Likud's victory is Israel's defeat
Those of us who regularly observe and try to make sense of the madness sweeping the Middle East often find ourselves, perhaps out of desperation, engaging in wishful thinking; hoping that in the end, reason will prevail over lunacy. I lament the results of the Israeli elections because a relative majority of Israelis choose to continue living in the bubble, fearful of changing the status quo even though it will inevitably burst. The damning consequences Netanyahu's new government will inflict on the country are as certain as night following day. Following the wrath he brought upon his head for his earlier statement that there will be no Palestinian state under his watch, Netanyahu once again changed his mind only two days following the elections, stating in an interview on MSNBC that he wanted “a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution.” This reversal of his true position is tactical, designed to play for time and is just another cheap political stunt.
The Europeans, Americans and Palestinians, who have had extensive experience with him throughout the peace process, fully recognise his duplicity. He has lost every grain of credibility and no one will trust that he will negotiate in good faith in the future.
Dr. Alon Ben-Meir
Professor, International Relations
Centre for Global Affairs, NYU
Comments