He noted that this would remain the main point of discordance between the two allies, as the US has joined the international community to call for an end to settlement expansion in the West Bank, while Israel's new government, dominated by right-wing parties, would be unlikely to bend on the issue, which it regards as vital to Israel's security.
"Israel is going to miss the kind of very warm relations cultivated with the US after the Sept. 11 incident when (then Prime Minister Ariel) Sharon, who was considered even more hawkish than Netanyahu, was able to develop an understanding with the American administration on fighting terrorism," said Mann.
"But I don't think there will be any kind of collision" at the present stage, said Mann.
Stressing that "the gap between the Israeli and Palestinian positions is still too wide to really talk about a resolution," he predicted that "once Mitchell and others get into the matter, they will realize that it is much more complicated than it appears."
Meanwhile, Mann argued that it was wrong to look at the Israeli- American relationship only through the Palestinian issue. "I think the Iranian (nuclear) issue is understood now by at least some Americans as important as the Palestinian issue," he said.
As Iranian leaders have repeatedly challenged Israel's right of existence, the Jewish state treats Iran as its main threat. Although it has voiced support for the Western countries' diplomatic efforts with Iran, Israel has refused to rule out the possibility of striking Iran's nuclear facilities.
Following the recent launching of a long-range rocket by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), "there might be a greater understanding between Israel and the U. concerning the nuclear threat from Iran than you could currently imagine," he added.
The recent arrests of Hezbollah operatives in Egypt, which Israel claimed were backed by Iran, "could also help Netanyahu get some understanding with the US administration in getting help on Iran," he added.
(Xinhua News Agency April 15, 2009)
