 months, we're going to have a new president.

I'm pulling for Bernie, but if it's not him then the options are:

Clinton, whose first and last priority w/r/t Israel are domestic political considerations (which means enabling, not friendship)

Rubio/Cruz/someone even worse--people who support the one-state solution.

What you're seen the past few weeks is the new normal w/r/t Israel/US relations, unconditional support, no pressure on settlements, US disengagement, the rest of the world doing its own thing w/r/t Israel/Palestine and ignoring what the US has to say, as the US is an enabler of Israel, not an honest broker capable of playing a constructive role.

[King_David]

10. When it comes to the Jewish State nothing is "normal"

Or the "new normal".

Attitudes toward Israel change with every other country's change of governments.

The only constant is the USA.

[geek tragedy]

11. the US has entered a new phase

The very wide perception is that Obama accomplished nothing because he wanted to be a friend to Israel while pressuring it to move towards a two-state solution.

That is viewed as political malpractice on top of what was indisputably ineffective diplomacy.

The next President, if it's not Sanders, will continue the disengagement we've seen from Obama.

Rubio and Cruz are hostile to the two-state solution. Clinton is indifferent.

That is a major change.

[King_David]

12. I don't think your analysis is right

As I said the only constant is the USA .
Sanders included.

[geek tragedy]

13. Sanders would be radically different than Rubio nt

[King_David]

14. On absolutely everything except for Israel

Except for the fact that when Sanders visits Israel he'll probably make side visits to see friends and family whereas Rubrio will not.

[geek tragedy]

15. That's industrial grade bullshit.

Bernie said he would be even handed and seek a two-state solution.

That is RADICALLY different than Marco Rubio, who has said he opposes seeking a two-state solution, blames the Palestinians for everything, disagrees with Netanyahu on nothing, and has never, ever, ever criticized a single member or action of the Israeli government.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/rubio-palestinian-statehood-not-currently-possible/

[King_David]

16. I think you will be disappointed with the Jewish candidate who used to live on a kibbutz,..

And is a proud supporter of Israel... His criticism is limited to Netanyahu

[geek tragedy]

17. I prefer his stated position to Rubio's

You obviously disagree.

[King_David]

18. Of course not , mister

[geek tragedy]

19. You just implied Bernie would be like Rubio because of his religion.

Last edited Sat Nov 21, 2015, 01:32 AM - Edit history (1)

A very odd statement for someone who decries anti semitism to make.

Marco Rubio is RADICALLY different than Bernie on the subject of Israel. He favors an apartheid one-state solution. He shares a mindset with Sheldon Adelson. He is an anti-Muslim bigot. He wants the US and Israel to bomb Iran into regime change.

Bernie Sanders is RADICALLY different from that. In a good way.

[6chars]

20. How about Palestinians stop stabbing Jews amd then stabbed don't get shot

That will increase confidence!

I will be disappointed if Kerry goes in to say that the stabbings have a legitimacy.