The Arabist

The Arabist

By Issandr El Amrani and friends.

Pillar on Netanyahu

Exposing Netanyahu | The National Interest Blog:

Probably the most significant take-away from the past few days of U.S.-Israeli dialog is to shed light on the true intentions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding peace with the Palestinians. Although Netanyahu finally allowed the phrase “Palestinian state” to pass his lips for the first time almost two years ago, this past week in Washington provided further confirmation of what had been apparent all along: that whatever conception Netanyahu may have of such a “state,” it is not a formula having any chance of becoming the basis for—to use Netanyahu's own words from his joint appearance with President Obama on Friday—“a peace that will be genuine, that will hold, that will endure,” or probably even what most of the rest of the world would consider a state. Netanyahu is smart enough to realize this, which is to say he is content to let the status quo endure indefinitely. Israel will maintain that status quo through brute force—military force within the territories, and political force in Washington.

Read the whole thing. This is what shows you there is no Israeli desire for peace, and the deeper reality is that this is the case whether Likud, Kadima or Labor is in power. With Netanyahu, you get it unvarnished — that's the difference.

[Thanks, AG]