Israeli leaders hint meeting with Obama was really important

[Israel Insider]

Although Monday night's talks between Benjamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama remain shrouded in secrecy, the Israeli prime minister broadly hinted that the "importance of the visit will become clear in the future." He discounted reports of tension with the American President: "Reports about a bad atmosphere are garbage," he said. "To put it mildly, they are grossly inaccurate and don't reflect the truth." On the contrary, Netanyahu insisted, the atmosphere "was very open and very warm."

"The discussions dealt with the complex of issues vital for Israel's security and our joint efforts to advance the peace process. We discussed these issues in detail, in a practical way and out of friendship. I really appreciated the professional and positive approach I discovered," he said.

Referring to other meetings he held on his trip, Netanyahu added that "There was a great understanding among Jewish leaders and in the Senate that we want to advance peace and that we are taking practical measures to do so, while we have real security needs that the US is prepared to help with." Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak also emphasized the great importance of the US meetings before flying back to Israel on Tuesday night. "The visit of myself and Prime Minister Netanyahu to Washington and the White House was very important," he said. "We're leaving no stone unturned in our quest to resume peace negotiations."

Barak said that during the visit, the "contribution of US President Obama's leadership" to the Middle East peace process, as well as to Israel's security, "once again became clear." The defense minister stressed that Obama was attentive to Israel's security needs.

[James C. Wherry]

Rohm Emanuel's comments at the Jewish Communities conference were fine, and I have to admit that Ft. Hood takees precedence in the President's schedule. That said, however, it only emphasized the need by President Obama to elevate his meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu by offering to meet with him in the daytime. Unity in the face of terror is our greatest asset. Worse yet, though, President Obama's staff continues to be quoted as suggesting that they are adopting a "woodshed" approach to PM Netanyahu - keeping him at a distance is deliberate. Again, I think that's a bad strategy to promote peace.

[Robert Bernier]

The meaning of the Two States Solution.
The instability will not simply remain within Israel's borders. Hamas is a wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, which seeks to overthrow Egypt's government and replace it with an Islamic state. Palestinian Arab terrorism has long been a destabilizing factor in Jordan and Lebanon's politics. What they lacked before was a secure national base of operations. Something that the "Two State Solution" will finally provide them with. if the Two State Solution will not end terrorism or bring stability to the Middle East, what exactly will it solve? More at : http://xrl.us/bfjq7k