Obama's Middle East Speech

In his latest speech, the President layed out his view of the middle east negotiations.

Upon any reflection, his layout is as coherent as the sound of one hand clapping. Or rather, he manages to be on two sides of the fence at once. On one hand, he grants Israel military presence in the Jordan River valley ("Israel must be able defend itself - by itself - against any threat"), one the other hand he precludes it ("The borders of Israel and Palestine should be based the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps"). On one hand, he closes off any right of return of Palestinians to Israel ("Israel as a Jewish state and the homeland for the Jewish people"), on the other hand he leaves it open ("two wrenching and emotional issues remain: the future of Jerusalem, and the fate of Palestinian refugees"). Ultimately, he asserts, the only thing "America and the international community can do is state [this all] frankly."

Netanyahu's response appears childishly imperious. A savvier diplomatic response would be to accentuate the hand that defended Israel's position, and ignore the other hand. On the other hand, Netanyahu's response reflects the seriousness of the stakes -- millions of lives in balance -- where-as Obama's empty speech reflects less world-concerned foreign policy, and more re-election concerned, domestic political posturing.