by Lawrence Davidson
November 22, 2010
In this scenario President Obama is motivated by an obsessive drive to be the man who settles the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Of course, if accomplished, it will be a very messy sort of settlement considering that Hamas is out of the loop and Abbas really does not represent most of the Palestinians. Indeed, Abbas’s probable fate is not to die in bed. Nonetheless, the settlement, such as it is, will be Obama’s legacy and simultaneously it may allow him, as Juan Cole has suggested, to outmaneuver the unscrupulous Republican opposition in the House. Also, he certainly believes it will help him become a two term president.
If Obama can accomplish this (and many things can go wrong with this scenario) there will be an “official agreement” under cover of which the United States and Europe can abandon those Palestinians not confined to the Palestinian “state.” They will declare the problem solved and treat in a ferocious manner any party, such as Hamas and Palestinian refugee groups, who say otherwise. Thus, the West Bank Palestinians will “officially” get bantustans which the West will call a state. And then a long war of attrition will be waged against the “terrorists” and “spoilers” who would upset the “peace” settlement. This too will be part of Obama’s legacy.
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by Stephen Lendman
November 18, 2010
20 F-35s (America’s most advanced fighter jet) will be added to an existing Israeli order under a $2.75 billion contract. “other gifts the US administration is willing to offer to Israel in exchange for three months of construction freeze in the settlements…”
According to an unnamed senior Israeli defense source, “The Americans have put forth an excellent proposal,” a gift. “It will be a big mistake not to take it…”
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