Regarding this week's cartoon of President Barack Obama "walking on egg shells" around the Middle East conflict, I would like to point out that Obama and his administration have taken a clear stance on the Palestinians' recent request for statehood. In his address to the U.N. General Assembly, Obama reasserted his stance that negotiations are the only path to peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.
Through his speech he reaffirmed his support for Israel, America's strongest ally and the only democracy in the Middle East.
As a student senator, I was a proud author of the Student Government resolution in support of direct negotiations and in opposition to a unilateral declaration, which overwhelmingly passed 66-to-1. This resolution stands with members of Congress, who passed a similar resolution supporting the US-Israel relationship and direct negotiations in this time of great need.
I understand there is no shortcut to end a conflict that has lasted for decades. Obama, Congress and the Student Senate recognize that the recent move by the Palestinian Authority to seek unilateral U.N. recognition for statehood represents an abandonment of good faith negotiations and is an effort to diplomatically isolate Israel.
Shelley Greenspan
UF Student Senator
