Paying the price
American diplomats on Wednesday grabbed on to Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon's criticism U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and did not let go. The divisive fundamental issues related to a future Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement were pushed to the side, as the focus turned instead to Ya'alon's comments that Kerry was "obsessive" and "messianic" and just interested in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. Like in their national pastime, football, this was a touchdown for the Americans.
No detail was overlooked. There was chatter about the manner in which Yedioth Ahronoth published the quotes and the delayed response of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as Ya'alon, who wanted to wait for the dust to settle. The impression was that they were hoping to find a Palestinian official who said similar things, for the sake of balance, as this would have softened the impact of Ya'alon's words at a time at which both sides continue to have reservations about the framework document Kerry is preparing.
Kerry issued a seemingly matter-of-fact statement on Wednesday, but anyone who understands American English could tell that Kerry had not put the matter behind him. He did not even refer to Ya'alon's apology, which was formulated in Hebrew and English after lengthy consultation with Netanyahu. It is clear Netanyahu will have to get involved and pay a price to Washington. Perhaps a freeze on settlement construction for a certain period or lowering the bar on the wording of Israel's demands in the peace negotiations or delaying some of these demands to a later date.
The U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv knows very well Ya'alon is the biggest skeptic among top Israeli leaders in the peace negotiations. If the Americans got the chance, and had partners behind Ya'alon's back, they would seek to either remove Ya'alon from the top leadership circle or at least weaken his position in that circle.
Those who know American English remember similar incidents in the past. The U.S. did not halt security aid to Israel, but this was only after it forced then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to, against the wishes of Israeli Air Force officials, remove Aviem Sella from command of the Tel Nof airbase due to Sella's role in the Jonathan Pollard affair, a role that was unreasonably inflated by the U.S.
Such was a clash with the rule of law in the U.S., but in the diplomatic arena, there was the American pressure that led to the removal of Amos Yaron and Yehiel Horev from key positions in the Israeli defense establishment due their roles in the sale of spare military parts to China. Forgiveness does not feature prominently in official American conduct.
Ya'alon must be careful not to end up in such a position. He is one of the most effective ministers in the current government and his problematic statements regarding Kerry are not reason enough for him to be cut off from dealing with sensitive and important matters. Ya'alon is important to Israel in the peace negotiations, which are currently taking place with greater vigor, and Israel must take the initiative, rather than modestly waiting for prodding from Washington and Kerry, who has made mediating an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal his life's mission.
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