Netanyahu likes ‘the idea’ of peace in Palestine

”I am declaring today that I am willing to resume negotiations, in good faith and without preconditions, with the leaders of Syria and Lebanon, and – of course – with the Palestinian Authority and with any Palestinian leader who is willing to accept the two-state vision. … I have instructed my government to stop all settlement construction in Judea and Samaria – and in East Jerusalem – as long as negotiations are ongoing. “

Thus spake Binyamin Netanyahu during today’s landmark, record-breaking speech in Tel Aviv?????

Slap! Wake up…… Although this is exactly what the Israeli Prime Minister should be saying during today’s speech at Bar Ilan University, what you’ve just read actually comes from a what-I-hope-he-will-say version posted today by Ori Nir of Americans for Peace Now, the increasingly influential U.S. branch of the Israeli group working towards a two-state solution.

What Netanyahu actually said a few minutes ago, as reported in the Jerusalem Post, is:

I support the idea of regional peace that is being led by Obama.

Another excerpt, from Reuters:

“They must decide between the way of peace and the way of Hamas,” Netanyahu said.

“The Palestinian Authority must impose law and order … and overcome Hamas. Israel will not negotiate with terrorists trying to destroy it.”

He also he would support the resumption of talks immediately without preconditions, so long as these talks are in reference to a demilitarized Palestinian state. Isn’t that a precondition?

Thus far, no news organization has reported that Netanyahu said anything about the two-state solution his greatest ally, the United States, has been in favor of for as long as Netanyahu can remember.

Coverage of Netanyahu’s speech today (or if you still prefer to get your news from dead trees, tomorrow) will no doubt continue to focus on what he should have said versus what he did say. Policy wonks and pundits on all sides of the issue will parse his every word, and the translations thereof.

Keep in mind that this is a man with feet in quicksand:

As Phillip Weiss reports today, a poll conducted by the U.S.-based Israel Project is showing a huge drop in support for Israel in the U.S. – from 71% to 44%, with the largest decrease among women and members of the Democratic party.

In Israel, support for the two-state solution Netanyahu finds so hard to swallow soared to 63% following President Obama’s speech in Cairo on June 4, according to a poll by Hebrew University of Jersualem.

Another new poll shows that only 21% of Israelis believe Iran would attack their nation with a nuclear weapon, intent on destroying it.

The other issue Netanyahu doesn’t want to discuss is sadly, settlements. Every U.S. Presidential administration has considered settlements illegal under international law. Every one. Just to remind yourself that we are talking here not about small temporary shanty towns, but about giant guarded, gated new towns of 45,000 people dotted on the wrong side of the green line, check out what settlements look like from a recent episode of the Riz Khan program on Aljazeera.