Natanyahu Makes A Master Play

I’m simply amazed at how many supposed political pundits misread what happened in Jerusalem during Biden’s recent visit.

Journalists whom you’d imagine would know better almost jumped with joy and wrote such nonsense as;

“Bibi angry and embarrassed”.

“Bibi apologizes for unbelievable gaffe”.

Ehud Barak is angry”.

“Red faces in Jerusalem”.

Etc. etc.

A Master Play

The announcement, during Biden’s visit that plans to build 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem, had been approved was obviously orchestrated and both Bibi and Eli Yishai (who is a very astute politician) played excellent poker.

Joe Biden most likely doesn’t not know it, but the Palestinians certainly remember that a similar Israeli maneuver was used in order to get a green light for East Jerusalem’s Har Homa neighborhood.

What Really Went Down

If you find it hard to believe that the announcement was premeditated then just look at the end results.

Following Bibi’s apology for the announcement, and his statement that actual construction in Ramat Shlomo would not start for several years Biden said at Tel Aviv University:

"The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now".

and added that,

“The U.S. has no better friend than Israel”.

So intended or not, what Biden publicly implied was that the timing of the announcement was embarrassing, but the intended building in a few years time would be OK.

Thus Israel essentially received an American green light for its building plans in East Jerusalem.

Israel obviously doesn’t need a green light to build but feels much better when it gets it.

The Cherry On The Cake

Prior to Biden’s arrival, the Arab League had just recommended that the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas agree to Washington’s proposal for indirect talks with Israel, but now, instead of being able to leave with an announcement that the talks have officially begun, Biden left with the news that Abu Mazen wouldn’t agree to talks and that the Arab League had suspended its recommendation.

Biden’s visit to Israel was intended to pressure Netanyahu to advance negotiations, but Abu Mazen is now refusing to enter into talks and the world is instead looking to the Arab League summit in Tripoli which is due to kick off in just under two weeks, to see what it proposes.

I was recently amazed at how many journalists bought into the idea that Mossad sent 28 plus operatives to Dubai to exterminate a cockroach, and never questioned why Mossad would use the names of Israeli residents etc.

In short, it’s clear that most political writers would be better off writing about some other subject, almost any other subject than politics, because they obviously haven’t got a clue when it comes to interpreting politicians and their plays.