Compromise with whom?

PM Netanyahu has a difficult task as he seeks to walk the tightrope between the demands of Pres Obama, Pres Abbas and his own coalition.

In his statement at a press conference in Washington on Friday, Pres. Obama said that he had asked Netanyahu to extend the moratorium on building in the West Bank "while negotiations [with the PA] remain constructive." Of course, it is very subjective as to whether or not the negotiations are indeed "constructive." PA Pres. Abbas has stated that he will leave the talks tomorrow at Sharm el Sheikh if the freeze is not extended. Meanwhile, Netanyahu has to deal with growing opposition in his own Likud Party as well as other partners in the coalition, to decide whether or not he can afford to extend the moratorium. To some extent he is cushioned by support from the opposition to compromises he might make in the talks. But, even though Kadima might join the coalition in place of for example Israel Beitanu, Lieberman's Party, or Shas, this would require a complete turnaround of the whole Netanyahu Government, not easily accomplished.

In theSunday cabinet meeting, Netanyahu hinted that there might be room for compromise, the kind of thing that has been suggested, for example restraining building in most of the West Bank and only allowing necessary building in the major Jewish settlement blocs. According to statements by PA spokemen this would be unacceptable to them. But, it appears that Netanyahu is prepared to do this and risk the fall of his Coalition, in exchange for recognition by the PA of Israel as the State of the Jewish people. Until now Abbas has admantly refused to do this, and probably would not now either. But, in the end, if there is to be any progress in the peace process, this mutual rcognition, that Netanyahu seeks upon, must eventually come about.

Whether or not Netanyahu can compromise enough, but not too much, to keep all the parties happy remains to be seen.