Israel has the wrong leader at the right time, probably because Netanyahu just Became The ‘Israeli Glenn Beck’ “when he announced he was merging his Likud party with that of his ultra nationalist coalition ally Foreign Minister Avigdor Liebermanith”.

Here is an opportunity that a real leader like Israeli President Shimon Peres could grab hold of but an ideologically and political power driven politician like Netanyahu can not.

A Palestinian leader, at great risk, conceding the right of return is a big deal. I have never heard one actually acknowledge this before.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israels-netanyahu-cool-to-abbass-comments-on-right-of-return-of-palestian-refugees/2012/11/04/128b3efa-26ab-11e2-b2a0-ae18d6159439_story.html

Israel’s Netanyahu cool to Abbas’s comments on ‘right of return’ of Palestian refugees

By Joel Greenberg,

Nov 04, 2012 06:59 PM EST

The Washington Post Sunday, November 4, 1:59 PM

JERUSALEM – Remarks by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas suggesting that he was conceding the ‘right of return’ of Palestinian refugees, a core issue in dispute with Israel, drew a wary response Sunday from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after setting off a storm of controversy in the Palestinian territories.

‘Only in direct negotiations can the real positions be clarified,’ Netanyahu said at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. ‘If Abu Mazen is really serious and intends to promote peace, as far as I’m concerned we can sit down together immediately.’ Abu Mazen is Abbas’s nickname.

Netanyahu’s reaction contrasted with that of Israeli President Shimon Peres, who on Saturday praised Abbas’s comments to an Israeli television station as a ‘brave and important public declaration’ by a ‘real partner for peace.’ Some Israeli newspaper commentators also called the Palestinian leaders’ remarks a significant development. .

In an interview broadcast Friday on Israel’s Channel Two television, Abbas attempted to reach out to the Israeli public after a protracted stalemate in peace efforts. The appearance came weeks before an expected Palestinian bid later this month for recognition at the United Nations as a non-member observer state, and as an Israeli election campaign begins to gather steam.

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