Maggie's Farm

First, what is AIPAC?  The American Israel Political Action Committee

Second, what is the root of the divide between Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama? It goes back to core principles and experiences.

Third, geographic perspective:

Rocket ranges from Gaza; Even less from West Bank

Now, some reactions to the President's speech at AIPAC:

Obama Doubles Down:

The president just finished speaking to a packed convention room at the AIPAC policy conference. He was not booed when he entered; most stood and offered brief applause. Still, the crowd during the speech had long periods of stony silence, and audible boos were heard when he brought up his plan to base an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal on the 1967 border lines. President Obama took nothing back from his foreign policy speech on Thursday and blamed the press for any controversy. He doubled down, making this upcoming presidential election a time for choosing for friends of Israel....This president once again has proved an apt negotiator on behalf of the Palestinians and a thorn in Israel’s side.

Live Blog:

“The status quo is unsustainable. That is why I stated publicly the principles that the United States believes can be the foundation” for peace talks.

DEAD SILENCE. Let me repeat: DEAD, SUSTAINED SILENCE answered this statement by Obama regarding Thursday’s speech about the 1967 lines.

Israel polite

Palestinians find another ally for no peace:

Conveniently, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat has now released a statement, transforming Obama’s border guidelines into preconditions for renewed talks. Until recently the Palestinians had no problem negotiating without those preconditions. It was widely recognized that the Palestinians were trying to get to Obama’s position—a final status agreement structured around the 1949 lines plus land swaps—but that they would have to negotiate to it and make concessions along the way. Now Erekat is insisting that “there is no point talking about a peace process” unless Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu accepts the final Palestinian position as everyone’s starting position. Since that’s not going to happen under any circumstances—nor should it—we are again in a situation where President Obama’s de-facto advocacy for the Palestinian cause has made peace more difficult to achieve.

Me:

Obama to Israel, "Let's agree to disagree, and you'll pay for it later, out of sight of this audience."

Netanyahu replies: "My audience will hear from me tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, and the next, despite your sellouts."