How short-sighted is Netanyahu?
If Bibi’s famed meeting with Obama convinced the latter to agree to bomb Iran, then all is well. Otherwise, the results must be considered bad. Netanyahu and Obama pressured Abbas to conduct direct talks with Israel. In light of Abbas’ repeated promises to avoid direct talks with Netanyahu’s government, the change will hamper his electoral prospects and bring Hamas closer to victory. Direct talks might not materialize, and in any case Netanyahu will only use them to drag out the negotiations. Not only Hamas, but also Obama will benefit politically from the meeting. Obama needed an effective PR moment with the Israeli PM more than Netanyahu needed him. Now that Obama’s relations with Israel are good again, Jewish donors and voters won’t abandon the Democrats in the November elections. By improving relations with Obama now, Netanyahu has sacrificed the prospect of much greater improvement six months from now.
