Netanyahu As Prime Minister Would Stand In The Way Of Obama's Overtures To Syria And Iran (Updated)

This according to Jonathan Schanzer, adjunct scholar at www.Campus-Watch.org and author of Hamas vs. Fatah: The Struggle For Palestine, assuming of course that Netanyahu does indeed become the next Prime Minister:

Netanyahu’s policies, however, may not necessarily mesh with those of U.S. president Barack Obama. For example, Netanyahu has pledged that Israel will not cede control of the Golan Heights. Such a concession would be necessary to achieve peace with Syria—which appears to rank among Obama’s top diplomatic priorities in the Middle East.

Netanyahu has also bluntly stated that he will not allow Iran to gain access to nuclear weapons under any circumstances. This could conflict with Obama’s approach of extending an “outstretched hand” to Tehran.

Finally, Netanyahu has indicated that he is less flexible on the land-for-peace permutations suggested by other Israeli leaders in their diplomatic discussions with the Palestinians.

The question then is not whether Obama and Netanyahu will see eye-to-eye, but whether Netanyahu will be able to stand his ground.

Update: In Does ‘When Bibi met Barack’ have a happy ending?, Ron Kampeas echos what others have written about US concern about Netanyahu based on his previous term as Prime Minister.  But back then, Netanyahu was Israel's youngest Prime Minister ever and some expect this time would be different--even on issues some assume are set in stone:

[Tel Aviv University political scientist Yoram] Peri said Netanyahu would be unlikely to stray too far from Likud doctrine when it comes to the Palestinians, considering the rise of hard-liners within the party. Instead, he suggested, a Netanyahu administration might make headway with Syria. Though Netanyahu has expressed opposition to the Israel-Syria talks revived last year, saying now is not the time to give up the Golan heights, Netanyahu came close to making such a deal when he was prime minister.

"If he wants to contain a clash with Washington" over its aggressive pursuit of peace, Peri said, "it'll be easier for him to support discussions with Syria.”

This only reflects the concern, strengthened by news of a Likud-Kadima coalition, that Netanyahu may not be as hardline as expected--which comes as a concern to some and as a relief to others.

Crossposted at Soccer Dad

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