Friedmanisms

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Israel and Palestinians agree to direct peace talks (Reuters)

Report: PA to quit direct peace talks if settlement construction continues (Haaretz)

DF:

Looks like another stereotype just went up in smoke – the one about the shrewd Jew.

The PM of Israel has allowed himself to be tied down by “direct talks” that – assuming he had the balls to begin with – make it even more unlikely he’ll attack Iran while Obama’s show is in progress. I mean, Netanyahu wouldn’t upset BHO (or the international community) by leaving the table to bomb Iran, cut a ribbon in Judea, or respond aggressively to flotillas, Hamas, or Hezbollah when the peace train is cruising smoothly down the peace track, now would he?

This, mind you, while President Hussein is hissing in your ear, “Bibi, let’s just get this deal done and we’ll take out Iran together.”

If anything’s going to goose your already-strong inclination to give away the store to the Arabs, expel about 100,000 “settlers,” and accept the Peace Prize, that’s it isn’t it? Even taking for granted, as many people do, that in a year or 18 months these talks will produce nothing but frequent flyer miles, that’s another year or 18 months Iran will have had to warm up their nuclear program.

Talk about a freeze. This is the mother of all freezes. Netanyahu has frozen Israel in place while the rest of the world’s events are moving fast against him.

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U.S. Assures Israel That Iran Threat Is Not Imminent

WASHINGTON (NYT) — The Obama administration, citing evidence of continued troubles inside Iran’s nuclear program, has persuaded Israel that it would take roughly a year — and perhaps longer — for Iran to complete what one senior official called a “dash” for a nuclear weapon, according to American officials.

DF

[Simultaneous translation: “See Bibi, what’s the rush? Don’t listen to that right-wing outlier on the Web; that lone Jewish ranter who upbraids Obama – and you. Trust me. Just hop aboard the peace train, pal, and I’ll take you for a ride to a nice camp in the woods.” df]

Dan Friedman
NYC