President Obama told the UN General Assembly today, this "has been a remarkable year." He also said he's been "frustrated." Despite some positive developments around the world and the Arab democracy movement, last year's hope for a Palestinian state has not been realized. The President indicated US opposition to the plan by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to bypass negotiations and ask the UN for statehood now. To a General Assembly thought to favor the Palestinians, the President said, "each side [must] learn to stand in each other's shoes. And, once again, he's caught between Palestinian aspirations and US support for Israel, with Republicans proclaiming that he's letting Israel down. Can he avoid a veto at the Security Council that would antagonize Arab public opinion? What's at state for next year's re-election campaign?
Barack Obama Back at the United Nations
Credits
Guests:
- Colum Lynch - Foreign Policy Magazine - @columlynch
- Mohammed Shtayyeh - Fatah Central Committee
- Aaron David Miller - senior fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - @aarondmiller2
- Alon Liel - Israeli Foreign Ministry (formerly)
- Husam Zomlot - Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine at the United Nations