1. Further to earlier postings, there is quickly mounting concern about President Obama's pursuit of peace in the Middle East. The President has called for a complete cessation of further construction in West Bank settlements. Even a number of Jewish Congressmen have joined in this refrain.
As you would imagine, PA President Abbas and the Arab League jumped on this position in an instant.
So what I am getting from this is that Israeli settlements are the obstacle to peace negotiations with the Palestinians. Presumably this cannot be an issue with Hamas in their terrorist fiefdom in Gaza, as Gaza is completely free of any Jews - in settlements or otherwise - except perhaps for Gilad Schalit.
Predictably and understandably, Prime Minister Netanyahu is dismayed. I think that a fair contrary position to take is to pose the following questions - Will the President tell the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, give up any hope of millions of Palestinians settling in Israel rather than the Palestinian state, and stop teaching their children that there is no Jewish claim to the city of Jerusalem and inciting against Jews? I rather doubt it.
I agree that making peace is a two-way street, but let's have some basic fairness and quid pro quo. The Palestinians should be required to make some serious and measurable steps of their own. This aggressive approach by the new Administration worries the living daylights of out of me - and these guys aren't even close to acquiring nuclear weapons.
More on this issue in later blog postings.
2. Which brings me to Iran. What will the President do there? Here's one perspective:
As usual, Victor Davis Hanson weighs in with a well-written position. In the meantime, Iran's crazy cousins in North Korea are acting up, and need to be sent to their room without their supper - and soon!
3. Then there are the pending elections in Lebanon, which has gone under almost everyone's radar screen. Make no mistake about what Hezbollah thinks about this electoral process.
4. This is the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests - democracy is still a distant dream in China.
5. Two UN-related stories. First, the National Post comments on the double standard that is the UNHRC. Second, it is time for a new head of UNESCO - and apparently the leading candidate has recently expressed the sentiment that he would "burn Israeli books in Egyptian libraries." Sounds like the perfect choice!
6. So, in closing, time for a "pick me up". To answer the next deep philosophical question...
...check out this and this.
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