Obama Now Claims He's Being 'Honest'

"Obama: U.S. Needs To Be 'Honest' With Israel" is the National Public Radio headline.

From the interview:

"I don't think we have to change strong support for Israel," Obama said during an interview with NPR hosts Michele Norris of All Things Considered and Steve Inskeep of Morning Edition. "We do have to retain a constant belief in the possibilities of negotiations that will lead to peace," Obama said. "And that's going to require, from my view, a two-state solution."

It will also require, he said, a freeze on Israeli settlements, including expansion to accommodate successive generations of settlers, and for Palestinians to make progress on security and end "the incitement that understandably makes Israelis so concerned."

The president also suggested that the United States' special relationship with Israel requires some tough love [see here for Kristoff and here for Cohen, both of whom have promoted that term]. "Part of being a good friend is being honest," Obama said. "And I think there have been times where we are not as honest as we should be about the fact that the current direction, the current trajectory, in the region is profoundly negative, not only for Israeli interests but also U.S. interests. And that's part of a new dialogue that I'd like to see encouraged in the region."

...Netanyahu flatly rejected Obama's call for a halt to Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank. Netanyahu said it would be tantamount to "freezing life." The settlements must expand, he said, to accommodate growing families...

...Inskeep and Norris also pressed the president on how he can develop credibility in the Muslim world if Israel keeps pushing back on the settlement issue.

"What does it suggest," Inskeep asked, "that Israel is not taking your advice?"

Obama responded: "It's still early in the process. They've [Israel] formed a government, what, a month ago?"

"We're going to have a series of conversations," the president added. "I believe that strategically, the status quo is unsustainable when it comes to Israel's security," Obama said. "Over time, in the absence of peace with Palestinians, Israel will continue to be threatened militarily and will have enormous problems on its borders."

And here is Obama being fully honest:

But if a member of Hezbollah were to be elected head of state in Lebanon, which is part of the United Nations, "then that would raise these issues. That hasn't happened yet," Obama said.

Not yet? Who is he kidding?