I have to admit that my curiosity is up after hearing an NPR report this afternoon on All Things Considered that the Israeli cabinet won't approve the so-callled last 90 day moritorium on settlements in occupied territories. The Palestinians won't participate in any further peace negotiations unless the Israelis agree to a continued freeze, but the Israelis are building as we speak.

Apparently Sec. of State Clinton promised the Israelis a bunch of concessions, like military weaponry, a pledge that this will be the last time we ever ask anything like this of them, and on and on, if they agree. But the agreement couldn't just be signed off on by Netanyahu - he had to get the approval of a majority of his cabinet. It was reported this morning by US media that it was thought that it would pass by a vote. Ahhh....but it didn't - they are holding out for these Clinton promises to be put officially in writing by the US government. As the song goes - "easier said than done."

So, without these promises in writing, which the New York Times has described as a great deal for Israel, the Israelis will keep building, and the peace talks will fall apart - one more embarassment for Obama just when he doesn't need it. And the irony is that we need peace between Israel and the Palestinians as a counter balance to all of the bad feelings that we are creating by our killings in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq.

The Israelis seem very confident of their military advantage. I'm not sure that is so wise after Herzbollah fought then to a draw, and continues to ramp up their arms. Population wise, the Israelis are outnumbered big time. If not for their military advantage, they might not have survived. They owe their military advantage to the US. But the US is running out of money, and who knows anymore who has nuclear weapons in the middle east?

Israel is playing a high stakes game if they don't show some outward willingness to make some concessions. They don't seem to be showing that, however. It seems that there is a bad moon continuing to rise over the middle east. I hope that Hillary can make something good happen.