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The U.S. Quarrel with Israel

(Washington Post) Editorial - President Obama's Middle East diplomacy failed in his first year in part because he chose to engage in an unnecessary and unwinnable public confrontation with Israel over Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem. So it has been startling - and a little puzzling - to see Mr. Obama deliberately plunge into another public brawl with the Jewish state. The dispute's dramatic escalation seems to have come at the direct impetus of Mr. Obama. American chastising of Israel invariably prompts still harsher rhetoric, and elevated demands, from Palestinian and other Arab leaders. Rather than join peace talks, Palestinians will now wait to see what unilateral Israeli steps Washington forces. On the question of Jerusalem, Mr. Netanyahu is likely to dig in his heels - as would any other Israeli government. A larger question concerns Mr. Obama's quickness to bludgeon the Israeli government. Tough tactics don't always work: Last year Israelis rallied behind Mr. Netanyahu, while Mr. Obama's poll ratings in Israel plunged to the single digits. The president is perceived by many Israelis as making unprecedented demands on their government while overlooking the intransigence of Palestinian and Arab leaders. If this episode reinforces that image, Mr. Obama will accomplish the opposite of what he intends.
2010-03-16 09:19:28
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