Due to immense criticism from Israel and her supporters for his demand to re-institute the 1967 borders of Israel and a Palestinian state, President Obama attempted to “clarify” his position, but in doing so, he engaged in confusing double-talk. He reiterated his position “that any two-state solution must be based on the 1967 lines,” while adding that the two sides “will renegotiate” the borders. In a subsequent speech addressing a joint session of the U.S. Congress, while President Obama was visiting Ireland, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu “repeated his insistence that Israel would not accept a return to ‘indefensible’ borders that existed before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war… He also vowed that Israel would not negotiate with a Palestinian government that includes the Islamist militant group Hamas” (The Associated Press, May 24, 2011). However, on May 25, 2011, Netanyahu likewise engaged in double-talk during an interview with CNN, praising President Obama for his unwavering commitment towards Israel. One wonders in what kind of a political and “diplomatic” world we are living…? But Messrs. Obama’s and Netanyahu’s “back pedaling” could not prevent sharp criticism from Israel, conservative America, Europe and the Palestinians.
In an interesting development, Pakistan is asking China for military assistance, showing their growing distrust of American accomplishments. And while America’s debt is of staggering and incomprehensible proportions, and while it has been announced that the EU is already richer than the USA, deadly tornadoes ravage the “New World,” but another volcanic outbreak in Iceland brings back unpleasant memories of last year’s eruption, leading to a shutdown of European air travel.
On the political front, we are observing remarkable local, regional and state elections in Germany and Spain, strongly indicating the coming of a drastic change in the political landscape of these countries and Europe as a whole. At the same time, we note that the EU becomes more assertive toward its own member states, and in foreign lands, such as Libya.
We conclude with ridiculous predictions regarding the end of the world.
