If the question is whether Obama is playing a short game or a long game, it seems to me that's the wrong question. Obama has a strong moral compass. Respect for others and engagement with them is something he always does, because he believes in it. You could see in the health care reform effort how he kept giving opponents extra chances to come around. Sure that plays well politically, he's not stupid, but it was also the right thing to do. In the Middle East, Obama's position on Israeli settlements is based on an understanding that stopping construction is the right thing for them to do. They have agreed to do so before, and should live up to their agreements. It is a major sticking point for the Palestinian side, who see East Jerusalem being taken away from them one house at a time. And the Israelis need peace a lot more than they need new apartments to be in a specific neighborhood. Morally and politically Obama is taking the right position. Who knows if he can succeed, but I hope he does.