NOVANEWS
Dear Friends,
Thanks to Obama, Israel has once again for a few days been front-page or at least opinion page news in the international and national media. My own view as to Obama’s achievement is skeptical, but slightly hopeful that I am wrong. While Obama succeeded in bringing Bibi to apologize to Erdogan for the Mavi Marmara massacre, this had more to do with American interests than Israeli ones. How Obama managed to convince Netanyahu we might not know soon, but I’m relatively certain that it involved a good deal more than just saying ‘please, as a friend, do apologize.’
The scenario that will follow Obama’s visit is John Kerry’s visits and talks with both sides. We’ve had that before. All that this has brought about is more talks, more colonies and colonists in the WB, and less freedom and land for Palestinians. Hopefully this time will be different. Time will tell.
Meanwhile, below is a list of some of the comments and reports that I have read on the visit.
Dorothy
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1 BBC
March 21, 2013
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-21885613
Obama urges return to Israel-Palestinian peace talks
President Obama: “Negotiations will be necessary, but there is little secret about where they must lead. Two states for two peoples”
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2 The Guardian
March 22, 2013
Barack Obama’s Israel and West Bank visit: Israeli press reaction
Israeli journalists and commentators give their verdict on US president’s trip to Jerusalem and Ramallah
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/22/obama-in-israel-press-reaction
Harriet Sherwood, Jerusalem correspondent
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3 The Guardian
March 21, 2013
Obama shows emotional and political intelligence with Jerusalem speech
US president appeals to Israeli emotions with talk of persecution and pioneers – but critics accuse him of lacking substance
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/mar/21/obama-appeals-israeli-emotions-speech
Ian Black, Middle East editor
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4 The Independent
21 March 2013
Israel’s success ‘depends on independent Palestine,’ says Barack Obama
American President criticises Jewish settlements in occupied territories but offers few proposals
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israels-success-depends-on-independent-palestine-says-barack-obama-8544149.html#
Alistair Dawber
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5 France24 Friday, March 22, 2013
Obama reassures Israel, steps back from Middle East
The Middle East is still important to the United States, but less so than it was a decade or two ago. Meanwhile, Israel’s dependence on the US continues to grow. By HAARETZ (text) U.S. President Barack Obama said Wednesday his visit to Israel was meant to be a reassuring one. He is here to make it clear to Israelis that America stands behind them and will ensure their security, even though the neighborhood has become tougher.
What President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wanted to hear was Obama making a firm commitment to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and to cushion the shock waves that could result from Syria’s disintegration.
http://www.france24.com/en/20130321-obama-reassures-israel-middle-east-haaretz
Gallagher Fenwick reports from Jerusalem.
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6 Spiegel on line
March 19, 2013
Remote-Control Diplomacy: US Backs Away from Strong Role in Middle East
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/obama-visit-to-israel-not-a-boon-to-peace-process-say-commentators-a-890391.html
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7 President Obama speaks to Israeli university students March 21 in Jerusalem. (Uriel Sinai, Getty Images
March 22, 2013)
Obama, in speech, tells Israel its future depends on a Palestinian state
University students in Jerusalem cheer his soaring address, which could signal his intent to renew an American-led peace initiative.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/middleeast/la-fg-obama-speech-20130322,0,946212.story
By Edmund Sanders and Christi Parsons, Los Angeles Times
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8 LATimes
March 21, 2013
Obama repositions himself as broker for Mideast peace
Staking out a more active role in the process, President Obama portrays himself to Israelis as ‘a friend who is deeply concerned and committed to your future.’
By David Lauter, Los Angeles Times
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9 NYTimes
March 21, 2013
I Speak to you as a friend
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/22/opinion/i-speak-to-you-as-a-friend.html?_r=0
By THE EDITORIAL BOARD [of the NYTimes]
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10 NYTimes
March 21, 2013
Attempt to Win Hearts Is Tempered by a Challenge to Wary Israelis
By JODI RUDOREN and ISABEL KERSHNER
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11 Washington Post
March 22, 2013
In Israel, Obama pays tribute to historic figures
By Scott Wilson