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America in the Middle East

Veteran journalist - 'How to limit US pressure on Israel'


By Stan Goodenough
February 12, 2009

The Jerusalem Post's veteran diplomatic correspondent suggested Thursday that for Israel to most effectively withstand unwelcome pressure from the United States its next prime minister should try and put together as large a governing coalition as possible.

Herb Keinon, who has been at the Post for 22 years, warned that the Obama administration is "already pursuing a new Middle East agenda [meaning] there is bound to be a degree of friction between the US and Israel."

"The two countries do not see eye to eye on all issues, and it is likely - even natural - that Israel will not feel able to do everything that the Obama Administration may ask of it."

Disagreements could emerge on everything, writes Keinon, "from a complete freeze on settlement construction to making compromises on Jerusalem."

As former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had had to do on occasion, "Israel under either [Kadima Party leader Tzipi] Livni or, what looks much more likely, under [Likud chairman Benjamin] Netanyahu, may ... feel the need to say no to the US."

It would be easier "to politely turn down the Americans" if the upcoming Israeli coalition was a wide government rather than a narrow one.

"For instance, a message coming from Israel that it will not be willing to cede any part of Jerusalem to a foreign government would pack a more convincing punch were it to come from the head of a government of 93, than were it to come from the head of a wobbly government of 65."

Keinon believes that there are "enough people in Washington who know the Israeli political situation inside-out, and who could use the weakness of an Israeli government, and the knowledge that it could easily fall, as leverage in promoting US policies; policies that might not be identical with how Israel views its own interests."

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