SPIEGELONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Not everyone is ecstatic about Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential elections. Many in Israel are concerned that, should Obama make good on his promise to talk to all comers, Israel could be left out in the cold.
Barack Obama was the candidate that the world wanted the US to elect. But in Jerusalem, his victory is not universally welcome. There are those, particularly within the Israeli Foreign Ministry, who worry that Obama will deviate from Bush's path of leaving well enough alone. While few would argue that American attention in the region is unneeded, some are concerned that Obama may go overboard and make good on his promise to negotiate with all comers. The Foreign Ministry is particularly concerned that Obama may look to smooth relations with Iran.
The concern is not that farfetched. During the campaign, Obama repeatedly said he would welcome a dialogue with Tehran. Many in Tel Aviv see it as a foregone conclusion that the US under Obama will begin seeking out such negotiations.
"That is the biggest danger for us, because we wouldn't be at the negotiating table ourselves," former Mossad leader Efraim Halevy said recently.
The danger, he said, comes from the fact that such talks would necessarily touch on Iran's relations with other countries in the region, like Syria and Lebanon, and with the Palestinians. "When our regional interests are up for discussion, we can't be represented by a proxy," Halevy said. Jerusalem is also worried that Obama may begin talks with Iran without preconditions. >>> By Pierre Heumann in Jerusalem | November 5, 2008
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