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The signs are all negative

It looks like President Obama isn't too sure, or confident, about securing a peace-deal between the Israelis and Palestinians.

The NY Times reports this from yesterday's press conference:

"QUESTION: Mr. President, you came to office pledging to work for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Yeah.

QUESTION: How realistic do you think those are hopes are now, given the likelihood of a prime minister who’s not fully signed up to a two- state solution and a foreign minister who’s been accused of insulting Arabs?

PRESIDENT OBAMA: It’s not easier than it was, but I think it’s just as necessary. We don’t yet know what the Israeli government is going to look like. And we don’t yet know what the future shape of Palestinian leadership is going to be comprised of.

What we do know is this; that the status quo is unsustainable. That it is critical for us to advance a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in their own states with peace and security. And by assigning George Mitchell the task of working as special envoy, what we’ve signaled is that we’re going to be serious from day one in trying to move the parties in a direction that acknowledges that reality. How effective these negotiations may be, I think we’re going to have to wait and see."

One can readily understand Obama's caution given this report, from Haaretz, of the secret deal said to have been struck between Netanyahu and Lieberman to build another 3000 housing units on the West Bank. So much for the new PM's hollow words of seeking peace with the Palestinians.

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