Is a showdown with Israels staunch ally about to materialise?
The country’s mainstream media seem to have little doubt. “Collision course” has become the routine fear about how the two new administrations – in Jerusalem and Washington – are contemplating their respective Middle East strategies. And, more pointedly, over what the U.S. expects of Israel to help transform its strategy-in-the-making into a new reality for the region. Netanyahu originally planned to have been himself in Washington this past weekend for an appearance at the annual conference of the fervently pro- Israel lobby, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that would coincide with a hoped-for White House meeting. When the date for the meeting with President Barack Obama was set only for May 18, Netanyahu cancelled his AIPAC appearance and instead dispatched President Shimon Peres, hoping he would “soften up the target”. Peres asserted warmly that, contrary to impression, Netanyahu is ready to forge ahead to make peace with the Arab world. “Netanyahu knows history
