Monday June 15, 2009

I've Been Thinking:

The much anticipated speech was given.
The responses came as expected.
Netanyahu spoke, everyone else responded.

The United States is hopeful.
Hamas rejects it.
The Palestinian Authority is offended.
Israelis are split.
The list goes on.

The most important part of the speech was the fact that Netanyahu gave the speech. He is now on record. The game is altered, a new set of rules is in play.

The Obama Administration applied significant pressure on Netanyahu and the Israeli PM caved on some big issues - the biggest is the Two State Solution. This was the issue that kept Kadima out of the Netanyahu coalition and forced him to sign on and embrace the more inflexible right wing parties.

By bowing to US pressure, Netanyahu earned some important credibility points. Now he waits, hoping that in turn, pressure will be brought upon the Palestinians.

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