Netanyahu Fails the Leadership Test... Again

This week, Benjamin Netanyahu showed himself to be, like so many other Israeli "leaders," someone who could lay false claim to virtues of leadership. Netanyahu has decided to kowtow to Barack Obama and extend the freeze on building in Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem. Why? That is a difficult question to answer for a variety of reasons.

Let's start with the rumoured quid pro quo that Israel will supposedly get for playing ball in Obama's court. Last week, the inducement was a promise by Hillary Clinton that the US would veto any UN-imposed peace deals. In other words, in return for Israel continuing to set a precedent in abandoning its legitimate claims on Judea, Samaria, and Jerusalem, the Obama administration will continue the policy that every prior American administration has maintained. This week, the stick looks a bit more like a carrot, with Obama offering to sell Israel 20 F35 stealth fighters if they discriminate against Jewish construction for another three months. Bear in mind that these warplanes would are estimated to arrive in 2017. Can the Obama administration be trusted to keep the deal if 90 days pass, the Palestinians still show no interest in real peace, and Israel resumes construction? No.

The proof is in the rotten pudding that was been served up during the recently ended ten month moratorium on construction. The result of Israel's show of good faith? Arab rejectionism produced a PA refusal of any reciprocation. The result? More demands of Israeli good faith, i.e., more Israeli concessions to reward PA intransigence.

Netanyahu seems to be in abject fear of disappointing Obama, perhaps over fears that Obama will be more inclined to deal strongly with Iran if Israel does it his way. But, a pro-Israel Congress, arguably more pro-Israel with the new crop of freshmen House and Senate legislators, will not obligingly tolerate Obama abuse of Israel at the UN or with regard to Iran.

Netanyahu has been letting Obama achieve an undeserved level of primacy in how Israel protects itself and conducts its peace negotiations. This must stop immediately. Come on, Bibi, grow a backbone! Instruct Israel's hasbarah organs to show that Abbas is no peace partner. Make public Israel's decision to stop amputating her communities in return for a nebulous sense of international acceptance. Let Obama know, in no uncertain language, that Israel's historic heartland is not for sale. Let Mahmoud Abbas and the rest of Fatah and Hamas know that when Israel presents a concession, PA reciprocation is the only acceptable response and that barring such a response, Israeli concessions may be reversed and taken off the table.

Most importantly, Bibi, remember to whom you are responsible. Remember the source of your legitimacy as a leader of the State of Israel. It doesn't lie with Obama. The source includes the citizens of Israel. Do right by them. Stop being Obama's poodle.