the speech

[callmeslick]

I disagree, not for anything to do with relationships with Obama. Bibi is poison for any meaningful two-state solution. If that doesn't start getting
done so, my fear is that instead of lobbing a few cheap-ass rockets into the outskirts of Israel, Hamas will eventually be supplied with far more expensive missles and start sending them all over the nation. The resulting mess will likely pull in every potential player in the region and be terrible for Israel and a nightmare for the US.

[callmeslick]

also, DH, it isn't a shock that Harretz calls for Bibi's reelection, any more than it shocked you when the NY Times backed Obama. Here are the FINAL poll results before the elections begin:
http://news.yahoo.com/netanyahu-behind- ... 47784.html
roughly, a drop of 4 seats SINCE the speech. Read into that what you will.

[Darkhorse]

I do not understand how you think Hamas would accept any type of two state deal. They were given a very generous one back in 2000 and even more generous in 2001 but rejected them both outright. Hamas does not want a two state solution, just one state for them. If Iran's power base continues to grow any two state solution will never be reached.

[callmeslick]

I do not understand how you think Hamas would accept any type of two state deal. They were given a very generous one back in 2000 and even more generous in 2001 but rejected them both outright

maybe your idea of generous and theirs differs. Both 'deals' left an untenable Palestinian state, which would have been unable to survive without Israel controlling things like water supply and transportation/migration routes. Plus, neither really made a workable version of Jerusalem a reality.

A serious attempt to create a real two state solution does not go with West Bank settlements, most especially, and this is where Likud has kept putting fuel on the fire. Hamas COULD be marginalized far better is you weren't seeing the West Bank supporters of Abbas' group getting screwed, daily. The center-left parties seem to harp on this, especially.

[callmeslick]

the truth will out.....
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/netanyahu-n ... -election/

[callmeslick]

well, DH, Netanyahu survived, after making a promise that will ensure Israel is an international pariah. Some victory, huh?

[Darkhorse]

The majority of Israelis disagree with you!

[callmeslick]

not really. Those I talked to this am are gutted and disgusted, and basically claim that Bibi manipulated the election. Not my nation, not my problem, EXCEPT that it always causes the US to spend oodles of money and risk international rebuke when we ally ourselves with a government determined to subjugate millions of people. Face it, though, Netanyahu pulled less than 30% to his side. I sometimes wonder if our system would work better with a vigorous multiparty system, as it does force coalition building, but on the downside leads to a lot of instability.