Israel, Obama, And The Briar Patch

Israeli Minister Yossi Peled wants to impose sanctions on the US.

No, really.

In the 11-page letter, obtained by The Jerusalem Post from a minister on Monday, Peled recommends steps Israel can take to compensate for the shift in American policy, which he believes has become hostile to Israel.

"Obama's ascendance represents a turning point in America's approach to the region, especially to Israel," he wrote in the letter. "The new administration believes that in order to fight terror, guarantee stability and withdraw from Iraq, a new diplomatic slant is needed involving drastic steps to pacify the Muslim world and the adoption of a more balanced approach to Israel, including intensive pressure to stop building in settlements, remove outposts and advance the formation of a Palestinian state."

Peled added that faced with an American government with an activist agenda that does not mesh with Israel's, traditional reactions are no longer relevant. He said he expected that Obama would eventually realize that appeasement and dialogue with countries that support terror would not have positive results.

But in the interim, the minister suggests reconsidering military and civilian purchases from the US, selling sensitive equipment that the Washington opposes distributing internationally, and allowing other countries that compete with the US to get involved with the peace process and be given a foothold for their military forces and intelligence agencies.

Oh please. No. not that. Please don't throw Obama in the briar patch and give him the excuse to slam the door in Israel's face. By all means, don't punish America so!

Seriously, this has to be the biggest diplomatic screw-up I've seen Israel make in years. Not the letter itself, there's zero chance of Netanyahu actually doing this, our retaliation would be devastating. But letting this go public only makes the entire Israeli leadership look utterly foolish.

Of course Barack Obama is holding all the cards right now. Israel knows this. Kvetching about it won't help. Kvetching about it indirectly like this is actually worse.

At this rate, Obama won't have to bring down the Netanyahu government. They'll bring themselves down.