Uri Avnery agrees with my assessment of the Obama-Netanyahu meeting:
BARACK OBAMA is often compared to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, but it is from the book of another Roosevelt that he has taken a leaf: President Theodore Roosevelt, who, 108 years ago, advised his successors: “Speak softly and carry a big stick!”
This week, the whole world saw how this is done. Obama sat in the Oval Office side by side with Binyamin Netanyahu and spoke to the journalists. He was earnest, but relaxed. The body language spoke clearly: while Netanyahu leaned forward assiduously, like a traveling salesman peddling his merchandise, Obama leaned back, tranquil and self-assured.
He spoke softly, very softly. But leaning against the wall behind him, hidden by the flag, was a very big stick indeed.
By the way, I was a bit too enthusiastic in yesterday’s post about the outpost removal. Avnery’s assessment is much more accurate.