Obama Confronts Palestinian Bid for Statehood at U.N.: ‘Peace Is Hard’
EmailIn a last-ditch attempt to prevent a showdown with the Palestinian territorities over their bid for statehood at the United Nations later this week, President Obama argued his case for a two-state Middle East solution before the General Assembly today, saying that “peace depends upon compromise among peoples who must live together long after our speeches are over, and our votes have been counted.”
“Peace is hard,” an impassioned Obama said repeatedly in his annual address before the U.N. General Assembly. “I am convinced that there is no shortcut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades. Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the U.N. — if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians – not us — who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and security; on refugees and Jerusalem,” he said.
While the U.S. and its allies had been scrambling to convince Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to abandon his bid for recognition in the U.N. Security Council Friday, they have now pivoted to mitigating its effect and establishing a path back toward negotiations with Israel.
Obama is scheduled to meet one-on-one with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later this morning. In a last- minute addition to the schedule, Obama will also meet with Abbas Wednesday evening.
While Obama and Netanyahu have had a strained relationship in the past, Obama made it clear today that “America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakable, and our friendship with Israel is deep and enduring.”
But Obama was also adamant that “we seek a future where Palestinians live in a sovereign state of their own, with no limit to what they can achieve. There is no question that the Palestinians have seen that vision delayed for too long.”
Faced with a flailing economy, low approval ratings and a Congress unwilling to compromise, Obama now finds himself adding the Middle East to his already full political plate.
Republicans vying for the president’s job have pounced on the issue as an opportunity to condemn Obama’s foreign policies. Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney said Tuesday that the Palestinian push for statehood represented “the culmination of President Obama’s repeated efforts over three years to throw Israel under the bus and undermine its negotiating position.”
Romney also suggested that “if the Palestinian Authority succeeds in gaining any type of U.N. recognition, the United States will cut foreign assistance to the Palestinians, as well as re-evaluate its funding of U.N. programs and its relationship with any nation voting in favor of recognition.”
Texas Gov. Rick Perry also assailed the president, blaming his “naive and arrogant, misguided and dangerous” strategy for the Palestinians push for statehood.
“The Obama policy of moral equivalency, which gives equal standing to the grievances of Israelis and Palestinians, including the orchestrators of terrorism, is a very dangerous insult,” Perry said.
Last year in his General Assembly address, Obama called for an independent Palestine and said he hoped that this year there would be a new member Palestinian state alongside Israel at the U.N.
“We can waste more time by carrying forward an argument that will not help a single Israeli or Palestinian child achieve a better life. We can do that … or we can say that this time will be different,” Obama said in September 2010. “This time we should reach for what’s best within ourselves. If we do, when we come back here next year, we can have an agreement that will lead to a new member of the United Nations – an independent, sovereign state of Palestine, living in peace with Israel.”
So what went wrong? “One year later, despite extensive efforts by America and others, the parties have not bridged their differences,” Obama explained today. “Israelis must know that any agreement provides assurances for their security. Palestinians deserve to know the territorial basis of their state. I know that many are frustrated by the lack of progress. So am I. But the question isn’t the goal we seek – the question is how to reach it.”
The Middle East was only one of several foreign policy issues that the president took on today. Obama also praised the many democratic movements going on around the world, from Libya and Egypt to Tunisia and South Sudan.
“This year has been a time of transformation. More nations have stepped forward to maintain international peace and security. And more individuals are claiming their universal right to live in freedom and dignity,” he said.
The president lauded the progress in Libya and the determination of the rebel fighters to attain freedom. With U.S. support, the Transitional National Council was recently seated as a representative of the Libya government at the U.N.
“One year ago, the people of Libya were ruled by the world’s longest serving dictator. But faced with bullets and bombs and a dictator who threatened to hunt them down like rats, they showed relentless bravery. We will never forget the words of the Libyan who stood up in those early days of revolution and said, ‘Our words are free now. It’s a feeling you can’t explain,’” Obama said.
Best Commencement Speeches of 2012 
Joe Biden Recalls Death of Wife, Daughter
“Peace is hard”
Never listening to Barry give another speech is easy. And its own reward.
Posted by: foggy | September 21, 2011, 10:44 am 10:44 am
“Moreover, we are poised to end these wars from a position of strength.” -Obama
The fighting in Afghanistan is seasonal -always has been. So if Obama bugs out before spring 2012 it’ll look like he left the situation in good hands, when in reality the situation is always relatively calm before the spring offensives. If the Taliban don’t have to face the likes of the American 173rd Airborne, they’ll be able to recruit tons of fighters who will pour across the Pakistani border and clean Karzai’s clock.
Posted by: Larry | September 21, 2011, 11:00 am 11:00 am
FIRED!.
Posted by: specmach | September 21, 2011, 11:15 am 11:15 am
Without compromise there is no solution. Just ask our Congress.
Posted by: CESF | September 21, 2011, 11:28 am 11:28 am
He meant his job is hard. : (
Posted by: Kathy M. | September 21, 2011, 11:38 am 11:38 am
Kathy, you might be right, maybe he should get a job he can do.This one is not working out well.
Posted by: specmach | September 21, 2011, 11:42 am 11:42 am
As long as he is in office, yapping and not doing, we will NEVER have peace. This nation is going nowhere mighty fast.
Posted by: dashdot | September 21, 2011, 11:44 am 11:44 am
As you guys mock this guy on foreign policy his reputation is a mile above Bush. AS he does about the same policy I might add. So yapping about nothing.
Posted by: ATTITUDE | September 21, 2011, 11:50 am 11:50 am
Time to give these Israel-firsters the boot. It might come as a shock, but Israel is not the 51st state. Even though she’s treated better than any US state by the Feds. How are my tax dollars being responsibly spent in that region? How do I as an American citizen and taxpayer benefit from Israel as an ally? What does Israel do for the US besides drag the US into their feuds with their neighbors? Or attack American warships? Or incite hatred toward Americans from the Muslim world? Stop giving foreign aid to Israel and all nations… If people like Steven Spielberg want to support Israel, they can write their own checks. Ron Paul is the only *sane* one in the room.
Posted by: parker | September 21, 2011, 11:51 am 11:51 am
I believe that Obama is a strong supporter of Israel and understands the basic Israeli need for real security and a real peace. However, just as he did not realize the ruthless, hardheadedness of the righht wing GOP, he has failed to understand the ruthlessness of Hamas and the Palestinians. Both the GOP and the Palestinians are taking advantage of his naivete, lack of experience and backbone. The Palestinians can say that Obama promised them statehood this year. Again, he raised high expectations on difficult intransigent matters. He’s boxed himself in again. Obama just wasn’t ready to be president. Jackie said that JFK described himself as “an idealist without illusions”. Obama is an idealist with many untested illusions.
Posted by: hopesprings52 | September 21, 2011, 11:53 am 11:53 am
@Seriously – “Geez if it was up to you Hitler…” Please. Grow up. Does your mom know you’re using the ‘puter?
“Of course you are such a moron you don’t realize that these terrorists will not stop when they kill the Jews.” And the US is going to stop them? And why is that my fight? Israel has been an ill-begotten nation since 1948… Way past time it stood on its own. And if 300 nuclear weapons we’ve given to them doesn’t make them secure, what will?
“We have allies for a reason…” Yes. So that politicians have places to junket to, so that the Industrial-Military Complex has customers, and so that we can forever be entangled in the messes that our ‘allies’ create for themselves. What’s your point?
Posted by: parker | September 21, 2011, 12:05 pm 12:05 pm
This is when Obama is at his best. He is the best oratory president we have had in decades. Which is helpful is so many ways. I am, still, voting for Romney if he runs and gets the nomination, but times like this, Obama is very endearing. He is sincere, he is respected, and liked, very much liked, by the world, which is tempting to have a president who is so well liked and someone we can be proud of when we hear him give a speech, probably the best speach/tongue lashing, I have ever heard anyeone give the Palestinians/Israeli’s …..ever. The “hey, buck up, the Irish did it… you do not deserve this, you haven’t worked meaningfully for this..” is the exact message that needed to be said, and he said it perfectly, strongly, reasonably. Mitt, I hope you have your game on. This is a tough act, on the world stage, to follow. And the rest of the republican party does not hold a candle to this.
Posted by: WellLetsBHonestHere | September 21, 2011, 12:12 pm 12:12 pm
he has failed to understand the ruthlessness of Hamas and the Palestinians.—no, i think he gets it clearly. But what Israel fails to understand is the basic human instinct for self preservation and self interest. If you dangle the carrot, and say “your life, your future is SOOOO much brighters, and you engage the Palestinian PEOPLE to demand more, especially since the Arab spring, they are beginning to feel left behind. This move, to do something legally, was actually a very logical step for Abbas to take. If they get turned down, legally, while Lybia is welcomed, while Egypt and their government is welcomed, it is a big wake up call that they must abandon their backwards Launch-rockets-into-Israel ways. It’s barbaric. It’s …stupid. For lack of a better word, it’s just dumb and they look stupid. In comparison to the Arab spring, they look like mentally challenged arab step children to the more sophisticated Arab rebellions held over the past year so focused on giving their people an actual future. This is a good time to tell them this message, we DO want you to have a future, but you need to act like grown ups. Do that, and you’ll have it.
Posted by: WellLetsBHonestHere | September 21, 2011, 12:17 pm 12:17 pm
Shame on Perry for going to NYC yesterday to disrespect the President on foreign policy when the UN is in session. I get campaign season gets ugly, but that takes things to a level I can’t support.
Posted by: ATTITUDE | September 21, 2011, 12:23 pm 12:23 pm
What a biased speech aimed purely at scoring points with the US domestic audience. He goes on about how Palestine needs to acknowledge Israel’s right to security but fails to even mention the fact the Israeli government continues to encourage the expansion of Jewish settlements into Palestinian land. How can there ever realistically be peace if this is allowed to continue????
Posted by: snason01 | September 21, 2011, 12:25 pm 12:25 pm
President Obama is surprised that Palestinian and Israel didn’t work out their differences after he did all of the “hard work” by bringing them together and threatening them. He seems to think that his approach will be more successful that all of the people (before him) that tried to facilitate peace with limited success. The President arrogantly ignores was done previously thinking that he knows best.
Posted by: Common _ Sense | September 21, 2011, 12:28 pm 12:28 pm
Peace is hard because people refuse to compromis. Our politicians can’t even agree on how to run this country, so how can Obama expect peace from two peoples who have been at odds for how long now? I don’t think we will ever see peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. It’s a moot point and I’m tired of hearing about it, frankly.
Posted by: carole | September 21, 2011, 12:43 pm 12:43 pm
The President is quoting Rush Limaugh check it out on Google.
Do you think Obama has any clue he is repeating what Limbaugh has said in the past. Peace is Hard!
Posted by: deadwrestler | September 21, 2011, 12:45 pm 12:45 pm
Shame on Perry for going to NYC yesterday to disrespect the President on foreign policy when the UN is in session——-I agree. I would never, ever, vote for Perry. He is unelectable. I will vote for ROmney if he gets the nomination, but I dont think Romney will do as well as these things as Obama does, and I have zero tolerance for any candidate embarressing the US by doing as Perry does. ONe thing we do NOT need is more dumb brain dead cowboys on the national stage embarressing us and complicating world affairs. Perry doesn’t have a shot in %*&^*&^ of winning a general election.
Posted by: WellLetsBHonestHere | September 21, 2011, 12:53 pm 12:53 pm
At least he was boring foreigners and not us and not appologizing for the US.
Posted by: Joseph C. Merrick | September 21, 2011, 1:12 pm 1:12 pm
Thanks for starting the beginning to WWIII Obama. You totally set the stage when you encouraged a Palestinian state back to Israel’s 1967 border. And now, at the last minute, when arabs are waiting in the streets for the UN to make the announcement, you pretend to be on the side of Israel because American Jews are realizing that you are anti Israel. Too late.
Posted by: Chino | September 21, 2011, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
Peace is hard for Israel which has to make concessions, and peace is hard for Obama who is pulled by the nose from the Washington Israeli lobby. But the Palestinian bid for U.N. status is not about peace. It is about exposing how isolated is Israel in the international community, as well as its “Lawlessness in the Middle East,” according to Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In short, the Palestinian bid will expose “who is right,” and “who is wrong” to the world on the Palestinian question.
This is the reason the U.S. has scrabbled to scuttle the Palestinian bid with threats of cutting U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority, and with pushing U.S. allies to vote against the bid. Obama is actually acting like a hired gun of the Israeli Political Action Committee (IPAC), aka the Israeli lobby in Washington, while Israel is terrified that when Netanyahu takes the podium at the U.N. General Assembly to deliver his speech, hundreds of ambassadors from hundreds of countries will walk out -as it always happens, and Netanyahu will speak to an almost empty chamber and chairs. And that will surely be carried out live by Al Jazeera and other Arabic TV networks, and it will expose how disgusted the international community is with the U.S. and Israeli intransigence to deny the Palestinians the right to their land!
Unfortunately for the Palestinians, Abbas might cave in to the U.S. pressure as he has done in the past, and the chance to expose the international isolation of the U.S. and Israel will be lost. That is why Hamas is not part of the Palestinian bid at the U.N. Hamas knows that Abbas always caved in to the U.S. pressure, and it suspect he will cave in again. Therefore, it didn’t take the chance to join Abbas’s game because it suspects that might end up in another last minute capitulation fiasco!
If Abbas cave in to save the $ 600 million U.S. aid, he will just prove that the Palestinian Authority (PA) is nothing more than the corrupt body of politicians as it was exposed many times in the media. And that was why the Palestinians trashed the PA and elected Hamas with a landslide in the last elections. Many Palestinians see the PA as worthless! And the U.N. bid outcome will prove what they are! The world is watching! Nikos Retsos, retired professor
Posted by: Nikos Retsos | September 21, 2011, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Peace is hard with politics. peace can be achieved without politics.
Posted by: Owen | September 21, 2011, 1:22 pm 1:22 pm
Thanks for starting the beginning to WWIII Obama. You totally set the stage when you encouraged a Palestinian state back to Israel’s 1967 border. And now, at the last minute, when arabs are waiting in the streets for the UN to make the announcement, you pretend to be on the side of Israel because American Jews are realizing that you are anti Israel. Too late.
Posted by: Chino | September 21, 2011, 1:14 pm 1:14 pm
********************************************************************************************************************
What he said that day was the same thing Bush promoted.
Posted by: ATTITUDE | September 21, 2011, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm
Is is embarrassing every time Obama tries to talk foreign policy.
Posted by: billy bob | September 21, 2011, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Obama get a job he is qualified for? Like what…a burger flipper at McDonald’s?
Posted by: You know it is true | September 21, 2011, 1:27 pm 1:27 pm
Is it Billy Bob? For you perhaps. I’ve read articles, FROM ISRAEL, where they love him and totally agree with what he’s trying to do. Things are not always what they seem to anybody not looking behind the scenes. The only people fussing about any of this are republicans that fuss about everything. The man is Bush II in this area yet you guys still whine.
Posted by: ATTITUDE | September 21, 2011, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
Israel has no intention for peace infact the more status quo they have in Middle East the better it is for Israel. In that case, they can beg for more money and influence from the despicable non American Congress, who only supports the rich and big corporations.
Posted by: Chou | September 21, 2011, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
And wasnt it a UN resolution that created the current settler state of israel to begin with. Why didn’t anyone veto them.
King David Hotel Bombing, Dier Yassin Massacre, etc… who are the real terrorists.
Posted by: Justice | September 21, 2011, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
After three years of his Presidency, President Obama has finally figured out regardless of what he does on the international stage or here at home, the Limbaugh Lemmings are going to parrot conservative media hate just for the sake of hating. It’s what they do, it’s what they’ve been told to do and it’s really; all they know how to do.
Posted by: dan | September 21, 2011, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
In 1989 there was an attempt at granting the Palastinians statehood status. The Bush administration stopped it in its tracks. Secretary of State James Baker warned publicly: “I will recommend to the President that the United States make NO FURTHER CONTRIBUTIONS, voluntary or assessed, to any international organization which makes any changes in the PLO’s status as an observer organization.”
Posted by: free_2_choose | September 21, 2011, 2:48 pm 2:48 pm
So, Obama has elevated the terrorist Hamas run Palistine to the level of Israel. I’m surprised he didn’t condemn Israel outright and call for it’s destruction. It seems every time the Palestinians attack Israel with rockets, IEDs, and suicide bombers and Israel fights back, Obama is quick to condemn Israel and he’s usually on Hamas’ side damning Israel in less than 24 hours. The far left don’t like Israel either and support the Palestinians as well. One thing radical the Social Justice Marxists insurgents here in the US have with the Radical Islamic insurgents in the middle east is that they HATE corporations, free markets, capitalism, Israel, and believe that the US was too powerful and deserved to be taken down as Obama as accomplished so far. I don’t think I like having either set of insurgents in my government.
Posted by: TexBork | September 21, 2011, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Too boring to listen.
Non of American business and let Palestinians decide what they want.
The negotiating with Israel will take another decades and that time whole Palestinian land will be becoming Jewish new settlement land.
Posted by: Cliff | September 21, 2011, 3:02 pm 3:02 pm
Of course peace is hard. Was he really so naive to think it was going to be easy? Yes, he probably was.
Posted by: jacksmith0110 | September 21, 2011, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
We as Americans need to start doing what is in our best interests. We need to start asking people here “are you American or are you Israeli”? We cannot continue to support Israel no matter what. We are alies but that dosn’t mean that they are always right. You can’t keep an entire population in camps forever and we, who espouse human rights, look completly hypocritical by preaching freedom for everyone except for the Palestinian people. Sometimes your friend is wrong and we need to be the big person and stand up and say that to the world.
Posted by: Tiimm71 | September 21, 2011, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
We all know it about politics; nothing more than sympathy and antipathy between human beings, and in many ways words could be the issues only. Word’s are; of course the most powerful drug used by Mankind. This way if you always do what you’ve always done. You always be what you’ve always been. Two wrong ‘ones cannot make one right; and some ‘one must be wrong because of such compromise should be on the table, and correct the issues into the right manner. The world cannot go the same way indefinitely; must be security for both ways, not only in one side. Somebody must stop human suffering; and stop taking sides either too.
Posted by: Antonio Oscar | September 21, 2011, 6:06 pm 6:06 pm
Obama is wrong to use Veto in UN Security Council.
Now the world will remark as we have two Zionist States on earth.
The US problem is talking other, acting difference.
Using Veto is none of US Government interests or American peoples’ interest.
It’s only for Israel.
Posted by: Cliff | September 22, 2011, 1:23 pm 1:23 pm