beyondzerosum

U.S. President Barack Obama addresses the 66th United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York. (Photo by Reuters)

President Obama delivered an aspirational and inspirational speech at the United Nations General Assembly this morning.  It was a great piece of rhetoric.  It reflected on the real change of the last year and called on the members to support continued progress in the areas of democracy, reigning in nuclear arms and climate change.  However, it contained lots of cheer-leading and little substance, viz.

The men and women who built this institution understood that peace is more than the absence of war. A lasting peace – for nations and individuals – depends upon a sense of justice and opportunity; of dignity and freedom. It depends upon struggle and sacrifice; on compromise, and a sense of common humanity.

Unfortunately, when it came to Israel and Palestine, there was really very little of substance that he could offer. He reiterated the U.S. position that the Palestinians could not use the UN to gain legitimacy because peace could only come through direct negotiations by the parties. While this may be true – he offered no way out of the pending clash.

Israelis must know that any agreement provides assurances for their security. Palestinians deserve to know the territorial basis of their state. I know that many are frustrated by the lack of progress. So am I. But the question isn’t the goal we seek – the question is how to reach it. And I am convinced that there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has endured for decades.

Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the UN – if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side. Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians – not us – who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them: on borders and security; on refugees and Jerusalem.

Full text of Obama’s speech to the UN General Assembly can be found here.