Mr. Netanyahu and the American “Ambush”

Benjamin Netanyahu had a change of pace when he arrived in Jerusalem on Thursday, March 25, after three grueling days in Washington. The Israeli press is talking about his “humiliation” by the Obama administration and the “ambush” that was waiting for him at the White House.

According to some columnists, the Israeli prime minister had his “back against the wall” after getting the third degree from Barack Obama, who, reenergized by the health care reform vote, seems intent on securing major concessions from Israel in order to restart the peace process.

Mr. Netanyahu would find some solace in the support of legislators from his ruling coalition’s right-wing and religious parties, who call for him to stand firm against American “pressure,” especially on the question of continued colonization in East Jerusalem.

A Rattled Bilateral Relationship

Yet, what indignities he had faced! Mr. Netanyahu was received by the president after nightfall. No photographers and no final statement.

Details abound about his long meeting with Mr. Obama: punctuated by huddles with his advisers and followed by telephone calls to his ministers in Jerusalem made from the Israeli embassy, not the White House, because the Israeli delegation feared they would be listened in on by American intelligence — just one of several signs that trust between Israel and America has gone up in smoke.

Mr. Netanyahu went home a confirmed failure, at least as far as smoothing out bilateral relations was concerned. Relations have been rocky since Israel decided to build in Arab parts of the Holy City.

Just before meeting with Mr. Obama on Tuesday, the Israeli prime minister was taken by surprise by the announcement, in Jerusalem, of 20 new homes to be built on the site of an old Palestinian hotel in East Jerusalem.

And now? Mr. Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with his ministers on Friday to present them with a list of American demands, including, in particular, a complete halt to construction in East Jerusalem.

Rumors of a Collapse of the Coalition

These past few weeks, several American officials have stressed that Israeli stubbornness has put American troops around the world at risk by exacerbating Islamic fanaticism and limiting strategic partnerships Washington has pursued with Arab states.

On Thursday, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the absence of progress in the peace process “does affect U.S. national security interests.”

In Jerusalem, a collapse of the ruling coalition is being rumored — no doubt an exaggeration — and labor ministers have tipped their hands.

Certain figures in the centrist Kadima party, led by opposition leader Tzipi Livni, have suggested that they would agree to enter government if Mr. Netanyahu broke with the far-right and religious Yisrael Beiteinu and Shas parties.