Here we go again. another liberal eastern establishment self hating Jew lecturing Israel on how to behave. Of course we get the obligatory words about how bad the UN, Hezbollah and hamas are but if only those israelis would lighten up and stop being spolied children. When will these jerks give up. the issue is arab rejectionism not israeli peace. We already left gaza and lebanon, what have the pealestinians ever done except put conditions and demands in the way of negotiations. For all his years in the middle east Friedman still clings to the same old cliches. Whats worse he has become the head self hating jew apologist for Obama. For him to say it is nonsense that obama is anti israel is really lying and he knows it. In fact everyone knows it. Actions speak louder than words. Remember obama throwing bibi out of the white house Friedman? If Friedman is correct about obama, why did Israel get admonished for 240 building permits and not one word of condemnation from obama on hitler visitng lebanon last week. And about that israli intrangiiance, what have the palestinians given for the settlement freeze they demand ... nothing. Where is the lecture for them. If you read these blogs you know that we are all disgusted with jerks like friedman writing this garbage about Israel not being pro peace. its time these so called influential editorialists at the Times tried being balanced. But the times prefer s to constantly attack Israel and their weapon of choice is another liberal Jew so they can claim they are not anti semitic. It doesn't wash ... Friedman is a tool and stooge of the left who hate Israel. This is what happens when a phony intellectual marries into a 5 billion family. His mother must be very proud.

I don't get some of these nasty talkbacks as Mr. Friedman is not anti-Israel. I do feel that Mr. Friedman is treating Abbas as a spoiled child, since he does not expect anything of Abbas. Maybe Abbas knows he can get away with it because nobody expects anything of him anyway.

EXACTLY, he is a first class lunatic. He shot himself in the foot by saying, "if they have the will & guts to make peace." I hope he reads these talkbacks.

You sick perverts on the left esteem crap as edible and give us this garbage to read from an idiot and assume we will swallow it ? WRONG !

Quote: "Obama Goes Golfing With NYT Columnist Thomas Friedman" "Friedman joins a small, elite list of opinion journalists from traditional outlets who have been granted private ..... audiences with the President." - end quote. http://tinyurl.com/24fttmk It's HIM, Obamao who speaks via Friedman.

but that 2003 Us war in Irak will releive the free world of terrorism and the oil price will down to 15 dls

Which sane person would read this article or any of his article form New York Slimes?

Friedman is the ultimate "uncle hymie" aka self hating Jew. Look at his first name. He is always trying to ingratiate himself with the gentile public. Mr. Friedman, mind your own business and start criticizing the arab fascist / racists.

Just because someone has a way with words and can write well does not mean that he reads the situation correctly or that he is free from bias and self interest. America's aid to Israel also meant we have to buy American products (keep Americans in jobs) so don't treat us like an ingrate needy.

Friedman is a Johnson liberal who has lost all credibility. With everyone, even the far left loonies. As to "spoiled children?" What can possibly be more spoiled than a vanquished people who have failed to take advantage of every opportunity presented to them and who have -- along the way -- resorted to unspeakable acts of violence and terror? Does Friedman seriously mean to suggest that the "Palestinians" should be rewarded for this? Oh, that is most assuredly not going to happen. Sorry. Clearly Mr. Friedman does not understand that it is not the job of the international community to fix the "Palestinian" problem for them; neither is it possible to put toothpaste back into the tube. The "Palestinians" have blown each and every opportunity on each and every occasion. Sorry. "Palestinian" idiocy will not be rewarded at the expense of sovereign Israel. "Palestinian" stubborness and "Palestinian" intransigence is not the fault of Israel; Israel will not pay the price for "Palestinian" stupidity and missed opportunity.

Friedman is partially right. There is one very prominent lunatic in the Israeli cabinet. His name is Ehud Barak.

If things are as you describe, why then Fayyad and company do not recognize the Jewish state.? Why is it so difficult? A simple statement versus freeze. They and not Israel behave like a 4 year old brats. There will be No freeze without recognition. Friedman, PLEASE Tell Obama to pressure the Pals before the Democrats endure a cataclysmic defeat next week.

Either directly or thru the UN, and "Aid" and "Human rights" organisations? So Mr Friedman, what are you demanding of the Palestinians, seeing as you think you can buy nations.

are not only in the Israeli cabinet, they are most of the talkbacks here as well.

Isn't this the man who was an advisor on Israel to Saudi Arabia, an apartheid country that sentences homosexuals to death, where all women and more than half of the male residents are slaves? Isn't he is the author of the "Saudi Peace Plan" for the extermination of the Jews? I guess Friedman will write whatever the Saudis pay him to write. and #14, for the first time you are right. Israel does not want the money the Americans "give". It has never helped and only hurt Israel.

Israel froze the settlements for 10 months already and got nothing in return from the "Palestinians", not even a recognition of Israel as a Jewish state. Abbas had to be dragged to the negotiating table at the last minute and now it's too late - no more concessions from Israel, buddy boy. Also, why even talk to the "Palestinians" when they are divided? How can you have a two state solution when there are three parties (Israel, PA and Hamas) anyhow? Obama is pushing Israel because he desperately needs a victory in order to be reelected (God forbid) in 2012 and Israel shouldn't assist him in this venture, especially not when Israel is the one that will pay a heavy toll in the future. It's clear by now that Obama is not to be relied upon by any ally.

US has given many billions more to Europe, Pakistan and they often disagree with US but not called spoiled children. Declaring current PA leadership- whose terms of office ended many months ago and refuse to hold new election-the best PA gov't yet, is like saying the current leader of Syria is "better" than his father;Or Bereznikov is better than Stalin What BS !! Friedman reminds me of NY Times Cohen who said Iran Jews and Baha'is have it good in Iran !

Knowing it was this author who was writing about "lunatics" in the Knesset, I read because I wondered what events he could be describing that I even might agree with him. Instead, he rants like the habitual banana republic perception of Israel that he regularly espouses. We ingrates! The U.S. that owns us has spoken, the obamination led nation (that B"H is fighting back) demands we disappear into obsequious abjection and die of denial of our rights, and that makes us irrational? Friedman is a leftist traitor to the ideals that Israel must defend to 'not only survive but prevail.' Hashem will bless us when we defend the Land He has given us.

When will Friedman regain his sanity. It seems that never. This self-hating Jew is never tired of blaming Israel for all the problems of the world. For some reason unknown to anyone who is intelligent, he is in love with the beautiful, kind, humanistic, just culture of the Arabs. And because of this, he always writes articles full of garbage like the one above

Renowned for what? He never lets reality interfere with the pollyanna rules that govern his mind.

Friedman has it wrong, he doesn't appreciate what's at stake, doesn't comprehend the enormity of the threat Israeli's face, ascribes to the simplified western perspective that trust, chivalry & coexistence are visions, goals & values shared by all in the Arab world

The fact is that Israel has had the West Bank and Gaza since the Six Day War. It is part of Israel, not a separate nation. The Palestinians and their Iranian masters continue to kill innocent Israelis. Israel cannot give up the West Bank and cannot allow an Iranian city (Gaza) without putting its security in jeapordy. Israel should simply take away any authority that the PA has because Israel still hasn't got peace. That was the deal...land for peace. But the Palestinians want the land without the peace. Israel's answer should be: No Peace...then you will have no land.

Friedman is a Self Hating Jew who has very little real experience in Israel and the Jewish people. He is stupid and a idiot. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com

It is high time that he and his buddies stop their superiority complex of being the father figure in Israel's life. Israel is not America's child, not a good child and not a spoiled one. He should remember that this aid he is so quick to mention, is given to many countries, too much to Gaza, and Israel is forced to use it to but American made products, from socks to planes. Who is spoiled here? He who does not get his way??

Not worth commenting, except to say Thomas has sheer arrogance and chutspah. People like him would not make such derogatory remarks about any other country. Insufferable.

Yes, Friedman has a MS degree in middle eastern sudiessociology and has lived in the middle east ; he has experience in journalism. But he is like olmert, no military experience, does not understand the bullet, and is a self righteous arrogant intellectual. Most of his proposed solutions end up as useless garbage which applies also to olmert, where virtually everything he touches turns to concessions or lawsuits.Friedman is also detached as he lives in great wealth and may not relate to the average man in the street. Lieberman who friedman is alluding to represents a growing israeli sentiment, mine included,who are tired of bowing down with olmert and barak concessions, or withdrawing to a point unless it is real, eyeball to eyeball. And israel is tired of withdrawing. Its the arabs who do not make any concessions and I am tired of it. What about 800,00 jews who were dispossessed? Wha tabout land east of the jordan that is part of original palestine mandate. What about buying part of sinai to grant space to final arrangements? US ideas of peace are concessions and money to abbas, make nice and hope it works out. Rabin, peres, barak and olmert tried it and israel got death in return. Ask the million israelis in the south whom they prefer and they will tell you lieberman, bibi and yaalon as it is much quieter since olmert was royally booted out of office. Rabin tried in oslo, and chances are he would have eventually booted arafat and his 5000 out of the area entirely.

"But the fact is that the team of Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad have built a government that is the best the Palestinians have ever had, and, more importantly, a Palestinian security apparatus that the Israeli military respects and is acting as a real partner. Given this, Israel has an overwhelming interest to really test - that is all we can ask - whether this Palestinian leadership is ready for a fair and mutually secure two-state solution." Mr. Friedman I have nothing but the utmost respect for your intellect and wisdom, but - haven't Israel done just that? A 10 months freeze could only force the Palestinians back into negotiating, looking for every opportunity and excuse to bail out! It has been 10 years since the Oslo accord - 2 intifadas and not even as much as willingness to recognize Israel as a Jewish state? Any sovereign country should consider that a bad faith basis for further negotiations! How much difference do you Mr. Friedman think would 2 more months of building freeze make? Could it be that perhaps all involved should look elsewhere for a solution? How about re-naming Jordan (whoes 50% or more population is Palestinians) Palestine, (they can keep their king if they want to) and Israel will negotiate a peace treaty with them!? How long will it take the American administration before they realize that Abbas and his comrades are NOT truly interested in statehood since than they will have to act responsibly and be held accountable for their actions in the eyes of the arab world and the rest of the free world?