AP sources: Obama leans against last-minute action on Israel

[kebob]

Source: The Associated Press

By JOSH LEDERMAN
Dec. 1, 2016 3:56 AM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) President Barack Obama has nearly ruled out any major last-ditch effort to put pressure on Israel over stalled peace negotiations with the Palestinians, U.S. officials said, indicating Obama will likely avoid one last row with Israel's government as he leaves office.

Frustrated by the lack of progress, Obama for more than a year had considered giving a major speech describing his vision for a future peace deal or, in a more aggressive step, supporting a United Nations resolution laying out parameters for such a deal. Although the goal would be to impart fresh urgency to the moribund peace process, either step would have been perceived as constraining Israel's negotiating hand while strengthening the Palestinians' argument on the world stage.

Discussions about those potential maneuvers, under way before the U.S. election, have fallen off since Donald Trump's surprise victory, officials said. Obama is now highly unlikely to approve either of those options presented to him by U.S. diplomats, said the officials, who weren't authorized to discuss internal deliberations and requested anonymity.

Officials left open the possibility that Obama could address the Mideast issue in a more limited way, short of weighing in on the contours of a future peace accord, before leaving office.

The White House and the Israeli Embassy in Washington both declined to comment.


Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/97cfc3daeaf641fd8eae4625307292d3/ap-sources-obama-leans-against-last-minute-action-israel

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If only the Israelis and Palestinians could get together in a true Christian spirit.

[oberliner]

1. I guess it's up to Jared Kushner

I'm sure peace is right around the corner.

[Fast Walker 52]

2. Thanks, Obama

NOT

[lostnfound]

3. I don't blame him at this point

There are no magic words to be used at this stage. If he doesn't see an opportunity to make a difference,he won't make a false start on it.