Into Focus

Benjamin Netanyahu already went up against one American president when he served as Israeli Prime Minister and had a falling out with Bill Clinton. Now that he’s again the head of state, he has crossed swords with President Obama over Israel’s settlement policy. The seriousness of this disagreement leads one to the conclusion that this one may be a crisis.

Washington’s strong reaction to Israel’s announcement that settlement expansion would continue in East Jerusalem was more than just anger over the snub given to Vice President Joe Biden. It’s the last straw in Obama’s failure to enact his Middle East policy: A stubborn Netanyahu refuses to dance to a cool Obama’s tune; the Arabs have already given up any hope for change from Washington; Iran goes its merry way with its nuclear program. Bush’s replacement can’t point to much in the way of success.

But Obama can’t stand silently by and allow Netanyahu to call the shots or watch his own strategy be endangered. The Israeli leader is mistaken if he believes he can get away with anything with the United States. Israel certainly continues to enjoy great sympathy in America and has strong support in the U.S. Congress — Republicans especially think Obama is at fault in this latest disagreement.

But it’s extremely unwise to provoke a partner and try to undercut his policies, especially when one is so dependent on that partner’s unwavering diplomatic and military support. Netanyahu can’t continue to reject everything Washington demands, lest he force Obama to employ the power he has over Israel. Israel no longer has so many allies that it can afford to alienate any of them.

Netanyahu will have to find a way out of the dilemma he is now in, brought on by the settlement policies of his coalition partners, as well as his own convictions. It appears the Jerusalem government underestimated America’s anger. Presumably, both sides have no interest in escalating the rift since it wouldn’t be in America’s best interest. And it would certainly not be in Israel’s best interest either.