April 1, 2007

ONE STEP AHEAD:

Israeli Premier Invites Arabs to Peace Conference (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, 4/01/07)

In a dramatic response to an Arab peace initiative, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday invited Arab leaders to a regional peace conference to discuss their ideas for resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Olmert's surprise call came amid a flurry of new international peace efforts. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has repeatedly traveled to Israel to try to spur negotiations, and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is currently president of the EU, was here Sunday to buttress those efforts.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Merkel, Olmert said, ''I would take advantage of this important opportunity of being here in Jerusalem with the president of the European Union to invite to a meeting all Arab heads of state, including, of course, the king of Saudi Arabia, whom I regard as an important leader, in order to engage in dialogue.'' He said each side would bring its own demands, and neither would try to dictate terms.


A smart and necessary move at a point where Israel risked being seen as the obstacle to a settlement.

Posted by Orrin Judd at April 1, 2007 4:02 PM
Comments

Um, when has Israel NOT been considered the obstacle to a settlement??

Posted by: Rick T. at April 1, 2007 4:47 PM

Interesting little poll via Rantburg:

A new poll shows that the creation of a Palestinian state and further Israeli withdrawals are contrary to the will of most Americans.

The poll shows a five-to-one ratio of Americans against further Israeli land concessions to the Palestinian Authority and a two-to-one ratio believing a Palestinian state would be a terrorist state rather than a peaceful democracy.

The survey was carried out by US polling agency McLaughlin & Associates and commissioned by the Zionist Organization of America at a time when the entire concept of creating a Palestinian state west of the Jordan river has been called into question by prominent figures such as former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon.

The raw figures:

* 60% believe that Israel should not make more land concessions to the Palestinian Arabs and 11% believe it should

* 45% believe that a Palestinian Arab state would be a terrorist state rather than a peaceful democracy (22%)

* 45% support the Israelis over the Arabs (4.6%)

* 65% believe that Saudi Arabia is not a reliable and trustworthy ally in the war against radical Islamic terrorism. 11% believe it is.

* 46% believe that Egypt is not a reliable and trustworthy ally in the war against radical Islamic terrorism. 24% believe it is.

* 51% believe that the US should impose economic sanctions on Saudi Arabia until it stops its support and funding for terrorists and radical Islamic education that teaches hatred of America and Israel. 26% disagree.

Polled were 1000 randomly selected Americans on March 25, 2007. The margin of error of the poll is 3.1%.

Posted by: Sandy P at April 1, 2007 5:05 PM

It's never been considered the obstacle by Americans or by recent presidents, because it hasn't been and has done what we told them to for the most part.

Posted by: oj at April 1, 2007 7:57 PM

Israel, the insurmountable obstacle to surrender to the spiritual jailhouse, as if this were a bad thing.

Posted by: Lou Gots at April 1, 2007 7:59 PM

I don't think it matters what Israel does - if it doesn't agree to every demand of the Palestinians it will be seen as the obstacle by the press, the US State Department, and nearly every other member state of the UN. It is tough being the chosen people.

Posted by: Mikey [TypeKey Profile Page] at April 2, 2007 6:20 AM

Yes, the usual suspects don't metter. Losing the Bush administration does.

Posted by: oj at April 2, 2007 7:15 AM

Let us keep our eyes on deeds,not worlds.

At least entertain the possibility that the Bush administration is playing this as it plays the occupation of Iraq. The end point is to win without appearing to have won.

Posted by: Lou Gots at April 2, 2007 12:04 PM

Yes, they're identical. We need out of Iraq and Israel needs out of Palestine and Lebanon.

Posted by: oj at April 2, 2007 3:19 PM
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