Charles Freeman, President, Middle East Policy Council

Stephen Sackur talks to Charles Freeman, president of the non-governmental Middle East Policy Council.

The Obama administration picked Freeman, a former diplomat, to chair the US National Intelligence Council, but his nomination was shot down after a furore over his views on Israel. How will President Obama handle relations with Israel's new government? Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visits Washington in late May 2009, and Charles Freeman will be watching. What lessons can be drawn from his case?