Neurotic Democrat on Mitchell Appointment

Aaron Keyak — January 26, 2009 – 10:50 am | Foreign Policy | Israel | Obama Comments (0) Add a comment

One of this blog’s favorite bloggers, Josh Rolnick of the Neurotic Democrat, wrote a couple of posts on the appointment of George Mitchell as Middle East Envoy yesterday.

Josh gives his take.

It’s easy to forget just how intentionally absent Bush in fact was on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Obama, by appointing Mitchell, is showing concretely that the U.S. is not just a facilitator, but a player — with a firm stake in the outcome.

The other thing I note is that Mitchell’s experience in helping broker peace in Northern Ireland should serve him well in the Middle East.

Of that experience, Mitchell said: “We had 700 days of failure and one day of success.”

Patience, resolve, and a dry sense of humor.

That’s my kind of Middle East peace negotiator.

Also, as a good friend of this blog Josh didn’t forget to include NJDC’s take on the appointment.

There is, of course, much praise of Mitchell from the left and center of the Jewish world (the National Jewish Democratic Council lauded the appointment, noting Mitchell “has a strong record of support for Israel’s security”), as well as a critique of him from the right.

I could quote the entirety of both Josh’s pieces, but you should take a look at them yourself. They are titled, “Mitchell Take I: ‘700 Days of Failure,’” and “Mitchell Take II: A Jewish Communal Approach.”

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