Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official told Army Radio on Wednesday that the U.S. administration is opposed to the emerging understandings between Israel and Hamas surrounding the deal. "The U.S. does not support negotiations with terror organizations," the official said. "Washington knows that any release of Palestinian prisoners to the West Bank could harm Palestinian President Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) and become a victory for Hamas," he added.I'm not certain what to make of those statements, but I thought you'd find them interesting. It's a very odd configuration of positions.
The pro-Israel lobby AIPAC also voiced concern over the possible prisoner swap but refrained from explicitly criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, senior AIPAC strategist Josh Block told Army Radio that the Israeli government must find a balance between the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and the protection of Israel's long-term interests.
Personal musings on Israel, Jewish matters, history and how they all affect each other
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Americans More Hawkish than Israelis
I haven't written about the possibly immanent Shalit deal. We wait, for the time being. Interestingly, however, according to Haaretz, AIPAC and also the American administration (that would be the Obama administration) are unhappy with what they're hearing:
I hope that this deal will not include Marwan Barghouti, but, onthe other hand,hope it goes through quickly for the sake of Gilad and his family.
ReplyDeleteThe solution should have been to continue cast lead till the IDF rounded up a dozen or so top Hamas people and offeed to exchange any one of them for Gilad.
As usual, international meddling cost Israel dearly.
Does this mean we can dispense with the trope that AIPAC is Likud's mouthpiece in Washington?
ReplyDeleteLisa
Lisa
ReplyDeletethat would never work. Too easy to shove it in the Jew haters' face.
Disgusting AIPAC.
Asaf