Netanyahu to meet Pompeo in Lisbon in break from political fight back home

Netanyahu can look forward to a warm embrace from ally Pompeo.

By World Israel News Staff and Associated Press

Looking to escape his legal and political woes at home, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was headed Wednesday toward a warmer embrace in Portugal for a meeting with like-minded ally Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

It marks their first encounter since Pompeo announced a new American doctrine that does not consider Israeli settlements a violation of international law, the latest in a string of diplomatic gifts to Netanyahu by the Trump administration.

This week’s meeting offers Netanyahu another boost as he fights for his political survival in the wake of two inconclusive elections and a corruption indictment.

With his back against the wall in Israel, Netanyahu will be seeking to project a stately image of business as usual and secure further American commitments for whatever time he has left in office.

Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel must take advantage of its relationship with the friendly White House before the U.S. gets bogged down in election season.

In particular, he hopes to win U.S. approval for his proposal to annex large chunks of Judea and Samaria. Such a move would draw widespread condemnation from the Palestinians and much of the world and almost certainly extinguish any remaining Palestinian hopes of gaining independence.

The Palestinians seek all of Judea and Samaria, captured by Israel in 1967, for their state. However, their continued support of terror, and their ongoing financial rewards for terrorists, or “martyrs,” in the Palestinian Authority’s terminology has earned widespread condemnation from Israel, the U.S. and some European countries.

With Israel barreling toward its third election in under 12 months, any plans for a Palestinian state appear to be on hold.

Neither Netanyahu nor his main rival, former military chief Benny Gantz, has been able to secure a parliamentary majority. If they cannot find a way out of the crisis by Dec. 11, new elections would be triggered.

Most observers believe a unity government between their parties, which together control a majority of seats in parliament, is the best way out of the crisis. But Gantz and his partners have ruled out a power-sharing rotation with a prime minister facing indictment.

Likud Chairman Miki Zohar said on Wednesday, “We will not form a government with them and we will no longer conduct negotiations with them,” he continued.

He made his remarks following a Tuesday meeting between Netanyahu and Gantz – a last-gasp effort, but no agreement was reached and comments by both sides following the meeting was acrimonious.

In Lisbon, Netanyahu is expected to raise his proposal to annex the Jordan Valley. Netanyahu has argued that Pompeo’s announcement last month on settlements has created a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to annex the strategic area, without which most of Israel’s political class agree would render the country indefensible from attacks from the east.

Netanyahu said the policy shift “rights a historical wrong” concerning settlements, which are still considered illegal by most of the world, an opinion questioned by many legal observers.

Netanyahu is also expected to discuss with Pompeo the latest round of sanctions leveled against Iran. Netanyahu has been among the fiercest critics of the Islamic regime and the nuclear deal it signed with Western powers in 2015.

Israel considers Iran to be its greatest threat, pointing to Iran’s military presence in neighboring Syria and its support for hostile anti-Israel proxies across the region.

Netanyahu has welcomed the crippling U.S. sanctions against Iran, and following Iran’s deadly crackdown on protesters angry over rising fuel prices, the Israeli leader has urged the international community to impose sanctions as well.

Netanyahu and Pompeo may also talk about an Israeli initiative to formalize already warming ties with Gulf states by signing non-belligerency agreements.

Last week Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said that he was “promoting, together with the Prime Minister, and in full support of the United States,” such pacts, but there is no indication that the Gulf states would be on board, or if it has even been proposed to them.

The high-profile meeting on European soil offers Netanyahu a respite from his troubles at home.

Israel’s attorney general this week last month indicted Netanyahu of fraud and breach of trust (one count in Israel) in three separate cases. He is charged with bribery in one case.

It is the first time in Israeli history that a sitting prime minister has been charged with a crime. Unlike mayors or regular ministers, the prime minister is not required by Israeli law to resign if indicted and Netanyahu is steadfastly vowing to remain in office where he is best positioned to fight the charges.

But without a parliamentary majority and the first signs of a rebellion brewing within his own ruling Likud party, he is amid the most uncertain chapter of his lengthy career.

Benjamin NetanyahuMike PompeoUS-Israel relations