The Dahlan lobby in Washington, DC: echoes of Netanyahu government

The Arab and international press (and the New York Times in its front page story) noted that Obama has shifted his position on colonial settlements, and that he no more is calling for an end to colonial settlement. The Israeli government was pleased, and the New York Times conveniently went to the chief Dahlan lobbyist in Washington, DC--a man who has found every war and policy in the Bush and Obama administration "a positive step"--to support the decision. "Ziad Asali, head of the American Task Force on Palestine, called Mr. Obama’s move on Tuesday “a positive step.” “This is something the Palestinians definitely want,” he said. Israeli officials, for their part, expressed satisfaction that Mr. Obama was letting up the pressure on settlements."