They are playing a huge game of defence, and the cards are rather limited in that game. limited in that game. given that from the beginning limited in that game. given that from the beginning of limited in that game. given that from the beginning of the - limited in that game. given that from the beginning of the strip. from the beginning of the strip secretary blinking has reiterated the view that america supports a two state solution, and that the government in israel seems to have absolutely ruled that out because of some in that agreement being utterly unpalatable, they will never agree to any palestinian state is being created, how much influence does america have in israel? america have in israel? there s a lot of empty america have in israel? there s a lot of empty rhetoric. america have in israel? there s a lot of empty rhetoric. the - america have in israel? there s a i lot of empty rhetoric. the president secretary of state still has, but in some ways it is rhetoric.
With just a simple majority they would be able to overturn any supreme court rulings. if approved mr levin s proposal would also give the government greater influence over who gets to be a judge. experts and opposition politicians say the changes would remove all checks and balances over the executive and legislative branches, both of which are controlled by the ultra conservative coalition. and there are regional issues for secretary blinken to confront as well. reports from the wall streetjournal citing unnamed us officials, suggest israeli forces were behind this drone strike on an iranian defence facility on the weekend. israel has neither confirmed or denied that they were behind the operation. joining me now is natan sachs director of the centre for middle east policy at the brookings institute and an expert in us israel relations.
Mr antony blinken from america is clearly mr antony blinken from america is clearly trying to deal a security is as number clearly trying to deal a security is as number one priority. that is not what as number one priority. that is not what he as number one priority. that is not what he went on this visit to israei. what he went on this visit to israel, but it has become the top issue israel, but it has become the top issue for israel, but it has become the top issue. for him he needs to try and cairn issue. for him he needs to try and cairn down issue. for him he needs to try and calm down the situation and avoid further calm down the situation and avoid further escalation, because that is quite further escalation, because that is quite often what happens when you re in these quite often what happens when you re in these situations. we have seen this in in these situations. we have seen this in the in these situations. we have seen this in the past where it doe
So that there is really military was already predicting a high risk of major escalation on the west bank long before the israeli elections. now, with a new government in israel, it becomes even harder. some of the rhetoric you are hearing from the israeli site has to do with that. you have extreme members of the coalition in charge of the police, the minister of finance is also an extreme member, and the left flank of the government is calmer, and is not interested in information. on the other hand, the domestic politics is quite strong. they are facing a very difficult reality on the israeli side, and the palestinian authority that has lost a lot of legitimacy on the west bank, especially in the northern west bank. the administration is trying to convey a return to normalcy to restore cooperation which still exists, but co operation between security forces, to try to prevent the worst from happening.
Very good to have you with us on the programme. is this the most apt time for a visit by the us secretary of state, or does it really limit what he can actually achieve given the wave of violence? it is he can actually achieve given the wave of violence? wave of violence? it is a bit of both. wave of violence? it is a bit of both- the wave of violence? it is a bit of both. the wave wave of violence? it is a bit of both. the wave of wave of violence? it is a bit of both. the wave of violence . wave of violence? it is a bit of- both. the wave of violence certainly limits what he can do in terms of setting the table between the biden administration and the israeli government. and there s a whole host of other issues, as course. violence becomes top the agenda, bar none. on the other hand, antony blinken and the other hand, antony blinken and the biden administration can be important players in terms of playing the violent stone. he can help by a certain degree if he gets the right