A Lebanese newspaper quotes French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner as saying that if Israel fails to stop all Jewish construction in the West Bank by the end of the year, the United States will end its support for peace talks. That would be good news if it were true. If there’s a viable peace to be had, the parties can make it without the promptings of the U.S. If there isn’t (as is now the case), the U.S. should not be pushing the parites to make peace.
But Kouchner is almost certainlyl off base. Presidents less messianic than Obama have obsessed over pursuing a Middle East settlement. This president will not walk away after six months.
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