I just left the GA and everything you said was spot on. Rahm made his jokes, talked forever and ever about Obama’s domestic and international agenda, and then hit the middle east.

here were they’re was no mistaking that their words and actions just do not line up.

No matter how much he said that Israel is their BFF, it belies their actions.

Rahm mentioned a contiguous Palistate, how great peace will be for the future, that the Palestinians need to renounce violence, and teaching hate.

But there was ZERO incentive for them to do any of that.

I never thought I would see the day that I agree more with Bibi than with what passes for democratic leadership.

Also – a major National Jewish Democratic leader told me he pulled out of AIPAC.

Yup.

Hasnt cast his vote yet with Jstreet – but that he dropped AIPAC.

That was the huge news.

One might think after the speech that Rahmbo gave that two sovereign countries were discussing a peace deal, and that all that was left to do was sit and discuss things.

Alas.

I am very skeptical about the Obama team’s ability to make peace happen any day soon.

Not-particularly-right-wing Israelis have seen Hizbullah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza, and now know that it was a game of salami-slicing for the Palis all along. Our lefie elite was wrong, the magic is gone, and behind Abbas stretches a line of ever more openly radical Islamicists.

Any land ceded to them will be used to stage further attacks – most Israelis know this now in our bones, whether or not the settlers say “I told you so”.

We’ve seen the maps showing the range of various missiles – and mentally calculated the striking distance from the Green Line.

Any solution involving 2 states east of the Jordan is a non-starter for most Israelis.

Bibi and Liberman (the Israeli one!) are laying the groundwork to move the discussion beyond the land-for-peace, 2-state framework of Oslo.

Bibi’s demand that the Palis recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland is one example of this – a masterful gambit that cannot be challenged without coming off sounding like a racist, and underscores the Pali’s true intentions and intransigence.

Bibi also handled the White House’s demand for a settlement freeze very nicely – bobbing and weaving like a boxer, deploying hard-liners in the coalition in a good cop/bad cop routine. Look at what Hillary wound up saying… it’s no longer a precondition.

Bibi and Liberman have been very circumspect – sucking it up on the Gaza border instead of finishing the job Barak (the Israeli one!) left unfinished.

Wait until after decisive action is taken on Iran. You may see less retraint from Israel after that die is cast.