“Palestein”? ‘The Daily Show’ offers advice on Middle East stalemate

Much like another ally of President Barack Obama, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, "The Daily Show" host Jon Stewart has broken with Obama's announced plans Wednesday to veto any Palestinian statehood resolution at the United Nations. Last night, Stewart likened the American president's hard-line position to that of the recalcitrant member of a Manhattan co-op board who won't let a tenant keep dogs while having two Great Danes of his own.

Stewart also suggested to the Palestinians that they might have better luck advancing their statehood aspirations if they change their name to "Palestein." (See the clip here.)

Via the Daily Kos's BruinKid:

"You know, the real issue isn't really the chair or the application," Stewart said, referring to the much-debated tactics the Palestinians are considering over which venue at the U.N. bureaucracy to submit their membership application. "As with any good co-op, it's getting past that one hard-ass on the co-op board, the one who always shoots people down, because he doesn't like dogs, but he has two Great Danes, because he was grandfathered in. ...So are the Palestinians in?"

The show then featured a clip of Obama's speech to the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday: "Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at the United Nations," Obama sternly pronounced. "Ultimately, it is the Israelis and the Palestinians, not us, who must reach agreement on the issues that divide them."

Stewart summarized: "So there you go, Palestine. All you need to do is settle your differences with Israel. Hee hee, hee hee, hee hee."

Then Stewart had an inspiration: "I have an idea: Maybe this will make it a little more palatable. Have you thought about a spelling change?"

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas submitted his application for Palestinian state membership to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon at 11:30AM Friday, NPR reported.