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Obama should see peace process through

History suggests that only a resolved American president, such as former Presidents Jimmy Carter or George Bush, Sr., can persuade the Israelis to come to an agreement with the Palestinians.
U.S. President Barack Obama waves after addressing Israeli students at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem March 21, 2013. Obama appealed directly on Thursday to the Israeli people to put themselves in the shoes of stateless Palestinians and recognise that Jewish settlement activity in occupied territory hurts prospects for peace. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3FA2D
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There’s a reason Romanian Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean publicly called on US President Barack Obama to take the reins of the faltering diplomatic process between Israel and the Palestinians. In an interview, he delivered a heavy hint to Washington, reflecting the prevailing view among senior diplomatic echelons in Israel and the world that the US initiative is hanging on by a thread.

The Romanian minister hinted that this process is not the personal business of Secretary of State John Kerry. Despite Obama’s efforts to stay out of the quagmire, failure will stain the person sitting in the White House, too. The Nobel laureate cannot hide behind the apron strings of an official, senior as he may be.

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