CNN reports: "The meetings, set for the sidelines of next week's U.N. General Assembly session in New York, are 'another sign of the president's deep commitment to comprehensive peace that he wants to personally engage at this juncture,' Mitchell said in the White House statement. Obama will talk with each leader separately before all three meet together, the White House said."
Lack of Progress in Mideast Defies Obama’s Hopes - NYTimes.com
The New York Times reports: "Mr. Obama now faces the prospect of a meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, and Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, that some say will be little more than a photo opportunity, one that will only underscore how elusive an Arab-Israeli peace agreement is."
Comment: I love contrasting reports like these, one says there is no progress and talks are for show, the other makes it seems as if important developments are taking place. I suspect the reality lies somewhere in the middle of those extremes. One thing is clear, great pressure is being put on Israel to make concessions, while almost no pressure is being placed on the Palestinians to do the same. If the American policy is merely to force Israel to do it all, I don't wish them well at all. I would hope for something a bit more balanced and statesmanlike from Obama, but let's watch this coming week and see what happens.
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