Some conservative pundits are calling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud Party victory in Israel’s election a defeat for President Barack Obama.
This is an extremely short-sighted view.
After being elected twice to four-year terms Obama will be out of office in two years. Elections in the United States or abroad will not affect him in any significant way.
This is not about Obama.
However, Netanyahu’s election could have serious consequences in the Middle East and the international community.
Netanyahu surged ahead after a last-minute appeal to the hard right in which he opposed Palestinian statehood and vowed continued settlement construction, setting the stage for more problems in the Middle East just weeks after criticizing U.S. talks with Iran in a divisive address to Congress.
The Israeli leader also resorted to fear-mongering and bigotry when he said Arabs, who represent about 20 percent of the population of Israel, were coming to polls in droves, fueled by foreign money.
Netanyahu’s return to power spells more trouble for Mideast peace efforts and could further escalate tensions in the Middle East and beyond.
Netanyahu staked out a series of hard-line positions in the final days of the race that will put him on a collision course with much of the international community.
In a dramatic policy reversal, Netanyahu said he now opposes the creation of a Palestinian state—a key policy goal of previous U.S. presidents including former president George W. Bush and the international community. Netanyahu also promised to expand construction in Jewish areas of east Jerusalem, the section of the city claimed by the Palestinians as their capital.
After years of deadlock with Netanyahu, the Palestinians are now likely to press ahead with their attempts to bring war crimes charges against Israel in the International Criminal Court.
“Now, more than ever, the international community must act,” said Palestinian official Saeb Erekat.
The world’s major powers, including the United States, overwhelmingly support the establishment of a Palestinian state, and oppose more settlement construction.
The consequences of this election could have dire consequences for many years to come.
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