Maggie's Farm

"The right-wing Israeli leader has had strained relations with Obama .."

The NYT goes out of its way to insult Netanyahu by labeling him "right-wing" while failing to refer to the US president as the "left-wing Obama". That's the NYT for you.

There can be no reversion to the pre-1967 borders as long as the Muslim states surrounding Israel refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist as the Jewish homeland. History says it is only a matter of time until Israel's enemies start another war. Guarantees by the UN or US for Israel's security are worthless, as the present situation in southern Lebanon makes clear. Israel cannot afford to make even one mistake of judgement that could cost it its existence.

The sad lesson for the US here is that it shows Obama is no more deft in negotiating foreign policy than he is in negotiating budgets with the Republicans. With Obama, it's no compromise, it's either his way or the highway. Cowardly Republicans in Congress may yet surrender in the face of Obama's arrogance, but Netanyahu has a stiffer backbone, I think. He will not likely back down on the Israeli position that the borders of any future Palestinian state are a matter for negotiation, which must also include a binding acceptance by the Muslims of Israel's right to exist. The Palestinians have earned the distrust of the Israelis, who have a right to be dubious about any promise the always untrustworthy Palestinians might make. Nothing Obama is saying or doing helps to address that problem.