Israel freezes settlement construction in the West Bank

Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to stop work for new Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Behind the decision reluctantly because it is likely to alter the internal balance of the government, there would be pressure from the Americans, fully intend to advance the peace process with the Palestinians. The government's decision comes after the Israeli raid in Syria, which may not have been agreed with Washington, and are probably part of an agreement with the U.S., which also includes the endorsement, repeatedly confirmed by the Obama administration, in Tel Aviv self-defense. During the recent visit of Obama, confirmed by subsequent statements by members of the U.S. government, Israel has been granted a freedom of maneuver in military operations, which had previously opposed. Even in relation to the thorny issue of preemptive Iran, to counter the advance towards the construction of the atomic bomb, the U.S. has partially abandoned the caution that had characterized the previous presidential term to embrace a policy that will include more support Israel, with explicit recognition of the right to defense of the Jewish country. This change in the U.S. policy is certainly due both to developments in the Syrian situation, both the reduced effect of sanctions and diplomatic action, they did not get enough pressure Tehran to desist from his intentions to become a nuclear power. But take note of this address the Middle East situation was also a chance to find a new window of opportunity to reopen the peace process and solve the Palestinian issue. The decision to freeze construction in the West Bank, is a first step, perhaps small, but significant, that without U.S. pressure would not have been achieved. For Netanyahu, the decision is painful because it means get in open conflict with one of the most important allies in government, the Nationalist Party, which won her acclaim thanks to the program that saw the rise of settlements in the territories at the heart of its activities policy. But this suffering is indicative of the importance of the decision and of the valence political significance that goes beyond the national framework, becoming strategic for the report, more and more closely with the United States. Moreover, the U.S. estimate, rightly, that a peace process in advanced, which has as its climax the founding of a Palestinian state within the framework of the project of the two independent states, a possible attack against Iran, may have a different impact on the Arab countries, especially those with a Sunni majority and allied with Washington.