Netanyahu’s Move

Published in El Tiempo
(Colombia) on 4 March 2015
by Editorial (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Jessica Fernandez Rhodes. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.
With the explicit intention of torpedoing the progress of negotiations being held by the U.S. with Iran so that Iran freezes its nuclear program for 10 years in exchange for the cessation of certain sanctions, and against President Barack Obama's will, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed the U.S. Congress.



It was an unusual visit, due to the evident intention of ingratiating himself with the opposition of a government, which, despite everything, continues to be his great ally. It is a move that opens a chapter of unprecedented tension in a relationship which has always been characterized by its good countenance.



Republicans opened the doors for him; they are the majority in Congress and are very interested in being a stick in the wheel of progress of the plans the Democrat president has for his second term on foreign policy issues. Initially, it was a win-win situation.



During his intervention, the Israeli prime minister did not spare any darts aimed at a possible understanding between both governments. He reaffirmed his fierce opposition to a possible agreement, in a posture that more than a few associated with the need to harden the tone, with his country's parliamentary re-elections coming up on March 17. In this light, there is no doubt he managed to sweet talk his electorate as well as the Republicans.

But what the world is really interested in is that the dialogue between the U.S. and Iran started a new cycle this Thursday in Switzerland. And this time different than before, popular support of Obama's current administration has skyrocketed, according to a poll from the University of Maryland, quoted by The New York Times. Moreover, the possibility of harsher sanctions for Iran, a decision that would require the support of Democrat lawmakers, is unraveling for Netanyahu. He convinced the ones who were already convinced, but without fulfilling his great objective. A balance which many on this planet watch with satisfaction, for no matter how many doubts the effort generates, the sensible thing to do is to explore and exhaust the paths of dialogue with Iran.


Con la intención expresa de torpedear el avance de las negociaciones que Estados Unidos sostiene con Irán para que este país congele durante diez años su programa nuclear a cambio del cese de algunas sanciones, y contra la voluntad del presidente Barack Obama, el primer ministro de Israel, Benjamín Netanyahu, se dirigió al Congreso estadounidense.

Fue una visita anómala, dada la evidente intención de congraciarse con la oposición de un gobierno que, pese a todo, sigue siendo su gran aliado. Jugada que inicia un capítulo de tensión inédito, en unas relaciones que siempre se han caracterizado por su buen semblante.

Le abrieron las puertas los republicanos, que son mayoría en el Congreso y que están muy interesados en ser palo en la rueda del avance de los planes que para su segundo mandato tiene el Presidente demócrata en materia de política exterior. Era, en principio, un gana-gana.

En su intervención, el premier israelí no ahorró dardos contra un posible entendimiento entre ambos gobiernos. Reafirmó su férrea oposición a un posible acuerdo, en una postura que no pocos asociaron con la necesidad de endurecer el tono ante la proximidad de las elecciones parlamentarias en su país, el 17 de este mes. Visto así, no hay duda de que logró endulzar el oído de su electorado y el de los republicanos.

Pero lo que de verdad le interesa al mundo es que los diálogos entre Estados Unidos e Irán comenzaron un nuevo ciclo este jueves, en Suiza. Con la diferencia, respecto al anterior, de que el apoyo popular a esta gestión de Obama se disparó, según encuesta de la Universidad de Maryland citada por The New York Times. Así mismo, la posibilidad de sanciones más severas para Irán, decisión para la cual necesitaría el apoyo de los legisladores demócratas, se le embolata a Netanyahu. Convenció a los convencidos, pero sin cumplir su gran objetivo. Balance que muchos en el planeta ven con satisfacción, pues, por más dudas que genere tal esfuerzo, lo sensato es explorar y agotar los caminos del diálogo con Irán.
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