Alright. I know that’s a cheap Star Trek reference. That said, I did get the Star Trek movie for Christmas, err, Hanukkah.
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel allegedly told an Israeli diplomat the administration would reduce its involvement in the peace process unless serious progress is made in the coming months. Emmanuel allegedly blamed Palestinians for perpetually missing opportunities to obtain peace and also condemned Israel for adopting policies once they are ineffectual. The White House denied the reports, describing the allegations as “ridiculous.”
Reports indicate that peace talks could resume in the near future. However, the Obama administration was dealt a serious blow upon Israeli refusal to halt settlement activity. Similarly, the administration had to effectively beg for Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at a small summit with President Obama at a UN meeting last year.
Israelis originally lauded the selection of Emmanuel as Chief of Staff for his volunteering in the IDF and his family’s connection to Israel. However, once the Obama administration urged Israel to halt settlement activity, some officials accused Emmanuel of being a “self hating Jew.”
