Kurt Kamrath
Since he arrived in office, Barack Obama has been critical of Israel's continued expansion into the West Bank which was to be halted as one step to a path to peace outlined in an agreement in 2003. Israel is beginning to push back and are encouraging Obama to rethink his postion as the Israeli Defense Minister met with Obama's National Security Advisor yesterday. They have pointed to a 2004 letter from George Bush where implicit consent was given to continue building. Israel's Prime Ministher, Netanyahu, is unlikely to change the policy as he would likely lose support in his ruling coalition.
The attempt to preserve this policy appears to be driven by an attempt to strengthen relations with the US before Obama begins a trip to the Middle East. As Israel is trying to gain support for this more aggressive policy, they are backing away from some of the hostile rhetoric they've been using with regards to Iran. Netanyahu has said several times that Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, and he has been open to the possibility of force if necessary. Today while on a visit to Russia, the Israeli foreign minister said that Israel has no plans to bomb Iran, but he does maintain that the entire world is threatened by the prospect of a nuclear Iran.
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