Netanyahu's diplomatic mistakes
A JPost editorial evaluating Prime Minister Netanyahu's first 100 days lists these mistakes on the diplomatic front. He hesitated too long before making his Bar-Ilan speech articulating mainstream Israel's acquiescence in a demilitarized Palestinian state.I can't say I disagree with any of those.
He misguidedly enlarged Defense Minister (and embattled Labor Party chief) Ehud Barak's portfolio to make him de facto special envoy to the Obama administration. By sidelining Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Netanyahu has been signaling a "soft" negotiating strategy when, arguably, a better bargaining approach - given President Obama's apparently resolute determination to force a categorical and unconditional settlement freeze on Israel - would have been to let the pragmatic but tough Lieberman play his scripted role.
The government has also been ineptly leaking its compromise proposal for a settlement freeze before locking in Washington's assent, eliciting State Department denials and making a face-saving compromise harder to achieve.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:06 AM
1 Comments:
There are things the Israeli government could be doing differently. With all that Israel is facing in today's adverse international climate, it could be a lot worse. And the diplomatic mistakes are not irreparable.
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