Obama, As Usual, Is More Concerned About Israeli Settlements Than Palestinian Violence

Before his final meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today in New York City, President Obama was true to form concerning his priorities:


I'll also be interested in hearing from the Prime Minister his assessment of conditions within Israel and in the West Bank.  Obviously, our hearts go out to those who have been injured, both Israeli and Palestinian.  Clearly, there is great danger of not just terrorism, but also flare-ups of violence.  We do have concerns around settlement activity, as well.  And our hope is that we can continue to be an effective partner with Israel in finding a path to peace.


So Obama treats violence against Israelis and Palestinians the same. Yet it is clear that Palestinians have been wantonly entering Israel for the purpose of stabbing, shooting or using vehicles as weapons against Jews. It is equally clear that the Palestinian Authority has been encouraging and inciting this violence. Obama is simply unable and unwilling to recognize this reality in any meaningful way and has never chided the Palestinian Authority in the way he has repeatedly denounced Israel singling out Netanyahu in particular.


It is equally troubling that Obama puts Palestinian state sanctioned murder against Israelis and Israeli "settlement activity" on the same moral plane. But what can we honestly expect of a man who is angrier at apartments being built in East Jerusalem than when the Iranian Revolutionary Guard holds American sailors hostage and parades them on state TV.


Now I'm sure when Obama said he is only going to be President "another few months" it is music to Bibi's ears. But this happy tune is likely to be short-lived. Netanyahu is either going to have to deal with Hillary who proudly bragged she was the Obama Administration's "designated yeller" at Israel or with Trump who publicly questioned Israel's commitment to peace while not questioning the commitment of the Palestinians. The thing with Trump is that he might say something Monday and by Tuesday deny he ever said such a thing.


As bad as things have been between the U.S. & Israel since 2009 things are bound to get worse before they get better. Of course, if Iran gets a nuclear bomb it will probably never get better.