This closeparsingofwhatwas essentiallyacompassionatespeech, full ofwell-chosenOld Testamentassociationsandpassagesfrom Lamentations, willseemcasuistic to most.
But the Americans have reportedly reacted coldly to this early demonstration of Israeli casuistic recalcitrance, finding it reminiscent of the pretext-finding and foot-dragging of Mr Netanyahu's first administration.