Reports emerging earlier in the day that President Obama was considering submitting a new peace proposal by the fall were met with consternation by the Israeli government and a quick reassurance by the State Department that all American proposals are strictly optional for the Netanyahu government.
State Department spokesman Philip Crowley quickly insisted that the US would never try to impose any specific peace proposal on the Israeli government, and insisted that they would imply suggest ideas aimed at restarting negotiations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was said to have met with aides after the initial report was leaked and reassured his coalition allies, many of whom are against peace with the Palestinians on general principle, that he would never allow any deal that would be “forced” on Israel.
Tensions between the Obama Administration and the Israeli government have become apparent after last month’s US effort to start indirect peace talks was sabotaged by Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai, who announced a major settlement expansion the day Vice President Biden was to meet with Palestinians on the particulars.
Since then the US has been unable to convince the Palestinians to agree to talks without a pledged settlement freeze. Netanyahu has ruled the freeze out and reiterated today that no progress was made on working out disagreements with the US on the issue.
What's to "discuss"? Netanyahu and the Likuds don't want 'PEACE' except on THEIR terms, which gives the Palestinians just tow choices; live your lives like groveling dogs begging for Israeli table scraps, or be genocided.
"US Won’t Impose Peace Plan on Israel"! The more pertinent question is: Can the US impose anything on Israel in a scenario where the tail wags the dog?
Peace is an antiquated concept, esp. with the $$$$ people. It's just so SWEET the strangle hold on the short hairs of Amerika! GAG!
Why? What are we so afraid of??
What do you mean "we"? It's the bought politicians in the hip pocket of the Israel Lobby that won't impose peace. So don't include in your question, rhetorical as it may be, those of us who aren't in that pack of Jewish manipulators and their slavish, bought politicians.
Hmmm I wonder if all this hoopla about health care is a planned distraction. I think the problem is that there are too many parasites making fortunes off the ongoint mideast wars, and too many corrupt magalomaniacs in congress too willing to accept support from those parasites. If the people don't stand up for themselves, no one else will, and this gang of parasites will lead the nation to certain destruction
The for profit Health Insurers spent over $700 million carefully scripting the "Health Care" debate–or distraction as you call it–to their own benefit. They purchased both Republicans and Democrats, and then had them play out a wrestling match, in which the Democrats' bill, engineered solely to the benefit of the for profits, would be approved against Republican opposition, thus making it look like "reform".
In fact, this is exactly how the Corporatist Democrats are selling it to their constituents–to wit, that it must be good because the Republicans opposed it.
This is all fairly easily proved.
Note that the for profit Health Insurer and Pharmaceutical stocks rose markedly when the Democrats' bill was PASSED.
Earlier, the same stocks had declined when the first version–essentially the same–was NOT PASSED.
This was a very cunningly crafted piece of Corporatist political theater.
But it is also true that the for profit Corporate Health insurers at the moment play a central role in the US Finance Capital polity.
To get an idea of the sums involved–for profit Health Insurers spend one third of all premiums on advertising and executive salaries annually, and that alone is $700 BILLION per year.
In Obama's bill they have just managed a bit of Corporrate Welfare which makes the direct bailouts of the banks and financials look like peanuts.
There will be serious consequences upon an already failing real economy, it must be added. But one must realize that Finance Capitalism is by definition a meta-economic fantasy in which economic realities have little or no play.
Characterizing Obama's program as "Progressive" is an absurd joke. There are two political parties in the US Right (Democrat) and Far Right (Republican), both Corporate Fascist and Imperialist.
The title should be Obama cannot impose peace plan. That is closer to the truth.
Netanyahu doesn't look like he came from the Middle East.
Just sayin'
Everyone now agrees that Iran must be forcibly held to international obligations that no one has even begun to prove that they are not already in compliance with, to the nth degree. Israel, on the other hand, flouts its international obligations, not to mention the obligations of human decency, to the nth degree, and no one even gives them an unpleasant look. This is how insane our world has become.
Yet another example of Obama taking the path of least resistance. It is a trait I spotted multiple times during his presidential campaign and that he has displayed in his presidency. That is how I knew he would never be an agent of change.
Real agents of change take on the status quo. They don't back off when they encounter an obstacle or resistance.
Obama is a pussy.
Sure lets make peace….. but only with the understanding it is with all the arab states including their proxies , otherwise its suicide, these morons who think if the Israelis sign another accord with the minority the more intolerant majority will follow are delusional.. It will not ever happen , the moment Israel lets down its guard they are history , not precipitated by peace lovers but by hamass hizzbollah, iran, syria,and the rest of the lunatics of which there are many. Obamas rookie diplomatic blunders in the international scene are adding up, he reminds me of the skinny kid at football tryouts who figures he w ill make the team cause his older brother did. The sane make peace on their terms. I
think obamas bluff is forcing the air force on a little mission over to tehran.