There was, of course, no corresponding gift to Netanyahu — only challenges to make various accommodations.
“Obama, Abbas talk peace,” by Farah Stockman for the Boston Globe, May 28 (thanks to James):
WASHINGTON — President Obama received Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the White House today with a valuable welcoming gift: a toughly-worded, categorical US demand for Israel to stop settlements in Palestinian territories.
But hours before the two men met, the Israeli government flatly rejected the demand. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said that “normal life in those communities must be allowed to continue,” meaning that some construction will continue in existing settlements.
Obama and Abbas appeared to see eye to eye, speaking of the need for increased support from Arab governments to support the peace process by showing good faith in their promise to recognize the existence of the Jewish state if Israel strikes a peace deal with Palestinians.
But nowhere was the confluence of views so striking as in the Obama administration’s position on settlements, which the president outlined directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week at the White House.
After meeting with Abbas, Obama told reporters he stands firmly behind “core principles” toward peace, including a two-state solution, Israel “stopping settlements,” and Palestinians preventing attacks on Israel.
“I am confident we can move this process forward,” if all sides live up to prior obligations and negotiate in good faith, the president said.
And what makes him think that the Palestinians will do that when they have never done it before?