Israel Matzav

Now who's hurting the US-Israel alliance?

President-elect Barack Hussein Obama's first run-in with an Israeli politician may not be with Binyamin Netanyahu as Israel's left predicted. Instead it may be with 'Tzipora' Livni. Livni doesn't want Obama to talk to Iran 'just yet.'

US President-elect Barack Obama should not talk to Iran just yet, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Thursday, warning that such dialogue could project "weakness."

Her comments marked a first sign of disagreement with the incoming American administration. Obama has stated a willingness to talk to Iran about its nuclear program without condition, telling The Jerusalem Post in July that he would engage "in tough, direct talks" with Teheran.

His policy marks a departure from that of the Bush administration, which has refused to engage Iranian leaders.

Livni said in an interview with Israel Radio that Obama is not willing to accept a nuclear Iran. But "dialogue at this time is liable to broadcast weakness," the Kadima leader cautioned. "I think early dialogue at a time when it appears to Iran that the world has given up on sanctions could be problematic."

Of course, I agree that Obama should not be talking to Iran, because I believe that the United States should not be talking to Iran. That's not the point of this post. But it looks awfully stupid now to claim that Netanyahu is going to damage the US-Israel relationship by sticking up for Israel's rights any more than Livni will, doesn't it?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:11 AM