How Bibi uses settlements to block Palestinian state
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that Israel is under a constant existential threat and thus perceives those who believe in peace as naive and unrealistic.
In the aftermath of the March 17 Israeli elections, one can read many assessments about the international community taking steps to isolate the next Benjamin Netanyahu government (especially given the rift between Washington and Jerusalem), and acting in favor of establishing a Palestinian state. Yet it seems that Prime Minister Netanyahu is not terribly concerned about such eventualities; his election hubris has not faded.
A source close to Netanyahu spoke to Al-Monitor about the prime minister's view of his next term. The premier, according to the source, is confident that he can steer Israel away from what he considers dangers — first and foremost the establishment of a Palestinian state. While he understands the depth of the crisis with President Barack Obama — whom he views as a left-wing liberal, naive and weak — he assumes that he will get along better with the next president (possibly from the Bush or Clinton families).
