Netanyahu's rhetoric over policy is jeopardizing Israel

Many people have studied this situation extensively. Many historians (using interviews and recently-declassified documents) have made it clear that while there have been times the Palestinians have not been willing to negotiate, there has been a constant undermining of many different peace processes by the Israeli government. They SAY "two state solution" and they ACT "drive them out." Hence the hysteria that any serious human rights/war crimes investigation causes. The only countries who consistently refuse to believe them are the United States and Israel.

Many Americans want to see ALL sides in this succeed. It will be hard, but you CAN do the right and honorable thing by the Palestinians, and allow them to move back to the lands granted them so very long ago. In doing this, you will have done the right thing by yourselves as well. G-d bless you both!

Agreed. If Netanyahu keeps defending the settlements and their expansion, he will by seen by American Jews as nothing but an imperialist who has the nerve to think the USA will support Israel no matter what. That is not the case. Most American Jews, as polls show, do not support the occupation of the West Bank and the policies used to enforce it.

I am often intrigued at how there is such popularity for idealists and arrogance within Israeli society. The recent drama unfolding now is in fact a sum of the traditional talking points that have been used by center-right politicians. Its like a jack-in-the-box that is undoubtably eventually gonna pop. Israeli governments have been pushing the envelope for far too long and exploiting the good relations that were offered to them in a different time. Its time to get real. Real about U.S. relations, real about good-hearted negotiating with palestinians and most of all real about humanity and justice. It is possible that the Jack in the box's reaction can be much more regretable than expected

The crisis emerging over the settlement issue emphasizes that it is high time that the United States remembered the words of Lord Palemerston that "nations do not have permanent friends and allies, only permanent interests." American support for the state of Israel is not an Israeli birthright, and when Israel's actions are contrary to U.S. interests we Americans should act as coldly as Israel acts when defending its interests. A long string of Israeli acts harmful to US interests brought us to this pass - it is simply (I hope) the last straw. The Obama adminstration is delivering a message that is long overdue. I hope it does not waver.

I see quite a bit of hubris in these responses. Hubris can lead to blindness of the realities at hand. That kind of blindness can lead to.... Never assume that your "friend" will not have their own best interests at heart first.

As nobody sews the branch he is sitting on, it is clear Netanyahu never had any intention to come to a peace-agreement and a two state somution. The Israeli government is playing games with a lot of hypocracy. Good that Obama at least, with Axelrod and Rahm at his side, saw clearly that he was taken for a ride.

Lance, Please don't confuse every American in the same mindset as yours. For one, this American doesn't think that Israel has embraced peace gestures all the time. In fact, everytime a right leaning party has come in power it acts just like the right leaning Hamas. It takes compromise on both side and I'm sorry to say that Netanyahu is wrong this time, period.

The settelments are illegal. Why is it the entire world recognizes that but Israel fails to do so? I'm for stopping US taxpayers money going to Israel. Why should we support the breaking of law and opression of people? There is nothing in it for us.

and you know why? because Lisa SAID SO...!! What is mine is mine (even if taken illegaly by force), what is yours is negotiable. Thats the way Israeli logic works these days!

Liza - You insist that the USA butt out of Israel's business and respect it's sovereignty. I assume you also want the USA to respect Iran's sovereignty and butt out of it's internal business.

Lisa, EVERYTHING and anything is negotiable!

then the U.S. adm. has a problem, NOT Israel. Israel will not be molded after the U.S.A*s desire to a state and country the U.S. wants her to look like. Israel is a sovereign state with a will of her own. The U.S. should learn to respect these two FACTS. Else she is violating the critical line betw. where Israel starts and the U.S. ends.

Why does someone always wheel this one out whenever someone criticises Israel or Israeli policy, to a lot of people its beginning to sound like a pretty weak excuse quite frankly.. Its time to start treating the Palestinians (and the Americans for that matter) as partners in a serious negotiation and not as some kind of joke.

"the usa must decide whether it is a separate country or just another star on its flag ?" Irrelevant... "either way israel knows its own needs which are distinctly different from those of the usa !" Irrelevant What Israel has been doing is ILLEGAL! As a full UNSC member, it's a part of the US's business what Israel does out side of it's Internationally acknowledged boundaries.

Don't you see... the US administration believes that Jerusalem IS negotiable. Why is the Israeli adm. not getting this?

other than ensuring his name is (apparently in Gold lettering studded with diamonds) on the door of the Prime minister's Office. Hence the destruction of diplomatic relations with the United states and the European Union. It is all about Bibi, the long term survival of Israel isn't an issue. Hence the statement to build 1600 housing units on Palestinian Territory. Bibi knows if Israel enters into peace talks then his coalition will collapse if there are concessions, and if there are no concessions then Israel will be blamed, and sanctions would be a distinct possibility. I would love to see the list Netanyahu is going to have to abide by after so spectacularly shooting himself in the foot.

I am reminded of what Paul said about Israel when he quoted from King David. "Let the table they sit around become for them: "A perplexity; "A trap; "An offence; "A retribution. "Let their eyes be deprived of light so they cannot see." My fear is that, when the nuclear war caused by Islam gets under way, Israel may be abandoned by the West if, by doing so, the global nuclear holocaust is brought to a swifter end. The deliberations of Netanyahu's cabinet table seem to be a perplexity, a trap, an offence and a retribution, the memories of which will make it easier for the West to abandon Israel in the forthcoming nuclear war.

the position of Jerusalem? Netanyahu, Ayalon and last Rivlin, all have repeatedly pointed out that Jerusalem is NOT negotiable. Why is the U.S. adm. not getting this?

What the reaction of US would be ? Untinkable ? The Hamas scum who planned murder of 70 Israelis was living in Ramallah ,under protection of US General Keith Dayton. Isn't it more offending than a statment about some houses ,to be built in 2 years time ?

This was an excellent editorial!!

ramle , the usa has let down and run away frommany allies since 1945 it can never be relied on when push comes to shove ! its time bibi got this message too !!!!!

Now why do people self-harm? Why does a nation self-harm? More to the point, what kind of treatment must be sought?

Dear Jasper, I disagree: the American general public is not pro-Israeli but irrelevant, and it is so for the exact reason you note. That public is, generally speaking, ignorant and therefore not interested one way or another. What matters are the American Jews and their relationship with American politicians.

Israel's continued existence depends on military aid from America. Bibi is jeoprodizing that now with his continued policy of settlement and duplicity and insult to the US. Convinced of his own rhetoric, he will be more damaging to Jewish History than even the third Reich, because if Israel falls again, it will never rise.

the usa must decide whether it is a separate country or just another star on its flag ? either way israel knows its own needs which are distinctly different from those of the usa !

I used to admire Israel and have visited several times. I am rapidly becoming disgusted with the gradual (in some cases, not so gradual) change to a facist theocracy. Is this what you voted for? It will be lonely world for you if you keep doing what you are doing.

Every American that is educated and knows basic middle east history knows that the Arabs have turned down peace so many times and have taken on violence. We all also know that Israel has made so many gestures towards the Arabs and have not gotten any reciprocity. Israel has every right in the world to build in the west bank - because there never was a Palestinian state in that area and the arabs turned down peace in 47, 67 and 2000. It is ridiculous to think that Israel will go back to 1967 borders and move 500,000 Israelis only to put the entire state of Israel at danger.

"Whatever the level of jeopardy with Obama, Israel is in no trouble with USA citizens. Unlike the EU, Americans tend to take their politics simple. Not one American in ten could locate Gaza or WB on a map." Translation: Americans are so stupid that they will continue to support Israel. What I'm hearing from Americans indicates that they aren't that stupid, and they are rapidly becoming smarter. The only stupid American, Jasper, appears to be you.

and you will see a dangerous, hostile place. Your treatment of American and its highest elected officials as anti-Israel belies the overwhelming truth that without America - not just Jews in America - there would be no Israel. The security of Israel is not to be found in condos in Jerusalem or West Bank bunkers. It is to be found in peace with its neighbors under the aegis of the quartet. You cannot bully your way around this fact.

... with Obama, Israel is in no trouble with USA citizens. Unlike the EU, Americans tend to take their politics simple. Not one American in ten could locate Gaza or WB on a map. And if you told them they were Arab populated, the reaction would likely be "you mean like them 911 b-----ds? Unfair? Perhaps. But we grew up on Anne Frank Jonas Salk, Leonard Bernstein, and Albert Einstein. I don't see us cozying up to the likes of Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, or Marwan Barghouti. EU, maybe, but not us.

The only strategic threat is the moron who writes the crap in Ha'aretz!

that was promised by Palestinians for letting them have West bank?

palestinians because of their violent behaviour. Solution? Make a two state area as requested by pro-Palistinians. Let them move in immediately as requested. First sign of violence, Pro-Palestinians have responsibility of moving the Palestinians right back out immediately.

Israel can't even negotiate a Palestinian state with a left wing government. Who are you kidding? You think the right wing settler nutcases are going to let that happen? Not in a million years. I would settle for withdrawal of all US support for Israel. Then you can see what a big bad country you are all on your own, surrounded by billions who despise your not so democratic state.

The current american policy is to use jews and Israel as scapegoats for the failing policies of Obama in the US. This week health care will go down and Obama with a failed presidency needs a scapegoat. Everything else has been seen before. The US will stand by Israel so long as they do what the US wants. Ridiculous and by the modern cruteria of many people anti semitic because these parameters do not apply elsewhere.