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2016 Postmortem

Purveyor

(29,876 posts) Sun Feb 10, 2013, 06:33 PM Feb 2013

0

Obama To Israel: Why Now?

By Stephen Collinson (AFP)

WASHINGTON — He's hardly best buddies with Benjamin Netanyahu and his drive for a Palestinian state is comatose, so why did Barack Obama pick Israel to fire up his legacy-boosting second term diplomacy?

The US president sprung a surprise last week by announcing he would pick the turmoil-laced Middle East for the first trip since re-election.

The twisted personal chemistry between Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu is no secret, and was not helped by the Israeli leader rooting for Republican Mitt Romney in November's election.

After Obama's first term peace efforts were spurned by Israel, and Palestinians embarrassed him by seeking UN recognition, the chances of the president coming home with nothing to show for his trip seem high.

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http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jpJWZmh9VcTN3eyBYx5XBsfjcHfA?docId=CNG.32cfcf95e73fc9d450b1ceba2eb958ed.f1

4 replies

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Obama To Israel: Why Now? (Original Post) Purveyor Feb 2013 OP

Hopefully to win a second Nobel Peace Prize graham4anything Feb 2013 #1

No better time than the present. awake Feb 2013 #2

A waste of time davidpdx Feb 2013 #3

This is the perfect time actually. bemildred Feb 2013 #4

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)

1. Hopefully to win a second Nobel Peace Prize

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 06:37 PM

Feb 2013

awake

(3,226 posts)

2. No better time than the present.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Sun Feb 10, 2013, 06:37 PM

Feb 2013

There are now newly elected governments in both countries so why not now.

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)

3. A waste of time

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Mon Feb 11, 2013, 05:02 AM

Feb 2013

Both sides will continue to posture and do nothing. That's what happens when governments elect extremist.

bemildred

(90,061 posts)

4. This is the perfect time actually.

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Mon Feb 11, 2013, 08:42 AM

Feb 2013

You have to give Obama a lot of credit for seeing that and making time.

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