Obama and Netanyahu enjoyed a very cordial meeting this week at the White House.
One hour later, the White House and the State Department issued a rebuke to continued settlement activity in East Jerusalem, employing particularly harsh language against Israel. They warned that the move would “draw condemnation from the international community, distance Israel from even its closest allies [and] poison the atmosphere.”
Netanyahu responded, “it’s worth learning the information properly before deciding to take a position like that.”
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki argued that the U.S. was very well informed about the current “situation on the ground.”
Every time high ranking Israeli and American officials engage in discussion, it seems that issues arise over settlements. This particular instance was in reality simply the furthering of a bureaucratic process set into motion two years prior.
The rift was precipitated by Peace Now, a liberal Israeli advocacy NGO issuing a statement about the Jerusalem municipality’s approval for new construction for several thousand Jewish and Arab homes in the neighborhood of Givat Hamatos.
Netanyahu called the Peace Now announcement “irresponsible.” But the organization is pretty open about their goal of preventing further settlement expansion by Israel, so the announcement is perfectly in line with their objectives.
All this took place in the shadow of Abbas announcing that he would submit a bid to the United Nations Security Council seeking approval of a Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders. His plan would necessitate a full Israeli withdrawal of the territories by November of 2016.
While Bibi has never fled from a fight, international or domestic, he will surely be counting on the U.S. to veto the Palestinian Authority’s threatened bid at the UNSC.
Picking a fight with Peace Now is smart politics for the sitting prime minister, the leader of the Likud. But picking a fight with the White House? It might be bold, but it’s certainly not surprising.
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