Netanyahu "stunned" by Congress and Obama attitude towards settlements.

[fergalr]

Key U.S. Jews wary of Netanyahu's unbending policy on settlements - Haaretz - Israel News

For the first time in America's decades of jousting with Israel over West Bank settlements, an American president seems to have succeeded in isolating the settlements issue and disconnecting it from other elements of support for Israel.

It is a disentanglement now seen most clearly in Congress, which in the past served as Israel's stronghold against administration pressure on the issue. But when Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu came to Capitol Hill for a May 18 meeting after being pressed by President Obama to freeze the expansion of West Bank settlements, he was "stunned," Netanyahu aides said, to hear what seemed like a well-coordinated attack against his stand on settlements. The criticism came from congressional leaders, key lawmakers dealing with foreign relations and even from a group of Jewish members.

[borntorum]

Good stuff. For too long Israelis have been able to shelter under American power and self-indulgently vote for right-wing leaders like Bibi who tell them what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. A dose of realism from the Yanks will help all parties in the long run, Palestinian and Israeli alike

[FutureTaoiseach]

I remember Netanyahu's intransigence and double-dealing when last PM e.g. negotiating and breaking the Wye Agreement. This is a start, but Obama will have to use America's economic and military leverage over Israel to force them to heel.

[turdsl]

The killing of so many people including over 400 children could not be tolerated in any sort of world,There will be alot of lobbying by powerful Israel interests, but this time.
they meet someone who may be a more honest broker

[yanshuf]

over 400 children could not be tolerated in any sort of world

Rubbish!

There were more than 5 times dead in Sri-Lanka, who cares?

As for Obama - neither he nor Netanyahu would get settlers off Judea and Samaria, even in the price of a civil war.

But I don't think there would be any need for Obama's intervention in the near future, as Iran is going to have nuclear warheads soon.

[Catalpa]

Rubbish!

There were more than 5 times dead in Sri-Lanka, who cares?

As for Obama - neither he nor Netanyahu would get settlers off Judea and Samaria, even in the price of a civil war.

But I don't think there would be any need for Obama's intervention in the near future, as Iran is going to have nuclear warheads soon.

Yeah well I can't see the IDF standing idly by on that one!

Obama may put some pressure on Israel all right but he is hardly going to leave them in the lurch if things go critical either.

Good Cop/Bad Cop routine here from Uncle Sam on ME affairs IMO.

Its just the Arabs have never seen any good US cops on the beat ...

[yanshuf]

Its just the Arabs have never seen any good US cops on the beat ...

I hope you're kidding!

The US and Saudi Arabia have special relations - harmed right now by the Obama reluctance to do something about the big Shiite rising power in the East.

BTW Egypt is not the least anxious.

[fergalr]

America's friends in the region: Israel, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE... most of the Muslim world! And then there's Morocco over the other side of Aran North Africa and - for the moment - Pakistan and Iraq.

[louis bernard]

Rubbish!

There were more than 5 times dead in Sri-Lanka, who cares?

As for Obama - neither he nor Netanyahu would get settlers off Judea and Samaria, even in the price of a civil war.

But I don't think there would be any need for Obama's intervention in the near future, as Iran is going to have nuclear warheads soon.

Very typical of you people, we have a US president who is not going to let the tail wag the dog and what do you do? Start talking about the great bogy man Iran! The Israelis DELIBERATLEY targeted and murdered children in their last jaunt into Gaza. This horrible action disgusted all right thinking people. of course there are very few right thinking people in Israel, but they will learn when pressure is applied from the White House.

[turdsl]

Every decent American Knows what the IDF did was a dishonour to the human race.
Every person who has visited Gaza could not believe that one race of people could bring down such destruction on another race, It will take time but it will bring great dishonour on the state of Israel