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Last update - 09:57 09/11/2009
Does Obama delay in scheduling Netanyahu meet point to crisis?
By Aluf Benn
Tags: U.S. Israel relations 

Relations between Israel and the United States are in crisis. This is the conclusion that stems from the difficulty in arranging a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama.

The White House wanted Netanyahu to sweat before being granted an audience with the president, and wanted everyone to see him perspire.

The delays in finding a time to meet, and pushing it to a late hour - after the news programs on Israeli television - make Netanyahu look as if Obama threw him a bone. In such circumstances, it is no longer important what will be said at the meeting, and the extent to which there will be an attempt to present it as an achievement. The prime minister of Israel was humiliated before all.
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Netanyahu likes to say that the United States is big and that the Israeli public is mistaken in identifying the American viewpoint only with the president. The true America, Netanyahu says, begins 70 miles west of New York and ends 70 miles east of Los Angeles, and within this enormous space, Israel has millions of loyal supporters.

In his view, the friction with the White House needs to be put in the appropriate proportion, and that falls within the tremendous support of American public opinion that favors Israel.

Those close to Netanyahu, who can express themselves more freely than him, ridicule Obama's inexperience and political amateurism of the administration. In their view, the White House thought it would be possible to bring Netanyahu down, but he only strengthened, according to public opinion polls.

They pressured him to freeze settlements, but he did not surrender.

These neat explanations seem to miss the point: The relations are not symmetrical. Netanyahu may be an experienced diplomat and politician, and Obama may be a novice, but Obama is the president of a superpower, and Netanyahu represents a small country that depends greatly on the United States.

It sometimes appears that Netanyahu forgets this, and pretends he is the head of a superpower, for example when he identifies himself with Winston Churchill, or in declaring that the Israeli mind will free the world of oil dependency in a decade.

Of course Israel can and should use influence and support in the United States, in order to push the policies of the administration in its favor. But in moments of truth and during a crisis, it would be good for Netanyahu if Obama was quick to respond to his call, and not place him on hold.

Obama is not always fair: Denying the existence of understandings between Israel and the previous administration on the settlements harmed his credibility. It is also unclear why he humiliated Netanyahu after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly praised the Prime Minister's proposal to limit settlement construction as "unprecedented."

The opaqueness of the administration rallied Israeli public opinion behind Netanyahu, instead of creating domestic divisions.

But even when the president is not being nice, he is still stronger in the relationship. Instead of making excuses and explaining the terrible situation, Netanyahu should make the effort to resolve the crisis with the American administration. He should listen to the American complaints which sound like the gripes of a couple married for 30 years. Israel complains about the absence of intimacy but only takes and does not give anything in return.

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      1.   Netanyahu and Obama 01:36  |  Rigoletto 09/11/09
      2.   All Obama needed to do was rip up the check 01:40  |  Marc Leb 09/11/09
      3.   Israel get`s 15 Billion a year and is complaining 01:42  |  Marc Leb 09/11/09
      4.   Ah, the joys of arrogance 01:46  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
      5.   These are assumptions by Aluf Benn, not sure if correct but 01:47  |  Smadar 09/11/09
      6.   America`s Spoiled Child. 02:08  |  Cool B 09/11/09
      7.   I`m confused 02:13  |  Reasoned Thinker 09/11/09
      8.   Netanyahu is the source of the friction 02:21  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 09/11/09
      9.   Israel needs to wake up to a new reality 02:29  |  Gary 09/11/09
      10.   The Tragedy of Israeli Dependency 02:57  |  Ari 09/11/09
      11.   This article is as naive as Obama.... 03:16  |  Edward 09/11/09
      12.   as usual in articles like this... 03:22  |  edgar 09/11/09
      13.   Sole mates 03:27  |  Max 09/11/09
      14.   bring Peres along 03:31  |  Paul 09/11/09
      15.   Obama politics 03:36  |  Steve O 09/11/09
      16.   If youre not right of Likud, you`re not a friend 04:01  |  Katherine 09/11/09
      17.   Israel is smaller than new jersey 04:06  |  Peter 09/11/09
      18.   Pychobabble 05:00  |  Michael N 09/11/09
      19.   Obama Won`t Matter in 12 Months 05:12  |  Brent 09/11/09
      20.   12 months and counting.... 05:12  |  SMF 09/11/09
      21.   Obama Bows To Self-declared Saudi Kings 05:44  |  Laguna Geno 09/11/09
      22.   The Tragedy of Israeli Dependency 05:57  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
      23.   The position of Israel is simple 06:08  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
      24.   Duality: Right Wing Jews Too Smart by Half 06:11  |  Steve Benassi 09/11/09
      25.   Middle America has its own rhythyms. 06:16  |  Lou Medel 09/11/09
      26.   "unclear why he humiliated Netanyahu" 06:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 09/11/09
      27.   Time to Move On 06:28  |  Vladek 09/11/09
      28.   Arab racism 07:15  |  Paul 09/11/09
      29.   Lou Medal, I again salute you.... 07:16  |  BBSNews 09/11/09
      30.   Protecting its people and borders is Israel`s moral duty. 08:14  |  B. Gold 09/11/09
      31.   CUT THE LOAN GURANTEES AND AID 08:14  |  Ahmet 09/11/09
      32.   Netanyahu did NOT compare himself to Churchill 08:32  |  Josh 09/11/09
      33.   Who humiliated whom? 08:43  |  jmundstuk 09/11/09
      34.   Call the White House... ask for Barack 10:21  |  allang 09/11/09
      35.   34 allang - Exactly 10:49  |  Mark of Lewiston 09/11/09
      36.   Obama was overly "polite" until now...which can`t be said of Bibi 10:58  |  S 09/11/09
      37.   why should obama accommodate netanyahu`s concerns 11:34  |  eric 09/11/09
      38.   #35 Mark... maybe a miracle will happen 11:46  |  allang 09/11/09
      39.   It is not a crisis 11:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/11/09
      40.   Netanyahu`s Bible Belt charm. 12:01  |  B.Morris 09/11/09
      41.   Hi S#36, the extent of the retribution will ironically depend... 12:07  |  Esther 09/11/09
      42.   The Obama administration. 12:10  |  B. Gold 09/11/09
      43.   Netanyau and the US admin. 12:12  |  arye 09/11/09
      44.   A good article. 12:12  |  sandra chitayat 09/11/09
      45.   Obama snubs the Dahli Lama, and Israel. 12:15  |  Petra 09/11/09
      46.   Mark of Lewiston... Obama plays basketball 12:27  |  allang 09/11/09
      47.   MARCLEB $!5 billion/year??.More taqiyya.Your source?? 12:32  |  PETER SM 09/11/09
      48.   COOL B "Americas spoiled child"- the Arabs,they get more US aid 13:42  |  PETER SM 09/11/09
      49.   If I was Hillary, I would now be out to get Bibi. 13:53  |  Michael 09/11/09
      50.   the question is if the usa is responsible for israel 13:54  |  watcher 09/11/09
      51.   Israel needs to quit the F-35 program 13:57  |  steve from raleigh 09/11/09
      52.   Bibi`s been driving, looking at the back seat the whole time. 14:16  |  Michael 09/11/09
      53.   Well, Michael #49... I dunno about Hilary and grudges... 14:32  |  Esther 09/11/09
      54.   Netanyahu Hurting Chance for Peace 14:39  |  Jane 09/11/09
      55.   STEVE Raleigh .Write your congressman 14:41  |  PETER SM 09/11/09
      56.   correction to post on us aid to egypt/Israel to psm 14:53  |  enri igguns 09/11/09
      57.   Other issues 14:54  |  PhD Candidate 09/11/09
      58.   Esther 53. This is probably about 2016 for Hillary. 15:07  |  Michael 09/11/09
      59.   Comprehensive Understanding of Israeli Democracy Absent 15:15  |  David P. 09/11/09
      60.   Tend to disagree with Aluf Benn 15:21  |  Sharif Hafez 09/11/09
      61.   obama 15:42  |  zoe 09/11/09
      62.   Reasoned Thinker Is Illogical 15:49  |  Yaakov Sullivan 09/11/09
      63.   Frank Sinatras song-Strangers in the night exchanging glances 15:56  |  Alan 09/11/09
      64.   Netanyahu takes US-Israel relations for granted hence the crisis 16:41  |  Siam Kerry 09/11/09
      65.   #52 michael - Perfect description! Indeed Bibi is jettisoning 16:46  |  Stephanie Mazerelli 09/11/09
      66.   #51 Steve of Raleigh 16:50  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/11/09
      67.   Bibi Doesn`t Deserve a Meeting 16:55  |  Stephen 09/11/09
      68.   Obama`s attitude 17:22  |  Col [res] Cohen 09/11/09
      69.   #67 Stephen 17:51  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/11/09
      70.   To Arye, Mallorca re: Chinese PM to Cairo and the Arab League? 18:29  |  David James Vickery 09/11/09
      71.   About Obama and Netanyahu 18:32  |  Willoughby Lloyd 09/11/09
      72.   IT`S ALL A SHOW, NO BIGGIE 18:58  |  Mark from Georgia 09/11/09
      73.   Lou Medel`s disjointed rhythyms 19:07  |  SDHD 09/11/09
      74.   What meeting? What does Bibi have to say anyway? 19:15  |  Dmitry Kalametris 09/11/09
      75.   The wrong battles at the wrong time for both. 19:33  |  a wandering Jew 09/11/09
      76.   While the poverty spread in the US ... 19:34  |  Roger 09/11/09
      77.   Crisis? 19:53  |  Alfred 09/11/09
      78.   Step 65. Bibi driving looking backwards is never going to work. 20:11  |  Michael 09/11/09
      79.   Hi Esther #41 - about sentiments... 20:53  |  S 09/11/09
      80.   Obama plays basketball 21:00  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
      81.   So, what happens when 21:01  |  Mark Lincoln 09/11/09
      82.   What would be the point in talking to Netanyahu ? 21:15  |  David 09/11/09
      83.   The crisis are not Israel vs US 21:21  |  TonyL 09/11/09
      84.   Well, Michael #70... Goldstone still judiciously on-the-road... 21:23  |  Esther 09/11/09
      85.   subjective reporting 21:25  |  Michael 09/11/09
      86.   Chris Linthwaite yet to realise 22:54  |  rich 09/11/09
      87.   Ahh yes, but "prior understandings" don`t count. 23:09  |  Maureen Ann 09/11/09
      88.   46 allang - Hope You`re Right 01:17  |  Mark of Lewiston 10/11/09
      89.   The way Obama is going...soon nobody will want to talk to him 02:44  |  Radical Chick 10/11/09
      90.   #4 - Joys of arrogance 03:22  |  Gully Foyle 10/11/09
      91.   the nag 04:15  |  Jim 10/11/09
      92.   Things Are Not Always What They Appear 05:02  |  Sdunc 10/11/09
      93.   Er, why should a foreign nation use its influence 07:59  |  Dekel 10/11/09
      94.   Hi Esther #41 - about sentiments...4th try 08:32  |  S 10/11/09
      95.   Mark Jeffery Koch 12:42  |  JAMES 11/11/09
      96.   Col [res] Cohen 12:51  |  JAMES 11/11/09
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