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[alway]

Wow, I think Netanyahu wins BS of the year award with this one:

Netanyahu says he's open to 'painful compromises' for peace.

followed by:

repeated his flat rejection of a return to what he called the "indefensible" borders that existed before the 1967 Mideast war. He also restated Israel's refusal to entertain the return of millions of Palestinian refugees and their families to land in Israel. And, he maintained that Jerusalem, claimed by both sides as their capital, could not be divided.

urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to rip up a power-sharing agreement that his moderate Fatah faction has signed with the militant group Hamas — which does not recognize Israel's right to exist — and shelve efforts to win U.N. statehood status unilaterally.

it would have to be demilitarized and accept a long-term Israeli military presence in the Jordan Valley, Netanyahu said.

[RedKing]

He didn't say who the compromises would be painful for.

[Africa]

First problem - his idea of a painful compromise is the stuff that the entire world has been telling Israel it has to do for like 40 years. Second problem - he's a liar. If he ever had any intention of moving toward peace, he would at the very least freeze the settlements for his country's own good.

Still interesting to watch how this plays out though. Things are going to get more and more insane as September approaches.

[PTTG??]

People don't understand. Israel needs more living space.

[Sheb]

RedKing, you got me laughoing hard, and the whole room is now looking at me.

More seriously, I'm not surprised. At all. His ideas of negociations is "Mine is mine and yours is open to negociation". I really wonder how it'll turn out as Israel get more and more isolated, more and more ridiculous, more and more murderous (Come on, they shot 14 relatively peaceful protesters two weeks ago. Didn't they learn about tazer and rubber bullet after the Peace Flotilla incident?). Either they'll decide to forcefuly invade Jordan, deport all the Palestinian there while threatening to nuke anyone disagreeing, or they'll collapse and disappear.*

*I didn't include "negociate a lasting peace", because no one believe that one is going to happen.

[Zangi]

People don't understand. Israel needs more living space.

How can that be?  They've already 'encouraged' hundreds of thousands of people to move out...

[Leafsnail]

Spoiler: Explaining the joke (click to show/hide)

I believe it's a joke based on Nazi Germany's excuse for invading Eastern European countries.

[Aqizzar]

I have to say, I was rather disturbed by the way Netanyahu was treated in Congress today.  Specifically, that he could hardly get through two sentences at a time without uproarious applause, largely from one side of the room.

I know the topic of parties is asking for trouble again, but this one is actually relevant.  Can you imagine what the outcry would be if a Democratic Congress was siding with the word and intent of a foreign leader over a Republican President?  It's a given rule in politics not to criticize the home leader when traveling abroad.  What about when meeting with foreign leaders on home soil?

[PTTG??]

I say we hang them all for treason and be done with it.

[RedKing]

I have to say, I was rather disturbed by the way Netanyahu was treated in Congress today.  Specifically, that he could hardly get through two sentences at a time without uproarious applause, largely from one side of the room.

I know the topic of parties is asking for trouble again, but this one is actually relevant.  Can you imagine what the outcry would be if a Democratic Congress was siding with the word and intent of a foreign leader over a Republican President?  It's a given rule in politics not to criticize the home leader when traveling abroad.  What about when meeting with foreign leaders on home soil?

The GOP would likely rather have Netanyahu as President. After all, he's white (sorta), has a Philly accent, and he was born in Israel, which is close enough to American for them. Not like those spear-chucking Hawaiians.

(And before Gorjo, Nikov, et al get their righteous indignation gland all juiced up, yes I'm being deliberately provocative and snarky.)

[Africa]

I have to say, I was rather disturbed by the way Netanyahu was treated in Congress today.  Specifically, that he could hardly get through two sentences at a time without uproarious applause, largely from one side of the room.

I know the topic of parties is asking for trouble again, but this one is actually relevant.  Can you imagine what the outcry would be if a Democratic Congress was siding with the word and intent of a foreign leader over a Republican President?  It's a given rule in politics not to criticize the home leader when traveling abroad.  What about when meeting with foreign leaders on home soil?

I can imagine the outcry. But I'm not at all surprised. See comments about spear-chucking Kenyans or whatever else Obama allegedly is, and the past several decades of outspoken support of Israel being seen as essential to getting elected.

[Sheb]

I'm still surprised by the support Bibi's getting. Do your Congressmen live in the same world as I do?

[warhammer651]

I'm still surprised by the support Bibi's getting. Do your Congressmen live in the same world as I do?

no. they are residents of "Everything is proceeding according to the plan I decided on in 4th grade" verse

[Sheb]

Yeah, but the one-sidedness of it... It really speak for the power of AIPAC. Honestly, we European should fund lobbyist in Washington on behalf of the Palestinian rather than sending them aid.

[alway]

Yeah, but the one-sidedness of it... It really speak for the power of AIPAC. Honestly, we European should fund lobbyist in Washington on behalf of the Palestinian rather than sending them aid.

Feel free. As of the citizens united decision, you can buy as many members of congress as you can afford.

Although in all seriousness, as much effect as their lobbying has (it's well into the top 10 of the most effective per dollar spent among large lobbying groups iirc), one can't deny religion plays a part as large, perhaps larger, than the lobbying itself. The large fundie/evangelical movement in the US is pretty strongly indoctrinated that muslims = satanspawn, jews are generally about as good as themselves, and that the triumph of Israel over the boogeymen is part of their popularized end-of-the-world scenario.