Netanyahu's preparations have been hampered by a dispute within his
government over whether and to what extent should Israel concede to Obama's
demand for a fast-track process toward a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Middle East Newsline reported.
The dispute has pitted Netanyahu's against two most important ministers —
Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
But much of the effort has focused on devising ways for Netanyahu to
achieve a chemistry with Obama. Netanyahu's aides, many of them born and
raised in the United States, know plenty of Obama's habits, but little of
what makes the new president click.
"There are those who believe that Obama is just another American
president who fits in foreign policy between a domestically-driven agenda,"
an Israeli source said. "There is a small group who believe that Obama is
completely different and totally focused on Israel and the Middle East."
A key concern in the prime minister's office was that Obama or his aides
would try to embarrass Netanyahu during his visit to the United States in an
effort to highlight
Washington's dispute with Israel. Already, Israel has received reports that
Obama aides were boasting that the president would be forceful with the
visiting prime minister.
"If there is no complete agreement on all the details in dealing with
this issue, there is a chance for the most serious dispute between the U.S.
and Israel in the entire 61 years of relations between the two," Robert
Satloff, director of the Washington Institute and close to the White House,
said.
"If Netanyahu chooses one minister, he will probably lose the other
minister as an ally," the source said.
The sources said Barak has urged Netanyahu to support U.S. efforts to
establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank. The defense minister has
also appealed to the prime minister to announce his endorsement of a peace
plan by Saudi Arabia.
"Barak's position is that Israel cannot afford to derail U.S. peace
efforts while asking for Washington's help on Iran," the source said.
In contrast, Lieberman has pressed Netanyahu to embark on a new policy
toward the Palestinians that would focus on economic development. The
sources said Lieberman has urged Netanyahu to demonstrate firmness
to persuade Obama that U.S. pressure on Israel would be ineffective.
"The United States will accept any decision we make," Lieberman told a
Moscow newspaper on April 22.
So far, Netanyahu has been leaning toward Barak, who appears to
represent the most reliable channel to the Obama administration. Netanyahu,
to the consternation of his finance minister, quickly dropped plans for a
cut in the Defense Ministry budget as he sent messages through Barak to the
White House on the need for a successful summit.
As a result, the prime minister has been drafting proposals to develop
the Palestinian Authority and ease restrictions on Palestinians in the West
Bank. The prime minister also plans to stress the threat by Iran and its
proxies, Hamas and Hizbullah.
"First, peace will not come without security," Netanyahu said in a
video conference to the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee on May 4.
"If we abandon security, we'll have neither security nor peace. So I want
to be very clear: we shall never compromise on Israel's security."
Another Netanyahu proposal was for the United States to encourage an
Arab-Israeli alliance against Iran. The prime minister has been preparing
for his talks with Obama
by telling leaders of Congress that for the first time Arabs and Israelis
recognized a common threat that superseded other disputes.
"The common danger is echoed by Arab leaders throughout the Middle
East," Netanyahu said.
Still, some senior officials in the government remain skeptical over
Netanyahu's prospects. They said the Israeli intelligence community has
warned that Obama and his aides plan to pressure Israel to agree to a
timetable for a Palestinian state as well as negotiations for an Israeli
withdrawal from the Golan Heights. Netanyahu was also told that Obama's
priority has been reconciliation with a nuclear Iran regardless of its
threat to Israel and Gulf Arab states.
"Some of his closest people have warned him [Netanyahu] that he is
walking into a trap," an associate of the prime minister said. "But Bibi
[Netanyahu] believes his visit could be historical and give him the
opportunity to change the administration's policy toward Iran."
