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Israel and PA Have Convergence of Interests to Stop Hamas

(Canadian Jewish News) Paul Lungen - David Makovsky, director of the Project on the Middle East Peace Process at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said in Toronto last week that Iran remains an existential threat to Israel. But he did not foresee an imminent Israeli strike aimed at degrading its nuclear capability. Makovsky noted that Iran appears to be "playing games," "making promises" and "stretching things out." Israel and the U.S. are onside when it comes to addressing the Iranian desire for nuclear weapons - for now. The U.S. appears to be pursuing a three-phase strategy of engagement/negotiations, punitive sanctions and a military option as a last resort, he said. "I think there's a high level of appreciation in the West that if phases one and two fail, phase three is inevitable, whether the U.S. favors it or not." Turning to the Obama administration's efforts to pressure Israel to freeze settlements, Makovsky said the administration is re-evaluating its Mideast policy, and he expected it to return to a more familiar approach that is less confrontational. "The real story," Makovsky said, "is the convergence of interests of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to ensure that what happened in Gaza [a Hamas takeover] does not come to a theater near you."
2009-11-20 08:29:17
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