By M.J. Rosenberg - April 18, 2009, 9:07AM
I keep harping on the administration's clear signals to the Israeli government to stop playing games and get back to negotiations.
Unfortunately, I don't think the Israelis "get" Obama or take him seriously although Obama surely "gets" Netanyahu,
If he needs a primer on Bibi, he can just ask his Secretary of State or her husband. As I've written before, the last time Netanyahu became Prime Minister I was at an event (this was in 1997) where I corralled President Clinton, and told him (as if he needed my advice) that he has to expect Bibi to do everything he can to stonewall the peace process.
I chewed his hear off for a minute or two. Then he smiled, put his arm around my shoulder, and said, "Bibi? You don't know the half of it, my friend."
He then indicated that he shared my view -- and more -- but when I asked him to tell me about the "half" I didn't know, he demurred! Obama should ask him -- or Hillary-- about the whole story. She knows it for sure.
One other thing, Clinton said that he thought Netanyahu's election indicated that Yitzhak Rabin's assassin was one of the few of that number who actually achieved his goal. His goal was to kill off the peace process which, Clinton thought, was essentially achieved when Netanyahu (who had led the anti-Rabin protests) was elected. But that didn't keep Clinton from pursuing the peace process despite his disdain (mild word) for Neanyahu. He even got Netanyahu to agree to withdraw from 11% of the West Bank at the Wye River Summit (that withdrawal was never implemented however).
TPMCAFE:
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/18/israelis_just_dont/