The Israeli PM is trying to come up with a formula that satisfies Washington and keeps his coalition intact, writes Mark Weiss
ISRAELI PRIME minister Binyamin Netanyahu begins a four-day trip to Europe today, attempting to balance efforts to revive the Middle East peace process with the demands of right-wing coalition partners at home.
The Israeli premier meets his British counterpart, Gordon Brown, in London today and will hold talks in Berlin on Thursday with German chancellor Angela Merkel.
Mr Netanyahu will also hold another round of discussions in London with US president Barack Obama’s Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, as Washington continues efforts to find a formula acceptable to both Israel and the Palestinians that will enable the resumption of peace talks, stalled since Mr Netanyahu was elected prime minister earlier this year.
The Palestinian leadership, frustrated by the ongoing expansion of Jewish settlements during more than a decade of peace talks with Israel, has linked renewing bilateral negotiations with a cessation of building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Washington backed this approach, publicly advocating a moratorium on settlement construction.
Reluctant to defy Israel’s most important ally, Mr Netanyahu has spent much of his time since taking office in March trying to come up with the magic formula that will satisfy Washington, enable peace talks to resume and keep his coalition intact.
Israeli officials have indicated that, although progress has been made, a breakthrough this week is unlikely and further discussions with Mr Mitchell will be required.
Before departing for London, Mr Netanyahu said peace talks may resume late next month after the UN General Assembly session in New York. One option being considered is a tripartite meeting at the UN involving Mr Obama, Mr Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
The compromise being discussed involves an Israeli commitment to halt settlement construction for nine to 12 months while allowing the building of some 2,500 units already in progress to continue. Arab states will respond with moves to normalise relations with Israel.
A senior official travelling with the Israeli premier made it clear that Israel would not compromise on the question of Jerusalem.
Before his European trip, Mr Netanyahu received the backing of Israel’s six-member security cabinet, the country’s key strategic decision-making forum, for a compromise on settlements.
Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, considered the most right-wing minister in the Netanyahu coalition, said he would be “willing to give anyone who thinks they can find a diplomatic solution [to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict] time to try”. But he played down peace prospects, noting that, 16 years after the Oslo accords, there was still no peace.
“I’m willing to bet that there won’t be peace in another 16 years either,” Mr Lieberman predicted.
Mr Netanyahu has made no secret of the fact that Israel’s top priority is to ensure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.
He has told his coalition partners that compromise on other issues, such as settlements, may be necessary to foster international support for Israel’s campaign to block Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.
Before departing for Europe, Mr Netanyahu spoke to French president Nicolas Sarkozy about the need for tougher sanctions.
His message to Mr Brown and Dr Merkel will be that, if stricter sanctions are imposed now, there will be less need for “non-diplomatic” action at a later date.
With Iran continuing to stall on engaging with the US, and in the aftermath of the bloody crackdown following the Iranian elections, Israel believes there may be a window of opportunity for stepping up the pressure on Tehran to stop its nuclear programme.
Mr Netanyahu is expected to raise proposals including an embargo on the export of refined petrol to Iran, a ban on insurance for companies trading with Tehran, and restrictions on landing and docking rights for Iranian aircraft and ships.