It would appear that (at least publicly) Netanyahu held firm and perhaps even won (as much as that is possible) this round of negotiations with Obama.

Netanyahu didn't state anything he hasn't stated before. He didn't retract anything. He held his ground. (He didn't mention Pollard, which was to be expected).

He made it clear that the Arabs need to fix their end of things before anything can go forward with them - they have to fix their "fundamentals" which is what is holding everything back.

He quite possibly even got Obama to grudgingly not disavow that a military option against Iran is possible sometime in the undefined future.

Netanyahu even appears to have disengaged Obama's linkage of the Palestinian track to Iran, though Obama was still whipping that dead horse of Peace.


Netanyahu more clearly linked any peace progress with Palestinian demilitarization and clear compromises on their part, as well as using the code words for Israel keeping the Jordan Valley and Settlement blocs, perhaps making it clear that he envisions an Autonomy+ plan (which is overall what we can expect more from him).

"I want to make it clear that we don’t want to govern the Palestinians. We want to live in peace with them. We want them to govern themselves, absent a handful of powers that could endanger the state of Israel. And for this there has to be a clear goal. The goal has to be an end to conflict.

There will have to be compromises by Israelis and Palestinians alike. We’re ready to do our share. We hope the Palestinians will do their share, as well. If we resume negotiations, as we plan to do, then I think that the Palestinians will have to recognize Israel as a Jewish state; will have to also enable Israel to have the means to defend itself.

And if those conditions are met, Israel’s security conditions are met, and there’s recognition of Israel’s legitimacy, its permanent legitimacy, then I think we can envision an arrangement where Palestinians and Israelis live side by side in dignity, in security, and in peace."

Essentially a restatement of the Autonomy+ plan.

On the down-side, uber-liberal Obama clearly plans to try to open diplomatic ties with this terrorist regime in Iran.

The final speeches can be read here.