Wednesday, December 16, 2009

New York Times blames Israel


Abbas Says No But Everyone Blames Netanyahu -Jonathan Tobin

The decision of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to freeze building homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank has earned him little credit.

Abbas, whose term in office will be extended without holding an election because his Fatah party knows it might lose to Hamas, has been telegraphing his lack of interest in talks all year.

Given the fact that the Palestinian public still won't accept any deal with Israel no matter where the borders are set, it's not likely that this will change.

Thus the conceit of Ethan Bronner's latest "Mideast Memo" in the New York Times, which ponders the sincerity of Netanyahu's desire for peace.

[T]he frustrating aspect isn't so much the condescension toward Netanyahu, but rather the way the peace process is framed - to put the entire onus on Israel to make concessions, while virtually ignoring the Palestinians complete refusal to accept the concept of peace with a Jewish state.

[T]he political culture of the Palestinians makes peace an impossibility even for their allegedly moderate leader.
(Commentary)
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