Never mind that Arab residents of Jerusalem are free to purchase housing anywhere in the city, and hundreds have done so. Where is the perspective of the Obama administration? Dare we ask?
ADL National Director Foxman says:
"I'm glad President Obama reached out to Jewish leaders. It is a good beginning, but there is a lot of work still to be done for full reassurance."
(http://cgis.jpost.com/Blogs/foxman/entry/after_meeting_with_obama_what)
Wake up, Mr. Foxman. Sure, it was flattering to have been invited to the White House, but regardless of where one stands vis-à-vis the settlement issue, there is a way to communicate with allies. What was once an orange light is now glowing red.
Obama refused to "meddle" in Iranian affairs; however, his clumsy involvement in a matter involving a tiny parcel of Jerusalem real estate has immeasurably strengthened Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu, who knows how and when to say "no", among the Israeli electorate.
It will be interesting to see whether Obama & Co. will now also seek to halt new construction in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jersualem, which was totally reduced to rubble - both homes and synagogues - in 1948 by the Jordanian Arab Legion. Is this also "settlement activity" that needs to be stopped as part and parcel of Obama's inflexible, preordained policy of "tough love"?
[The first two paragraphs of this post, submitted as a reader's comment in response to The New York Times' online article, "Israel Rejects U.S. Call on East Jerusalem Development", of today's date, were "rejected" by The Times' "moderators".]
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