Amazing what politicians will say when they are retired. No longer do they have to keep up pretense and the say the party line. They can speak frankly to their friends and key supporters, let their hair down, so to speak.
They should probably wait until they are absolutely sure they are retired, or their moments of honesty can come back to haunt them. Netanyahu is a case in point. We'll get to Bibi's moments of honesty in a moment. First, a word about the much vaunted "peace process".
The word is bullshit. It's all bullshit. Not mere lies, it's plain bullshit, taking it to a higher... or lower level.
Obama also called for "direct talks" between Israelis and Palestinians irrespective of the continued illegal settlements.
All of which begs two questions: How does a defunct and discredited diplomatic process continue to masquerade as a success despite its utter failure? And why do the US and its Western allies continue to finance and pamper it when it creates more instability and conflict than peace and progress?
The short answer is bullshit.
......
Bullshit is more than a word; it's a chronic widespread system of rhetoric and representation that mystifies the truth. It has increasingly become a way of communication not only in the private sphere but has become part and parcel of Western propaganda....
Since the so called "peace process" started two decades ago, all promises of progress, peace and prosperity, have turned into disappointment, conflict and regress.
After hundreds of meetings, tens of initiatives and seven interim agreements, the situation in the Israeli occupied territories might have "improved" in certain micro areas, but at a macro level it has notably worsened.
During that time, the peace process has bestowed the title of "peace partners" on an ever more aggressive Israeli occupier and increasingly discredited Palestinian Authority. In the process, colonisation deepened, the colonised suffered and nonsense triumphed.
Illegal Jewish settlements continue to proliferate and destabilise the West Bank and especially East Jerusalem, despite recent assurances to the contrary.
A report by the Israeli organisation B'Tselem, on the eve of Netanyahu's visit, on the proliferating Jewish settlements despite assurances to the contrary speaks volumes about Israeli deception regarding the settlement issue. - Marwan Bishara
You can bet that if Obama is successful in convincing the Palestinians into direct talks, the end result will not be any agreement, instead, what Abbas can expect is that is that he will be blamed for lack of any agreement, no matter how intransigent Israel remains. This happened with Arafat after Camp David (despite assurances by Clinton, whose honesty and integrity is of course legendary, before the talks began, that there was to be no such finger-pointing).
As Bishara points out, the "peace process" is not a way to bring peace, it is a way to placate allies and at the same time keep the support of lobbies for war and occupation. (While aipac and obama have their little differences, don't forget that much of aipac leadership has been very supportive of Obama, and for good reason)
these are the concrete (literally, broken concrete) results of the current peace process. This happen Thursday in Occupied Palestine. 9 children are now homeless after US-sponsored Israel army destroyed their home in a routine terror attack on Palestinian civilians. This will be what we will see until the US applies real pressure, not just words, on Israel to live up to international law and human rights... or even just the modest requests of the US president.
It is clear that US politicians are at this point, basically useless in advancing peace. It depends on grassroots pressure. Enough grassroots pressure and eventually politicians will follow, just as they did when they finally responded to South Africa apartheid. Peace activist and labor leaders joined together to block the unloading of cargo from Israel for 24 hours in Oakland, in protest of Israel's continual military blockade in Gaza and its denial of freedom for Palestinians. Around the world words of boycott and sanctions is getting Israeli leaders increasingly ill-at-ease... it may have the support or at least the acquiescence of politicians, it can't so easily buy off/manipulate civil society.
The only power that is strong enough to confront the US, that protects Israel diplomatically, no matter the crimes (Obama's jump to Israel's diplomatic defense in the aftermath of the massacre on the Gaza flotilla is a case in point) is civil society. The second world power. It may yet save us all.
So the recent revelations of Netanyahu boasting (when he considered himself "retired")
Especially today, with America. I know what America is. America is something that can easily be moved. Moved to the right direction.
may not be enough for Israel's pro-occupation government to keep the status quo. (he also boasted of destroying Oslo... this is a "peace partner?? , be sure and check it out, and thanks to Richard Silverstein) Those that embrace the status quo may meet their match on the streets, in the workplaces, in the Universities, in all places where people consider their interests in creating a better world.
Peace, Not Photo-Ops!