Safe Democracy Foundation - Safe Democracy

Within a democracy, one cannot give any type of legitimacy to a coup d’etat. For Latin America, this coup in Honduras serves as proof of the extent at which it troubles this region to accept that democracy can only work within boundaries and through laws.

There are two types of “left” in Latin America today: the new, updated left with strong social-democratic undertones, which is aiming for a welfare state and an economy with a human element to it, and the one of radical inspiration that acts through personalism, authoritarianism and the control of public powers.

We can assume that Obama is aware of the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, and that he believes that these points constitute a reasonable first step towards honest negotiations. However, it appears that Netanyahu does not agree with the American president’s ideas. Will the Israeli prime minister be astute enough to realize that it is his brief to change what may evolve into an imposed settlement by proposing understanding, in order to lead to a settlement preferred by all?

Zapatero should not wear a defeated look on his face, because he has not been defeated. Nonetheless, Rajoy should not sport a triumphant smile either. Those who voted in the European Parliament elections in Spain form the solid core of both parties, but the direction of future general elections will be decided by that other 50 percent that abstained from voting.

Obama needs Netanyahu in order to be able to make progress towards a peace agreement in the Middle East to restore the United States’ image in the moderate Arab countries. Netanyahu needs Washington’s support in order to stand up to the threat of a nuclear Iran.

The majority of Israelis believe that a peace treaty based on a two-state solution is not within reach. Find out why.

• Middle East conflict: Is there really no partner?
  por Dan Bavly