How Obama Can Make Netanyahu Give In

Between Obama and Israel, the hour of truth finally approaches.

In openly opposing the American president’s injunction to put an end to the settlements, Benjamin Netanyahu risks political arm wrestling with the White House.

How can Obama make him give in?

No one imagines he will reconsider the military aid the U.S. accords Israel each year. Besides, there is every chance that Congress would oppose it.

So what can he do?

Here are four ideas floating around these days:

1. He could freeze the guaranteed credit that America allocates to Israel. That’s how George H.W. Bush convinced Itzhak Shamir to participate in the Madrid conference.

2. He could ask the IRS to take a look at the American NGOs participating in the financing of the settlements and to which contributions are made, just as Washington Post columnist, David Ignatius, recently revealed some that were tax deductible.

3. He could take the initiative of diplomatically isolating Israel from the Security Council by submitting a resolution condemning the settlements (I hardly believe he would go that far).

4. He could incite Europeans not to “build up” their relations with Jerusalem as is expected during a reunion between the EU and Israel next June 15 (a reunion already postponed for this reason, a postponement which, among others, would explain the cancellation of Netanyahu’s visit to Paris).