Knesset member: Netanyahu can't pass an agreement
On the afternoon of Feb. 26, Knesset members Yariv Levin (Likud-Beitenu) and Orit Strock (HaBayit HaYehudi) called the American ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, to apologize for the fact that the meeting between him and the members of the Knesset Land of Israel Caucus, had been recorded and leaked to the media. The two did not apologize for the verbal attack they made on the ambassador, nor for the rudeness and the patronizing tone of several of the Knesset members who reprimanded him. They only apologized for the fact that one of the caucus members had recorded the conversation, despite understandings to the contrary. Shapiro accepted the apology of the two Knesset members who head the caucus.
When we heard this story, our immediate reaction was to focus on the attack on Shapiro, and especially the insolence of Knesset member David Rotem from Yisrael Beitenu. “Why should we believe you?” Rotem said to the American ambassador. “Where have you seen that the United States supported Israel when there were disagreements?” And when Shapiro explained that Israeli spy Jonathan Pollard cannot be released from US prison for legal reasons, Strock told him, “Don’t try to sell us unintelligent arguments.”
But the most significant issue here is not the infuriating attitude of the Knesset members vis-a-vis the ambassador of one of Israel’s best and most important friends. Instead, it is the threatening message from within the Knesset that, in effect, was directed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Shapiro was just a tool used for explaining to Netanyahu what his fate will be if he chooses to advance the negotiations with the Palestinians.
Levin is chairman of the coalition and one of the leaders of the combative front in the Likud Party against the diplomatic process. On several occasions (including an interview with Al-Monitor), Levin has basically told Netanyahu that if he reaches an agreement with the Palestinians, then he will not be able to continue as prime minister.
Read more: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2014/02/dan-shapiro-orit-strock-yariv-levin-netanyahu-no-coalition.html##ixzz2uZZk8vby
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