Obama’s Israel visit will be the moment of truth for Netanyahu

HAARETZ ^ | Feb.06, 2013 | 5:46 PM | Itamar Rabinovich

[haffast]

The White House's surprising, dramatic announcement this week that President Barack Obama will come to Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan has had an immediate impact on Israel's domestic political agenda and on the larger Middle Eastern political and diplomatic landscape.

Following Barack Obama's re-election, analysts and commentators have been speculating on the policy he was likely to adopt with regard to Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some have argued that he was likely to re-engage in the effort to resolve the conflict that he had abandoned after a humiliating failure, and that he would probably assign the task to his secretary of state, keeping a safe distance from the Israeli-Palestinian minefield. Others argued that rather than get into yet another clash with Benjamin Netanyahu, Obama will opt for sort of "a benign neglect" and let the Europeans and the UN take the initiative and then perhaps join the scene once Netanyahu had been softened up.

Big Snip

[haffast]

"Obama's choice was clearly different from these speculations. He is taking the matter into his own hands, and he is doing it early in his second term, thus indicating the priority he assigns to the issue and his willingness to take the political risks he knows all too well. This decision is congruent with the line taken by Obama when he made choices such as Hagel's appointment as secretary of defense. Hagel was chosen because his world-view suits the president's, and the latter was willing to enter a tough domestic battle in order to get the nomination through. The message was: I have been re-elected, I was given a second mandate by a large majority and I am going to implement my vision free of the constraints of a first-term president."

In the same vein, Obama's decision to re-enter the Israeli-Palestinian fray signifies his determination to lead the effort to resolve a conflict he views as a key to America's relationship with the Arab and Muslim worlds. Obama knows full well that Netanyahu's concept of an Israeli-Palestinian peace process and its potential settlement is very different than his own, and he is clearly willing to let Israel's re-elected Prime Minister make the choice - either work with Israel’s central ally, or face the consequences of another confrontation.

Snip

Lead Abstract from article:

The upcoming presidential visit represents an unprecedented attempt to shape an Israeli coalition amenable to the peace process. Resolving the conflict, in Obama’s view, is key to the U.S. relationship with the Arab and Muslim worlds.

"Itamar Rabinovich was Israel's ambassador to the U.S. from 1993–1996, is the author most recently of The Lingering Conflict: Israel, the Arabs and the Middle East 1948-2011 (Brookings Institute, 2011)."

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[laweeks]

I can’t imagine that a weak-spined, anti-American, anti-Semite muslim would impress anybody of the quality of Netanyahu.

[elcid1970]

All that Netanyahu has to go on doing is be the adult in the room.

That’s what Obama hates & envies most about the Israeli leader.

[Captain PJ]

Bibi needs to bail on zero and go grab a snack right in the middle of a meeting.

[Mouton]

I've called the boy wonder everything from king to his excellency. I forgot one which he is more suited for:

Pharaoh. Consider that he will be telling the Israelites lies as soon as he opens his mouth and considers himself a virtual sun god so the term fits much better than Il Duce, dictator, king, or anything else that comes to mind.

[haffast]

I can’t imagine that a weak-spined, anti-American, anti-Semite muslim would impress anybody of the quality of Netanyahu.

A weak-spined, anti-American, anti-Semite muslim who just happens to be holding a bigger gun while:

At least 51% of Americans are against Israel

Europe is against Israel

The Arab world is against Israel

The UN is against Israel

The ICC is against Israel

Even the Pope is against Israel

While O'Biden was in Europe this past weekend having meetings with heads of state discussing security issues (Syria, Iran, Palestine..)

Kerry and Hagel are scheduled to meet on Feb 26 with the Iranians to discuss the nuclear issues

My guess is Netanyahu may not be impressed, but he will be distressed when Dear Leader leaves Bibi's surrounded country.

"Peace and Security" is on the menu.

[Puppage]

Bibi needs to bail on zero and go grab a snack right in the middle of a meeting.

Turnabout is fair play, right? I am still embarrassed that Zero left Bibi downstairs at TWH while he went upstairs to dine. Classless.

[Nachum]

Nothing personal, but screw Haaretz with a red hot poker. They are the Israeli equivalent of the New York Times. Itamar Rabinovich is a leftist State Dept. wonk who has made a career of slinging mud at the Jews of Israel.

They HATE that they could not beat Netanyahu at the polls. Their Soros financed slime failed at the last elections and the communists dearly want to chop up Israel. Now, they are sending in Obama just as Netanyahu is about to build his coalition after the election. Don’t think for a second that this is lost on the Israelis or the Arabs. Obama wants to screw Netanyahu personally. He is drooling at the chance.

Obama is NOT willing to give Netanyahu any kind of choice at all. That is why he showing up to apply the screws. It won’t work at all because the Jews will not lay down and die for some leftist fantasy.

[idov]

I was surprised too that anyone in the world quoted Haaretz. The only people who read it here are the people who work there and their immediate families. This visit is no big deal. What is a big deal is the formation of the government now under way. They’ll decide what Israel does not some pompous potentate from abroad.

[haffast]

You may want to reconsider two of the articles you have listed on http://www.nachumlist.com/:

2/6/2013

Obama vs. the U.S. Military

Pentagon delays deployment of carrier to Mideast over budget woes

Panetta to propose military pay cut after Obama raised federal officials pay

CNN: Panetta to Recommend Pay Cut For Military

Obama and Israel

Obama Timed to Visit Israel just as Netanyahu Attempts to Form Coalition

Ahmadinejad: Iran already a nuclear state, but has no intention of launching attack on Israel In interview with Al-Ahram on eve of Islamic Summit Conference in Cairo, Iranian president also says his country opposes outside intervention in Syria

Slow down.....I'm on your side. I'm thinking you haven't really read the article. Contrast it with the Breitbart article you have listed on your site.

The whole world is positioning itself to put pressure on Israel. It was foretold.

[SunkenCiv]

Here’s hoping Hamas got some of those manpads.

Thanks haffast.

[Nachum]

Which two articles? The ones under Israel or of the military?