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Los Angeles Times reporter Edmund Sanders recently for NPQ's weekly column, Global Viewpoint, about what the recent US-Israeli tensions mean for Palestinians. NPQ | The Palestinian Authority (PA) had been surprisingly quiet during this United States-Israeli diplomatic standoff over settlements. Why do you think that is? MUSTAFA BARGHOUTI | They may be trying to keep quiet because they want to let this internal conflict between the US and Israel go on without interference. NPQ | So it's a matter of sitting back with some popcorn and enjoying the show? BARGHOUTI | Maybe. But sitting back and doing nothing is very dangerous. We've already seen Hillary Clinton temper her comments [criticizing Israel's government], so things can go back in the old direction if Palestinians don't take a strong stance. Passivity doesn't help. We need a proactive policy to show the world and the US administration, in particular, how Palestinians have been forthcoming and what we've done to implement the road map [the US-drafted peace plan]. NPQ | Do Palestinians see the recent shaking in the "unshakable" bond between the US and Israel as an opportunity? BARGHOUTI | Absolutely. It has created a great opportunity for us at the international level. It's so clear today that Israeli policy is hurting American strategic interests. It's hurting American interests in the Middle East and surrounding regions,hurting America's foreign policy image around the world, and hurting at home. We have a superpower that is being taken hostage by a country like Israel, and for the wrong reasons. If they were defending a good cause, that's fine. But this is about defending the last colonial system in modern history. NPQ | When it comes to peace talks, there's often a game of tag over which side is perceived as the obstacle. In the past year, it's gone from Israel to 44

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