Tension Between Obama and Israel

The U.S. Administration is submitting the Israeli government to unprecedented pressure, due to the debatable decisions that have been adopted, of late, concerning the construction of new Jewish settlements in East Jerusalem. If Obama believes that is the most important item on the agenda in dealing with the Israeli prime minister — so important as to be a determining factor in the tenor of relations with his most valuable strategic ally in the entire region — then it is possible that we’re heading toward a period of serious uncertainties in the Near East.

The two-state solution proposed by the United States and the European Union presupposes that Israel, as well as the Palestinians, have to contribute to its formation, as will all the countries in the region. Possible errors by Israel don’t convert the rest of the actors in this conflict into friendly and sincere collaborators in the interests of the West. Additionally, it remains to be seen whether or not the diplomatic isolation to which Washington is sending the Israelis will really convince the other party to negotiate, or if, on the contrary, it will exacerbate the anxieties of those who are not at all interested in bringing about a peaceful solution, including the theocratic regime of Iran, its puppets in Hezbollah and the radical members of Hamas. If it were realistic to believe that the Palestinians were ready to re-engage in negotiations with Israel at this time, maybe then could this North American policy be justified, especially if it were to be applied with the same energy to the Arabs. However, under present circumstances, such an option would probably be counterproductive.

The solution to this conflict that confronts Palestinians and Israelis is as desirable as it is difficult, especially while those who promote violence are the prevailing players. In these moments, Washington should know that the primary threat to peace isn’t the issue of the Jewish settlements, but rather the determination of Iran in its plans to build up its supply of nuclear arms. An Iranian regime suffering a crisis of legitimacy and on the path to building nuclear missiles is a threat of incalculable dimensions for the West, and Israel continues to be our only reliable ally in the region.