INTERVIEW WITH MIDEAST EXPERT DAVID POLLOCK 'Netanyahu Could be Useful to Obama'

SPIEGEL ONLINE: It is an open secret, however, that the White House would have preferred to work with Zipi Livni. They fear hardliner Netanyahu will make any peace negotiations much harder.

Pollock: Not necessarily. It is true Livni might have been more accommodating on some negotiation topics than Netanyahu. For example, she appears to support settlement stops that Netanyahu rejects. But if you look closer, the differences are not so stark -- it is very unlikely that Livni could achieve a settlement freeze either.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: But words matter: Would it be helpful for new peace talks to have a Prime Minister Netanyahu who talks constantly about toppling Hamas?

Pollock: Once Netanyahu is in power, he will be more pragmatic than during the campaign. He also certainly would not want to alienate an Obama administration that pushes for peace. When it comes to Hamas, however, I don't necessarily see potential for a rift with Washington. There are a few people who think Obama's team should reach out to Hamas. But they don't reflect what American policy is or is going to be. Don't forget: The Hamas activities are responsible for the turn to the right in Israel and are preventing an Arab initiative for a two-state solution. The American government currently has made a pretty firm decision not to reach out to Hamas unless the organization makes major concessions.