. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington, March 2, 2015.CREDIT: REUTERS/JONATHAN ERNST[/caption]
Experts say that Israel's tough approach toward Iran will not change with a change of the country's leader in the upcoming elections.
MOSCOW (Sputnik), Daria Chernyshova Israel's tough approach towardIran will not change witha change ofthe country's leader inthe upcoming elections, experts told Sputnik news agency Monday, adding that the top priority ofthe new prime minister will be revival ofties withthe United States."The consensus inIsrael, and this includes the Likud and the Labor, is that Iran is a threat and that the deal or the agreement withIran is not a good agreement, and it should be atleast modified," professor atBen-Gurion University ofthe Negev Yoram Meital told Sputnik Monday.
On March 17, Israel will hold parliamentary elections. The two largest parties Likud headed bycurrent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the opposition Zionist Union, led byIsaac Herzog are running neck-and-neck withthe polls giving 24 seats toeach party inthe 120-seats Knesset (Israeli parliament).
Israel has been a staunch opponent ofnegotiating a nuclear deal withIran, withNetanyahu pledging "to exercise every means toprevent the world's greatest supporter ofterror fromgaining the ability tocreate a weapon that will endanger the world a weapon that first and foremost will be directed atus."Although Israel could have a new prime minister, experts agree that its position onIran is unlikely tochange.
"As forIran, I believe that Herzog will be just aswary ofthis theocratic dictatorship that supports terrorism going nuclear froma political point ofview, the smart move forHerzog will also be tostay tough onIran toshow that he is not a pushover, even ashe goes softer onthe Palestinians," Gil Troy, a professor ofhistory atMcGill University told Sputnik. "I don't think Bibi staying or going will affect the P5+1 talks, they are ignoring his words now anyway"
At the same time, inthe event ofHerzog winning the elections, Israel watchers predict significant changes inIsrael's regional policy, especially towardPalestine.
"There is a dramatic difference betweenNetanyahu's approach and Herzog-Livni's approach towardthe region. Unfortunately, there is not a dramatic difference inmuch ofthe region's approach toIsrael, regardless ofits leader," Troy told Sputnik.He said that if Herzog comes topower, he will launch a new peace initiative, though Palestinians could be just asresistant tomaking peace asthey were when Ehud Olmert made very generous concessions.
Both experts underlined that the major goal ofthe new Israeli leadership will be revive its ties withWashington.
"First and foremost, the major challenge will be torevive, toget intomore workable relations withthe Obama administration," Meital said.
Gil Troy also stressed that if Israel elects a new leader, there will be a surge ofoptimism inthe media aboutIsrael having "returned toitself," which will inturn lead tomore warm initiatives."
" butonce they get intoactual negotiations, if, asbefore, Palestinians remain stubborn, and the Administration blames Israel despiteit being the Palestinians' fault, there will be tension some ofthe White House hostility we are seeing has grown beyondBibi toIsrael, that's a problem, and a new Israeli leadership will uncover that quickly," Troy said.
There is overa week untilthe elections, and the polls' results may change, aspublic opinion inIsrael appears volatile so there could be dramatic shifts inthe next week.
By Sputnik News
