Steve Walt scripts Obama to Netanyahu:
First, I was elected president of the United States, and my foreign
policy will be guided by what I believe to be the American national
interest.Second, I am convinced—as are all of my foreign
policy advisors, all of America's other allies around the world, and my
predecessor in the Oval Office — that a two-state solution to the
Israeli-Palestinians is the only feasible way to settle the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This means the creation of a viable
Palestinian state on virtually all of the West Bank and Gaza, with
mutually agreed-upon arrangements on security, air and water rights,
the status of Jerusalem, custody over the holy sites there, and the
refugee issue…Third… Threatening Iran with military force or regime
change merely reinforces its desire for a nuclear deterrent of its own,
and only broad-based diplomacy without preconditions stands any chance
of heading this option off. Military strikes can delay but not prevent
Iran from getting a bomb, and would make both our situation and your
situation worse over the longer term….Fourth,
in addition to removing a major grievance that terrorists use to
recruit followers and justify violence against both of our countries,
ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will undermine Iran's influence
in the region…Fifth, the United States has been committed to
Israel's existence and well-being for 61 years, and that policy will
not change while I am president. But I have learnt in life that when a
good friend is headed for trouble, you don't do them any favors by
remaining silent, or by continuing to offer uncritical or unconditional
support… We have
pressured the Palestinians to accept Israel's existence and to build
effective state institutions, and we will continue to do so. And if
necessary, I will use U.S. influence to convince Israel to do what it
must in order finally achieve a lasting peace with its neighbors. And
if I make the case for that approach to the American people, I am
confident they will support me."
