The Likud's win is a blow for Clinton in an election year
바카라 웹사이트Clinton could be left with some unpalatable choices—between letting Netanyahu freeze the peace process, thus risking a tidal wave of Islamic fundamentalist violence or trying to pressure the new Israeli government and jeopardizing his own high standing among American Jews in an election year.
Clinton's scarcely-veiled support to Peres has also brought censure that he went too far in tacitly endorsing the Labour Party in Israel,thus imposing himself on another country's polls. "Clinton was Peres' campaign manager," said New York State assemblyman Dov Hikind, whose Brooklyn district is home to many ultra-orthodox Jews.
바카라 웹사이트Former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger also criticised the Clinton team's obsession with Peres. "The administration identifies itself excessively, both in Israel and in Russia, with individuals," he said. "It should not get itself into the position where the (peace) process is more important to America than to the parties themselves."
바카라 웹사이트Diplomatic sources said the two policy-makers likely to feel the most heat are Secretary of State Warren Christopher and West Asia envoy Dennis Ross. The failure of the peace process would be devastating to Christopher, who has been obsessed with forging a lasting West Asia peace. Dennis Ross, who was director of policy planning through the Bush administration, has been the chief architect of policy toward Israel and the peace process.
President Clinton began the awkward business of mending fences with Netanyahu on May 31 when he telephoned him to congratulate him on his victory and invite him to the White House. He said that US policy would not change as long as Netanyahu backs peace efforts. Accepting the invitation, Netanyahu is said to have assured Clinton that US-Israeli relations were 'stable as a rock'.
Despite all the show of support on the surface, State Department officials admit gloomily that the peace process has effectively been put on hold and could, in fact, be headed for serious trouble. Citing Netanyahu's pledge not to withdraw Israeli troops from Hebron and not to cede the Golan Heights to Syria in any peace agreement, an official conceded that if Netanyahu stuck to his promises it could jeorpadize the peace process.
바카라 웹사이트The official also warned that if Netanyahu pulled back from peace efforts, the additional help the US might have provided to bolster Israel's security would not be forthcoming, leading to a more formal defence relationship between the two countries. "That kind of thing becomes much less likely," he said, "if we don't really see risks taken for peace."