Netanyahu Throws A Curve

Fearing an existential threat from Iran more than the nagging, constant threat from Hamas, new Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has embarked on a strategy that links US and world pressure on Iran to end its nuclear ambitions with progress on negotiations with the Palestinians. Netanyahu is not going to be easy to work with for Obama, and this linkage surely will serve to complicate things. But Israel has few trump cards in its deck, and it--like much of the Arab world--does not trust the Mullahs in Tehran.

For this to work for Israel though, it must not come to be seen as simple cover for ignoring the Palestinian question, or worse, for building new settlements.