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Netanyahu with Obama. Reverting to days of Mr. No?
Photo: Reuters

A ship without a captain

While Obama is not afraid to speak up, Netanyahu offers no peace vision

As we await US President Barack Obama’s vision for Middle East peace in Cairo on Thursday, we cannot help but be concerned by the lack of vision from Jerusalem.

 

After a much vaunted policy review process, one would expect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to present an outline of his plan to get the peace process back on track when he met with Obama. Instead, it’s now looking more like Bibi is reverting to the days of Yitzhak Shamir’s Mr. No.

 

In recent years, we have gotten used to Israeli prime ministers flying to Washington in order to discuss their vision and plan for peace in the Middle East. Thus, Ehud Olmert promoted convergence on the eve of the 2006 elections; Ariel Sharon pushed the Gaza disengagement; and, Ehud Barak oversaw the IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon in March 2000 - not to mention the Oslo Accords crafted by the late Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. Each of these leaders had a plan.

 

One could criticize their political views, decision-making processes, even the ultimate outcome. One could blame them for the damage they brought or praise them for their initiative, but one cannot say that they did nothing, that they waited for their term to be over without trying to bring peace to the Middle East.

 

It is time Bibi addresses the Israeli public to present his action plan for negotiations with the Palestinians. It is time for us to understand where this government is heading in regards to finding the solution to our ongoing disputes with our neighbors.

 

What is striking about the results of the recent Netanyahu-Obama meeting was the difference in attitude on each side. Obama is not afraid to speak up, to use all his persuasive powers to convince everyone to join his bandwagon – be it his economic plan to get the United States out of the recession or his use of “soft power,” as opposed to military power, to promote peace. He is not afraid of his rivals and will do what it takes to realize his vision.

 

Netanyahu, by contrast, is so afraid of his rivals that he will do anything only to stay in power, even at the price of neglecting and ignoring his vision.

 

What is your solution, Bibi?

Disappointment has followed disappointment in Netanyahu’s young administration: Bibi, who promised a small and effective government, has formed one of the largest ones in Israeli history. Rather than pursue his bright and well-planned economic vision for leading us out of the recession, Bibi sold out to Histadrut labor union federation Chairman Ofer Eini to keep the coalition alive.

 

As for the Middle East, it appears he’s plum out of grand schemes. He can only articulate what’s wrong with the US initiative. Instead of using the platform to launch a fresh Israeli plan, Netanyahu flew to Washington only to hear what the United States' president has to say; and we are left only to ask, “What is your solution, Bibi?”

 

I don’t believe Netanyahu has no vision. I do believe he thinks the only way to keep this coalition alive is by not stating his goals straight out. Any other option would threaten coalition unity.

 

Mr. Prime Minister, as a citizen who is actively involved in defending this country I think I have the right to hear your stand on how you intend to bring peace or at least reduce the gaps between the Palestinians and us. What progress do you aspire to achieve in the next four years? What hope are you giving us?

 

I fear we will have to wait for this term to be over before we can start hoping again. We have not achieved peace with all our neighbors despite the visions of our previous leaders, but Netanyahu is taking away the last thing we had – hope. Until Netanyahu rises to the occasion, follows his vision and lets the rest decide whether or not to join him, we will have to carry on, sans peace and sans hope.

 

And so, Netanyahu’s government ship, which left harbor but a few weeks ago, is adrift. Heading nowhere, it aims only to stay afloat. Under the circumstances, I suggest Bibi order a GPS – from the US, where it’s much cheaper anyway. At least that way he’ll be able to monitor his position at sea.

 

Udi Tsur is a fellow in the Argov Fellows Program in Leadership and Diplomacy at the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy in the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.04.09, 01:09
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