Impose solution for Middle East, Abbas asks Obama.

I suppose it was inevitable that Abbas would finally say it, and now he has:

The plea, made several times in private but uttered in public for the first time, came as US envoy George Mitchell wrapped up a three-day visit to Jerusalem without any breakthrough on starting the proximity talks. "Since you, Mr President and you, the members of the American administration, believe in this [Palestinian statehood], it is your duty to call for the steps in order to reach the solution and impose the solution – impose it," Mr Abbas said in a speech to leaders of his Fatah party.

"But don't tell me it's a vital national strategic American interest ... and then not do anything," he added.

This undermines the argument made by Senator Schumer and others that the Palestinians simply don't want peace. Quite the opposite is true. The Palestinians are keen to have peace, even it is a peace which is imposed by Barack Obama.

The truth is that it is Israel, as she continues her illegal expansion into Palestinian territory, who seems to prefer the status quo. It is Israel who continues daily - and illegally - to steal Palestinian land.

Now, obviously, any solution has to be negotiated. But Abbas is playing on the reports that Obama has a solution that he is considering imposing and, by calling for it's imposition, he is making it perfectly clear that he and the Palestinians are not the obstacle to peace here.

There has been fevered speculation in the media in recent weeks that the Obama administration has drawn up its own proposal for a Middle East solution, a prospect widely derided by Israeli politicians, who insist that only negotiations can lead to a solution.

The Israeli position is not unreasonable; a negotiated solution would be the best outcome. But, Netanyahu is doing all that he can do to resist negotiations, which is why Abbas now calls for the imposition of a solution.

Abbas is trying to get Obama to force Netanyahu to the table. It's clear to anyone who the obstructionist is here.

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Tags: Abbas, Netanyahu, Obama, Israel, Palestine