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Ear to the Ground

Palestinians Love Obama, but Won’t Budge on Settlements

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Posted on Aug 31, 2009
White House / Pete Souza

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is greeted by President Obama at the White House in May 2009.

Dashing the president’s hopes to restart the peace process, Palestinian leaders said they would not talk to Israel until there is a “total settlement freeze.” Obama has been pushing for just that, but recently indicated a willingness to compromise. In the words of one Fatah leader: “I would say, Mr. Obama, we love you ... but I am sorry, this is not enough. ...”

The obstacle, of course, is Israel’s conservative government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu. The prime minister has pushed for the “natural growth” of existing settlements, a loophole that would allow continued expansion into Palestinian territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. He has come under fire both in Europe and the U.S., but Obama’s apparent willingness to play ball makes it appear that Netanyahu’s stubbornness has paid off. —PS

Reuters via Yahoo:

[Nabil Shaath, former foreign minister and a Fatah Central Committee member] said Palestinians had met their commitments under the 2003, U.S.-backed “road map” to peace, including curbing violence against Israel, but that Israel had failed to meet its by extending its colonization of territory in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which it seized in the Middle East war of 1967.

“A total settlement freeze and a commitment to an independent Palestinian state will bring us back to the negotiating table immediately,” Shaath said.

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By Folktruther, September 1 at 1:06 am #

Of course these Paalestinians love Obama.  the US is paying them, and giving them weapons to keep the Palestinian population in line.  Their electoral mandate has run out long ago, but, since these sellout traitors couldn’t be elected dogcatcher by the Palestinian people, the US media. like Truthdig, simply ignores it and pretends that they are real leaders.

Obama wants to negitiate with these pupputs as political theater while the ISraeli destroy Palestinian homes and expand their settlements.  But even these frauds can’t go that far yet.  But apparently there are no limits how far Obama can go.

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By Max Shields, August 31 at 8:47 pm #

Since when does one Fatah leader speak for Palestinian’s affections?

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By Kwagmyre, August 31 at 5:34 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Netanyahu dictated the terms on the Settlements as he did full well KNOWING that the Palestinians would unhesitatingly reject it.

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