Editor's note: Aaron David Miller, a public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington since 2006, served in the State Department as senior adviser for Arab-Israeli negotiations and in other roles under six secretaries of state. He is working on a book about presidential greatness. Aaron Miller says the Obama administration is departing from longtime policy on dealing with Israel. WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama has embarked on what could represent a radical departure in America's Mideast policy, at least on settlements. Having worked for Republican and Democratic administrations, I took it for granted that the current president and secretary of state would first try to invest in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before publicly confronting him.
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Aaron David Miller: U.S. has shied away from confronting Israeli prime ministers
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He says Barack Obama has shown signs of confronting Netanyahu
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Miller: The tough stance on settlements is a risky move
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He says U.S. may have decided there's no chance of peace with Netanyahu in office
Benjamin Netanyahu
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If the U.S.-Israeli brouhaha leads to a real confrontation, even the fall of the @placeholder government, President Obama may not feel too bad about it.
America
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You didn't pick fights with an Israeli prime minister because you were frustrated or to make nice with the Arabs, but to achieve a breakthrough in negotiations that made you, @placeholder and the peace process look good.