[Pastiche]

The kind of things Obama is currently demanding from the Israelis are the kind of things the Iraelis offered to both Bush and Clinton unconditionally.

LOL, don't try to pass one off on me. I know you're knowledgeable enough about Israel to know that this statement is bogus. The shape of the Israeli coalition during the peace talks between Bush and Clinton were significantly different.

Your proposition that politician's acts should be accepted for face value is pretty naive.

I know that in the delicate world of foreign policy face value is usually all you have. Public statements are essentially tantamount to any other agreement because it's on record and those are the only forms of accountability in an international arena where leaders have no other checks. Your word is your word and if you deviate or misconstrue you are nothing among the rest of negotiators.

Israel is diong this to increase their negotiating power before the next round of talks. People are buying it, so it's clearly working.

Totally agree. Everyone knows this.

Suppose you are right that Obama is not explicitely in on it, it doesn't really change what is going on. It's called a throw away.

I am supposing, that's the whole point of my argument. Obama is legitimately angry and that this isn't a ruse. Great powers walk a fine line. If they are perceived as the boy who cried wolf they lose their heavy soft power which is invaluable. If this was concocted it's increadibly risky for both sides. Historically, public break downs in relations between these countries have always been for real. It just doesn't make sense of why you'd want to appear like you have bad relations goign into a negotiation almost pre-emptively poisoning the well.