Obama to Palestinians: “Deal With Incitement” Against Israel

“When it comes to the Palestinians, we know what they’re supposed to be doing. They have to continue to make progress on security in the West Bank.

They have to deal with incitement issues. There’s still a tendency, even within — among Palestinians who say they are interested in peace with Israel, to engage in statements that are — that incite a hatred of Israel or are not constructive to the peace process. Now I think, to his credit, President Abbas has made progress on this issue — but not enough.

We still have not seen a firm commitment from the Palestinian Authority that they can control some of the border areas that Israel is going to be very concerned about if there were to be a two-state solution. There are still problems of corruption and mismanagement within the Authority that have to be addressed.

So there are going to be a whole set of things having to do with the Palestinians’ ability to govern effectively and maintain security. And if they’re not solved, Israelis are going to have trouble moving forward.

And the Arab states, what I’d like to see is indicators that they are willing, if Israel makes tough commitments, to also make some hard choices that will allow for an opening of commerce, diplomatic exchanges between Israel and its neighbors.”

– Remarks by U.S. President Barack Obama Friday (June 5) at a press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at Dresden Castle, Germany

whitehouse.gov

Better than nothing though Obama does not understand it’s not merely a “tendency.” It’s part and parcel of the culture of hate not only within Palestinian society but Muslim society in general.