US Fails to Use Leverage With Israel
Daoud Kuttab laments that the US no longer seems able to influence Israeli politics, despite the aid and assistance it provides.
During the past few decades, one can easily and accurately trace times in which world powers (especially the US) were able to influence a political process.
At least two Israeli elections come to mind: the victory of Labor’s Yitshaq Rabin replacing Yitshaq Shamir in the early 1990s and not long after that, the victory of Ehud Barak and the defeat of Benjamin Netanyahu. In both cases, the US was looking for a leader that could usher in a peace process and in both cases, they seem to have gotten what they want. This time around, the US seems to be interested in getting rid of Netanyahu but is unlikely to succeed.
There is no doubt that both Rabin and Barak, both decorated military leaders, are strong characters that don’t need the help of outsiders. Ironically, the current roster of contenders for the top position in the upcoming Israeli elections don’t have any army experience to speak of. Neither Netanyahu, Zipi Livni nor Shelly Yachimovich can compare militarily to either Rabin or Barak.
Washington, no doubt, would like to see changes taking place in the upcoming elections. The Israeli public is sending conflicting messages. Polls show that right-wing Israeli leader Netanyahu will easily win the elections and at the same time, that the Israeli president Shimon Peres is polling even higher than Netanyahu, even after he made scathing attacks publicly blaming Netanyahu for the failure of the peace process.
