SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
The focus of the entire world and espcillay the Muslim community is on the Nethanyahus visit to Washington. At the time when US is deeply engaged with Iran on nuclear talks and Syria is about to defeat Daesh and Western Supported so called Free Syrian Army, this visit of Netanyahu is of key importance. It seemed initially that things were no longer the same between Washington and Tel Aviv; at least not with the Democrats. The White House has never been so angry about an Israeli head of state’s comments. But, at the end of the day, it became apparent just why Israel is able to muscle its way around the sole superpower. For all its anger – and John Kerry’s outburst – Obama was quick to underline his government’s support to the state of Israel. It is strange, to say the least, that a small country that is dependent on America for practically everything is able to bully and badmouth its benefactor so easily. It is also interesting that what Israel asks of America, especially with regard to Iran, is pretty much what the Saudis are also lobbying for, so another strange convergence of interests has emerged. But with America arm twisted so easily by Israel, will the superpower be able to bring any sanity to the situation?
Coming at the nadir of tensions between the US Congress and its president, the immediate impact of Netanyahu’s war mongering on US foreign policy was minimal. Long term, however, there seems to be reason to suspect that Israeli-US relations will degenerate. While over 50 Democrats boycotted the address, the House Majority, led by Republicans, gave the Israeli PM 23 standing ovations. What appears on the surface as a conflict may just be about political expediency. With elections in Israel around the corner, Netanyahu appeared to be playing a final gambit. But no one that matters appears to have taken it seriously. US President Obama brushed it aside as ‘nothing new’ and the Israeli public was reported to have been unswayed by the speech. With the next round of talks with Iran scheduled for March 15, the White House, cornered by the failure of its Middle East policies, may have chosen a good time to ignore hawkish rhetoric from Israel and the American-Israeli lobby. But let us not fool ourselves into believing this change to be permanent.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
