I have said before in other forums but I think it is worth repeating here: ----------------------------------- I don't see the US ruling class abandoning Israel anytime soon but I do think a recalibration of the US-Israel relationship is quite likely to occur over the next several years. I do think that the chief reason for it occurring (if it occurs) will be the cold hard reality that the US wants to avoid getting into a shooting war with Iran, especially when US-Iranian interests in fact converge on a number of issues of importance to the US (i.e. Iraq, Afghanistan). If the US does seek a rapprochement with Iran, then the US will inevitably begin to rein Israel in.
And recent events make this much more likely IMO. Not only was the recent Gaza War a great PR disaster for Israel, but it also made it evident that if one is seriously interested in doing business with the Palestinians then Hamas has be accommodated. I think the EU is starting to move towards that position already, even though they had, just a few weeks prior to the outbreak of the Gaza War, seemed enthusiastic about seeing Israel smash Hamas. I think the US will eventually (albeit slowly and reluctantly) come to that conclusion as well.
And I do think that the outcome of the recent Israeli elections will increase the probability of this happens, especially if Netanyahu winds up forming a rightist government.
Jim F.
On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 07:49:07 -0800 (PST) Charles Brown
<cdb1003 at prodigy.net> writes:
> Storm brews between US and Israel
> By Jim Lobe
> Asia Times
> February 21 2009
>
> WASHINGTON - After eight years of the closest possible relations,
> the United
> States and Israel may be headed for a period of increased strain,
> particularly as it appears likely that whatever Israeli government
> emerges
> from last week's election will be more hawkish than its predecessor.
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________
Meet your storage needs. The home and garden directory.
http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTGhtDHvjX9l3nSphOY68mQqoVCBJmwNfvdtAfLR3nGE7hmCPlK8YS/