Easy, Spartacus: Obama on Israel and Palestine

Let me first state that I agree with most of what President Obama had to say recently about the dire need for a two-state solution.  I concur with the idea that, in the end, some sort of territorial arrangement will have to take place that both ENSURES THE SECURITY of Israel and that also involves LAND SWAPS to make certain that such an objective is realized.  Too many people have failed to highlight this critical element in Obama's speech.  He did NOT advocate a unilateral return of the entire Golan Heights, the Jordan River Valley, or every single inch of the West Bank.

I think that it was a misstep, however, to talk about "pre-1967 borders" in a public and internationally-televised speech from the White House at this volatile and very uncertain moment in the region.  That's the reason behind a lot of the reactionary freaking out that we're seeing right now--as well as Netanyahu's patronizing, professorial rebuke as he sat by the President's side.  Obama, true to his nature and clearly emboldened by the killing of bin Laden, made a big, brash foreign policy statement that was somewhat reckless; Netanyahu, true to his nature, responded with typical arrogance and without any mention of the vital land swap point.  I think that President Obama made up for a good deal of his policy-wonk cockiness in his speech to AIPAC, where he more clearly spelled out his position and also--and necessarily--brought up the total impossibility of negotiating with anybody who considers Hamas (a terrorist organization which strives to destroy Israel) to be a "peace partner."

So now let's all take a deep breath.  Abbas, show some guts and get rid of Hamas once and for all; Bibi, get over yourself and start taking seriously what everyone knows has to happen.

Rodney King was wrong--we CAN'T all get along.  Fine.  So let's get down to the nitty gritty business of talking through territorial issues, ensuring security, and reconfiguring the region into two viable and peaceful nation-states.  Barack and Bibi have puffed their chests long enough.