Israel's far-right government only helps Iran
Salon / Juan Cole
26-Mar-2010 (6 comments)

The far right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have a choice between expanding settlements in the West Bank or achieving a global consensus on the need to sanction and coerce Iran into giving up its nuclear enrichment program. Netanyahu is so dedicated to the settler project that he cannot see the ways in which it forestalls other, broader Israeli objectives.

The serious policy differences between Netanyahu and the Obama administration are helping Iran, and reducing pressure on that country.

The Times of London reports that Netanyahu was put firmly in his place by President Obama during his visit to Washington earlier this week. At one point Obama is said to have left Netanyahu for dinner with Michelle and the girls after urging the prime minister to contact him if anything changed.

Obama is said to have still been bristling at the slight of Vice President Joe Biden when the latter was in Israel. (In the form of an announcement of the building of more homes on occupied Palestinian land.) The Palestinian Authority leadership, including President Mahmoud Abbas, refuses to restart peace negotiations as long as Netanyahu refuses to commit to a freeze of Israeli colonization efforts. Abbas had been about to set aside his objections and begin proximity talks when Netanyahu's government announced a substantial settlement expansion. And they made the announcement on the very day of Biden's arrival to kick off the talks with th... >>>

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vildemose

There was a lot of

by vildemose on Sat Mar 27, 2010 03:45 PM PDT

There was a lot of hand-wringing on the airwaves today over the rift beyween our President and the PM of Israel. "What does it mean? What is going on?" Is he sincere or just putting on act?? I hope Obama can stop Yaboo from expanding the settelments into the greater Jerusalem. The option for a two-state solution is increasingly becoming slim to none.

I hope Israeli realize how self-defeating their behavior has been and vote out the Likuniks out of office in the next election.


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Bavafa

excellent read and very true

by Bavafa on Sat Mar 27, 2010 03:39 PM PDT

Mehrdad


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No Fear

Very balanced

by No Fear on Sat Mar 27, 2010 02:18 PM PDT

Good read.


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capt_ayhab

Hate feeds off of Hate

by capt_ayhab on Sat Mar 27, 2010 01:00 PM PDT

The two extreme governments[IR and Israel] are feeding off of one another. By making a buggy man out of the other side they appeal to what is  worst in all of us: Fear and Hate.

 

-YT 


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obama

Niloufar, your eyes (if indeed yours) are right on spot too!

by obama on Sat Mar 27, 2010 08:50 PM PDT

I don't believe everything i see and hear. The whole public fight might be a ploy to show to the world that AIPAC and Israel are not in control of the US government, trying to gain some credibility with the Arab world and others.

How can clinton say all that and say it in front of AIPAC? I hope I am wrong, but I need more real evidence to believe it! US has a long way to go before it convinces me of the sinserity.

On the other hand, may be israel knows better that the US cannot do a thing, that's why they stand up to them publicly. It wouldn't be their first time. If US loses Israel, the war on terror would end and US becomes heaven again!


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Niloufar Parsi

juan cole

by Niloufar Parsi on Sat Mar 27, 2010 10:29 AM PDT

is spot on!

great read. thanks for posting shifteh jaan.


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