“Bush’s adviser Hadley said Obama had put the burden on the Palestinians to show they were ready to accept Israel and negotiate peace.

Obama reiterated what has become boilerplate for all presidents: bonds between the US and Israel are ‘unbreakable,’ America’s ‘profound commitment’ to Israel’s survival and its ‘qualitative military edge’ are ‘ironclad.’ ‘Israel’s legitimacy is not a matter for debate,’ he said.

Don’t look for any administration follow up. The past week’s performances remind me of the current TV season, which drew to a close this month – a number of cliffhangers to get you to tune in again come September. That’s when the new season is due to kick off with the Showdown at Turtle Bay, as Palestinians try to bypass negotiations with Israel and seek UN membership, something Obama has vowed to fight.”

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