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How the U.S. Can Regain Israeli Trust

[New Republic] Yossi Klein Halevi - Israelis welcomed Barack Obama when he visited in July 2008 and many responded enthusiastically to his election. But Israelis sense that Obama has placed the onus for restarting negotiations on Israel. Worse, he is perceived as showing weakness toward the world's bullies while acting resolutely only toward Israel. Many Israelis suspect that Obama actually wants a showdown with Jerusalem to bolster his standing in the Muslim world. If those perceptions aren't countered, the Israeli public will reject Obama's peace initiatives. Here are some suggestions for Washington about how to reassure increasingly anxious Israelis: Make clear that renewing the peace process requires simultaneous Israeli and Arab concessions. Reaffirm the Israeli status of the settlement blocs in a future agreement. Actively confront Palestinian demonization of Israel. Affirm Israel's historical legitimacy to the Muslim world. Make clear that the impending nuclearization of Iran, and not the Palestinian problem, is the region's most urgent crisis. Don't treat the Netanyahu government as a pariah. The writer is a senior fellow at the Adelson Institute for Strategic Studies of the Shalem Center in Jerusalem.
2009-07-28 06:00:00
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