Obama Says The Islamization of the Middle East (the "Arab Spring") Has Not Made Things Worse For Israel

(CNSNews.com) – President Obama on Sunday played down the notion that the conflict between Israel and Hamas has been complicated by “Arab spring” transitions in the Middle East.

Despite warnings from various Arab leaders and Turkey that Israel faces a new environment in the changing Middle East, Obama pointed out that conflict between Israelis and Palestinians had been going on long before what he described as “democratization in the region.” [...]

Asked in Bangkok whether the Arab spring “has made matters worse,” Obama demurred.

“Let’s just remember that the exact same situation arose just a couple of years ago, before the Arab spring,” he replied, alluding to the 22-day Israeli military operation against Hamas in Dec. 2008-Jan. 2009, also prompted by escalated rocket attacks.

“So I don’t think anybody would suggest somehow that it’s unique to democratization in the region that there’s a conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. That’s been going on for several decades now.”