Bibi Is Back

JERUSALEM:


A decade after being pushed out of power by the Israeli electorate, Benjamin Netanyahu is back. He officially returned to power yesterday and is set to play a vital role in Barack Obama's bid to bring peace to the Middle East.

Netanyahu has a number of tough challenges ahead of him, not least convincing skeptical world leaders who are worried about his tough stance and refusal to be bullied by America. In particular, his concern over Iran may lead to a deepening rift between Israel and America.

In a candid interview with The Atlantic magazine, Netanyahu described Iran as "a messianic apocalyptic cult" with nuclear ambitions and a "grave danger" to the world.

And Netanyahu has promised to hold peace talks with the Palestinians.

"We do not want to control another people. We do not want to rule the Palestinians," Netanyahu told the Israeli parliament. "In the final agreement, the Palestinians will have all the authority to govern themselves, except for those that threaten the existence or security of the state of Israel."

But his main concern remains Iran and its nuclear programme. He has called Iran's nuclear ambitions and "extreme Islam" the greatest danger to Israel and the world. Iran has threatened several times to wipe Israel off the map and Ahmadinejad has actually organised a conference entitled 'A World Without Israel'.

Iran also funds Hamas to the tune of billions of dollars a year.