“We’re sliding back into the darkness,” he said recently. “We are seeing problems in Jerusalem that will directly destabilize not only the relationship with Jordan ... but will also create a tinderbox that will have a major flashpoint throughout the Islamic world.” Turkey, one of Israel’s few friends in the Middle East, has also fallen out with Netanyahu over Gaza and related frustrations.
If Clinton is frank with Obama, she will tell him that Netanyahu, while insisting he is ready in theory to negotiate a two-state solution, is adopting an ever more inflexible line in practice. Addressing the Knesset last week, the Israeli leader ignored the settlements issue — a key US concern — and reasserted that Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state if they want a state of their own. After Friday’s vote in Geneva, he is claiming the UN wants nothing less than the “de-legitimization” of Israel and is encouraging global terrorism. These are extreme and confrontational positions.
There can be little doubt that his confidence stems from the perception that after a tense few months, he has “seen off” Obama and his naive peacemaking notions. US diplomats warn that Obama is “a man of steel,” and will not give up. This bold assertion is about to be tested.
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