Monday April 25, 2011

I've Been Thinking:

There is no doubt that Obama and Netanyahu are feeling the pressure of the Palestinian diplomatic blitz.

Palestinians are gathering more and more support for their declaration of statehood and that is not something that neither the United States nor Israel want. Both the US and Israel want a negotiated settlement - not a declaration.

A negotiated settlement puts the issues on the table and offers the ability to resolve those issues to the satisfaction of both parties -a unilateral declaration removes that ability.

Each leader has a plan up their diplomatic sleeve and the plans will most likely be unveiled next month when Obama and Netanyahu meet in Washington, DC. Even if the two agree to fold their plans into one, it is highly unlikely that the Palestinians will accept the new plan.

The Palestinians do not want details resolved. That will hurt them in the eyes of their own constituents, in the eyes of Muslims around the world and in the eyes of their other supporter across the world.

Whatever plan the United States and Israel present will be based on compromise - and compromise, to the Palestinians means giving in and giving in weakness. Palestinian leadership does not want to be seen as weak.

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