Rahm Emanuel declares before a large gathering of American Jews that Obama really isn’t hostile toward Israel. OK, he didn’t say that. But as William Burns said of the Iranians, the Obami have never been so defensive. Politico reports on his speech to the Jewish Federations of North America:
“Those who have questioned” whether the Obama administration has been too tough on Israeli settlements and its outreach to the Muslim world and wondered “that this implies diminished support for Israel, that is not the intent,” Emanuel said. “It is not the case and it never will be. The truth is the opposite. Only through dialogue will Israel achieve the peace it seeks.”
“This is a critical time for all who seek the critical goal of two states that enjoys broad support” in the U.S., Emanuel acknowledged. But he said Obama’s commitment to try to advance a negotiated peace between Israel, the Palestinians and its Arab neighbors will not be deterred by recent setbacks.
Well, “those who have questioned” the administration have, in fact, questioned the policy of trying to extract unilateral concessions. That’s not “dialogue”; it’s bullying. And the “setbacks” — well, that’s what comes from insisting that one side give up what it cannot possibly give up and raising the hopes of the other that it will get this very concession.
Nevertheless, it looks like the critics were right because Emanuel tells us that he agrees with Bibi: Talks should start as soon as possible with no preconditions. Hmm. That’s not what the Obami have been preaching and practicing for months now, is it?
