Netanyahu Steps In It

Just a day after I praised the Israeli response, Netanyahu undoes any good he might have done:

“Our real fear is that you have a situation that may develop of very quick changes taking place” that are devoid of modern democracy and “where you see the form of fundamentalist Islam,” Netanyahu said at a news conference to mark a visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On top of this, he’s not-so-quietly lobbying EU and U.S. leaders to show more support for Mubarak.

Yes, Bibi, we’re all afraid of fundamentalist Islam taking over.  We also know that among the protesting Egyptians are those who are both for and against continuing the cold peace with Israel.  But all of them hate Mubarak.  How exactly does it help prevent an Islamist takeover to have Israeli Jews, not beloved of Egyptians, side with their hated dictator?

Here’s what he should have said.  “We are confident that whatever the decision of the Egyptian people may be about their leadership, they will continue to honor all of their international obligations, including treaties signed with Israel.

This is not high level diplomatic thinking.  This is just common sense.