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Israel Congratulates Obama, But Large Questions Loom About Relationship and Mideast

Nov. 7, 2012 2:40am

Israel Congratulates Obama, but Large Questions Loom about Relationship and Mideast

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated President Barack Obama on his reelection. In a statement released Wednesday morning, he said:

The strategic alliance between Israel and the US is stronger than ever. I will continue to work with President Obama in order to assure the interests that are vital to the security of the citizens of Israel.

Shortly after the TV networks called the election for Barack Obama, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon posted on Twitter: “Congratulations to President Obama, and the American people, on his re-election. President Obama will be an excellent President for Israel.”

Israel Congratulates Obama, but Large Questions Loom about Relationship and Mideast

While the tweet was clearly diplomatic, conveying optimism, it hardly masks the difficult feelings that have characterized the relationship between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But despite the vast gaps in their worldviews, the two will have to work together on some weighty issues, the most fateful being how to stop Iran’s march toward nuclear weapons.

Appearing on Israel’s Channel 2 early in the morning Wednesday, both Ayalon and Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren tried to reassure a public that overwhelmingly favored Mitt Romney that the two governments will be able to work together.

Ayalon insisted that both the American and Israeli governments won’t allow the politics to veer into diplomacy.

Calling the American-Israel relationship “intimate,” Ambassador Oren said, “I don’t expect any change in a second term.” He said, “The relations are just fine. President Obama himself said that he has met and talked more with the Israeli prime minister than with any other leader in the world. These close relations with continue.”

On the evening before Election Day, a Channel 2 investigative program aired an interview with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he said he’s ready to go it alone on a military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, even if it’s in defiance of U.S. objections. That scenario may have increased in likelihood with an Obama second term. Pledging that Iran won’t have a nuclear program by the end of his next term, if he’s reelected in January, Netanyahu explained that even President Obama has said Israel has the right to defend itself as it sees fit. The Times of Israel reported:

When it was put to him that the US has opposed a unilateral Israeli resort to force, Netanyahu said President Barack Obama had stated that Israel has the right to defend itself as it sees fit, and that Israel dare not entrust its future to others, even to the United States.

Not only  has the president banked on sanctions being able to stop the Islamic Republic from acquiring a nuclear capability, the administration has been holding secret talks with Iran, reportedly to facilitate the relationship during a second Obama term. On Monday, Yediot Ahronoth broke the story that Iranian-born White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett is the “key player” behind those talks with representatives of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Ruthie Blum, a columnist for Israel Hayom wrote that in the event of an Obama victory:

…the prime minister will have to persuade the Israeli public that only he is strong enough to withstand pressure from a less-than-sympathetic Uncle Sam. He will also have to make a convincing argument for bombing Iran without the approval or assistance of the U.S.

Israel considers the Iranian nuclear program to be the most immediate and dangerous threat at present. Blum wrote that Netanyahu’s Monday night campaign promise to not allow Iran to get a nuclear bomb means only one thing:

It means that if Obama is re-elected Israelis are going to have to clean out their bomb shelters and get ready for a large-scale call-up of the reserves, in anticipation of an ugly retaliation, possibly from all borders.

Beyond Iran, the Middle East challenges of Obama’s first term continue to be the challenges of his second term: the post-“Arab Spring” radicalization of key Arab countries including Egypt, the Syrian civil war, and how to handle new threats from the Palestinians that they want to renew their statehood bid at the UN next month.

Before the election results were in, former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Meir Rosenne told Arutz 7 that Obama “will not be able to force Israel into following his agenda” or risk encouraging the radicals in the Arab world.

More critical and less diplomatic is Likud Member of Knesset Danny Danon who told Arutz 7 on Election Day:

“We do not interfere but we can now say that President Obama was not good for Israel. We should not be hypocrites and say that everyone is good,” Danon told Arutz Sheva.

“Obama supported Islam and he paid a very heavy price, he lost sympathy among the Jewish community and in Israel, and many Christians are disappointed in him as well,” he added.

Danon added that Netanyahu “was careful not to interfere in the elections but to tell the truth it was not easy with President Obama.”

Largely due to the Iran threat, polls of Israeli Jews found they favored Romney three to one, but the mainstream media in Israel is largely liberal, including the newspaper Haaretz which endorsed Obama in an editorial titled “Obama is good for Israel.”

The Israeli media also accused Netanyahu of personally intervening in the elections. Netanyahu never openly voiced a preference for either candidate, but a Super PAC used a clip from a Netanyahu speech in a pro-Romney TV ad, and both the Israeli prime minister and Romney share the support of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson.

In defense of Obama, Haaretz wrote:

Relations between the two countries’ armed forces have never been so close. Obama’s challenge in his second term, if he wins the elections, is to lead the region to a stable arrangement of peace and security.

Before the election results were tabulated, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon addressed the personal differences between Obama and Netanyahu to Israel Radio:

The reality is that when you are at the helm of the most important and powerful superpower in the world, or at the head of the Israeli government, there may be bouts of personal conflicts, but these are pushed aside when your objectives are nearly identical in terms of the Iranian issue, the upheaval in the Arab world, the global economy or the conflict with the Palestinians.

I think that though every country has the right to its own stance — not everything is identical — overall the relationship will continue to be a working, good relationship. The moves on the ground will be more important than the personal relationship, and I don’t foresee any change on that front. On the contrary.

He said, “For Israel, the best American president is the president who will be best for America. The one that the Americans elect. We have never interfered, and we must never interfere, but we will continue to enjoy the bipartisan support of the U.S., so the result of the election almost doesn’t matter.”

This story has been updated to include Netanyahu’s congratulations to Obama.

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Comments (48)

1 2
  • progoyim
    Posted on November 9, 2012 at 5:37pm

    NOT ONE MORE DOLLAR NOT ONE MORE US LIFE FOR THE SAND Pit COUNTRIES AT THE EASTERN END OF THE Mediterranean HELL MAKE IT THE WHOLE MEDITERRANEAN

    Report this comment

    progoyim  
  • bankerpapaw
    Posted on November 8, 2012 at 5:26pm

    Look out, Bibi. Obama will stab you in the back the first chance he gets. He hates Israel.

    Report this comment

    bankerpapaw  
  • watashbuddyfriend
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 5:22pm

    Ok, Benjamin Netanyahu, now is best time to watch your back!

    Report this comment

    watashbuddyfriend  
  • chkiaar
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 10:22am

    The boy king has Israel’s back just like he had the Ambassador’s in Libya.

    Report this comment

    chkiaar  
    • Gates
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 4:40pm

      Obama’s election has all but guarenteed a war in the Middle East.

      Report this comment

      Gates  
  • Hoosierdad
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 8:33am

    obama will not support isarel no matter what. they are on their own and i hope they start nuking the sewer theyre surrounded by. we Americans lost control of our commies and fools, Israel is the last hope on this planet. I hope they turn the middle east to glass

    Report this comment

    Hoosierdad  
    • ISAIDITBLACKPOWER
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 9:09am

      Who cares about those Khazars.

      Report this comment

      ISAIDITBLACKPOWER  
    • old white guy
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 10:04am

      i wonder if anyone has been paying attention for the last four years. obama hates israel and his muslim upbringing will insure an animus that will make things worse both for israel and america.

      Report this comment

      old white guy  
  • Blitz
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 7:39am

    Thought I read once the Israelis didn’t have any tankers/mid air refueling capabilities?

    Report this comment

    Blitz  
  • TCBlalock
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 7:25am

    Come Quickly Lord Jesus! Let the Angels in Heaven Trumpet the coming of the Lord, the pouring of the Vials and the persecution of the Wicked. Let thy will be done in & by Israel to set the Tribulation in motion.

    Oh Mighty Lord Jesus, transfigure the Righteous Souls of the weary swiftly that we may be able to stand against the evil in this world until your coming Glory.

    May Israel do its duty, the saints endure to the end and let many find you in these wicked times approaching. Amen

    Report this comment

    TCBlalock  
    • PaxInVeritate
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 7:49am

      TCBLALOCK… Amen! It is as it was written about in Revelations, and all as prophesied will come to past. 

      http://www.thewarningsecondcoming.com/my-remnant-church-the-two-witnesses-referred-to-in-the-book-of-revelation/

      Report this comment

      PaxInVeritate  
    • brewmaster
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 8:02am

      Being an American just lost SOME value tonight. A president who turned his own country against itself as a campaign strategy was able to succeed by turning race against race and class against class with lies and deceit. Convincing enough ignorant people that the evils of killing new human life, and legalizing Sodom and Gomora as some kind of a right? This will be a night never to be forgotten where the fundamentals of which this great country were founded on were ignorantly ignored and swept under the rug so the cancerous habit of undeserved entitlements could spread until the trillions of dollars in debt becomes a deadly reality and not just a fantasy number. May God save the United States of America from itself.

      Report this comment

      brewmaster  
    • ISAIDITBLACKPOWER
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 9:11am

      Who cares about the Khazars!!!!

      Report this comment

      ISAIDITBLACKPOWER  
    • old white guy
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 10:07am

      tcb. while i would welcome the return of Christ no one this planet is even close to prepared for the absolute destruction and death that will accompany it.

      Report this comment

      old white guy  
  • philipzhao
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 7:12am

    Israel, trust no one but your God as He always places the cure before the disease.

    Report this comment

    philipzhao  
  • American2012
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 7:08am

    Israel knows to defend themselves,,,, what is going to happen to US after transformation????

    Report this comment

    American2012  
  • Uechi
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 7:03am

    World War III is just around the corner thanks to a marxist piece of filth President and a complacent, lazy,stupid, progressive public.Good job America

    Report this comment

    Uechi  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 6:51am

    You’re on your own now.

    Report this comment

    BlackCrow  
  • I SPY
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 6:40am

    The Taliban will claim responsibility for last night.

    Report this comment

    I SPY  
  • Silver Lining
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 6:15am

    This morning I believe that the one with the bigger problem is Iran. Israel waited to see the outcome of this election. This morning they know the answer. I believe Israel will do WHATEVER it needs to do to survive at any time now…and they will not give a rat’s behind about what we think. I STAND WITH ISRAEL.

    Report this comment

    Silver Lining  
    • Jeff Bassett
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 6:52am

      I agree, Israel will have no choice now but to do it’s best to protect itself without help and with actual hindrance from the US at this time.
      The US will continue to falter to the point it cannot be a force of good having rotted from the top.
      The middle east will continue it’s slide to extreme Islamism and the world will see biblical sights.

      This nation must now reap what it has sowed. The next four years will be very telling for the world.
      I stand with Israel.

      Report this comment

      Jeff Bassett  
  • blanco5
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 6:11am

    I hope Israel knows that the people of the ussa support them even if those who cheated to be in charge don’t.

    Report this comment

    blanco5  
  • blanco5
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 6:08am

    Ok, so it’s time to quit your job and get your free prez islama money and phones!

    Report this comment

    blanco5  
  • marssnw
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 5:48am

    God will take care of Israel, but who will take care of us when we turn against Israel. Our country is officially cursed. You don’t recover when you turn against God and Israel. The American people have voted their own lustful and sinful ways and now they will have to lie in the bed of destruction and fitlh they made. Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Better get right with God before it is to late.

    Report this comment

    marssnw  
  • marssnw
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 5:47am

    God will take care of Israel, but who will take care of us when we turn against Israel? Our country is officially cursed. You don’t recover when you turn against God and Israel. The American people have voted their own lustful and sinful ways and now they will have to lay down in the bed of destruction and fitlh they made. Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Better get right with God before it is to late.

    Report this comment

    marssnw  
  • Triple7
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 5:30am

    Pray for Israel

    Report this comment

    Triple7  
  • RamonPreston
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 5:26am

    Netanyahu better get his forces in shape. The sh█t is going to hit-the-fan real soon. Obama-nation of Israel. From bin Laden to president of the United States; who would have thought it.

    Report this comment

    RamonPreston  
  • Polarized America
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 3:52am

    .
    This has been going on my entire adult life, and i remember the Six-Day War, in 67
    and believe it or not, i see the glass half full………But thats just me /;-)

    Report this comment

    Polarized America  
  • Margyt
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 3:17am

    Danny Ayalon is a clear voice for Israel. God bless him for trying to put a positive spin on this. I fear, though, that the dogs of war have been unleashed. UN vote for Palestinian statehood this month, Netanyahu up for reelection in January. Ahmadinejad due to be replaced in 2013. Syrian tanks on the Golan. Continued instability in all of the nations involved in the “Arab Spring”. Russia ready to pounce. World economies on the fiscal cliff. No restraining forces in the US. May God have mercy on our souls.

    Report this comment

    Margyt  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 3:54am

      Amen, those of us who voted to stop the insanity have done our job. Now we have to hold on and carry out a defense of faith and trust in God to see us through the insanity to come from Obama.

      I will not yield or comply with him, nor give up the faith to bow before any man; God is first in my life, and it is to him will be my last breath if He deems it necessary for me to go into the night in the fight.

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 5:21am

      Amen, Snow. Only He can help us now. I’m with Him and you. :):::::::

      Report this comment

      JACKTHETOAD  
  • Luisa48
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 3:17am

    “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.” (Revelation 1:8 NLT)

    Report this comment

    Luisa48  
  • GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 3:15am

    I have a really good book, and it says how the end is. Israel will prevail, no matter what. She will face destruction, war, and very hard times, but will prevail in the end. We don’t understand it, but for some personal reason, God really loves His Mount!!!

    Report this comment

    GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas  
    • Margyt
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 3:20am

      I read the same book!

      Report this comment

      Margyt  
    • RamonPreston
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 5:45am

      I must have read a different book. My Bible says Jerusalem will be downtrodden by gentiles for three and a half years before the return of Christ. And the nation of Israel is NOT the tribe of Israel, it is the tribe of Judah. Jacob redefined ‘Israel” to the descendants of Joseph just before he died. Look it up.

      Report this comment

      RamonPreston  
    • GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
      Posted on November 7, 2012 at 11:14am

      Ramon,

      Oh no, we have the same book. You just don’t have the latest edition updated : ).

      Now seriously, although I agree with you, at the same time I stand behind my comment. There are some reasons to do that: 1. My English level is not so good, so I tend to write my comments the simplest way I can do it, avoiding getting very technical or getting involved into detailed descriptions that could be difficult for me to express in a proper way. 2. I think you, and everybody else, understood my idea the way I wrote it. I think is perfectly fair to say “Israel” when you refer to these issues. 3. Even though you are right, God’s plan is really complex and you find pieces spread all over the Bible using different names for the same things. Sometimes God just refer to them as “The house of Israel” for those at the end of times. Some examples could be: Ezekiel 5, 5 – 17. Ezekiel 7, 1 – etc. Ezekiel 36, 1-etc. 4. I think is up to Him to define who is who, and what is what within the borders of the modern nation of Israel. I also think is up to Him to define who is a “Jew” among those who call themselves “Jews”. Because of that, I think is pretty safe to use just “Israel” and not getting too specific. God bless you!!!!!

      Report this comment

      GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas  
  • Jenasus
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 3:08am

    Obama will take Israel down right along with America.
    Obama’s allies are the Muslim Brotherhood.

    Report this comment

    Jenasus  
  • Female
    Posted on November 7, 2012 at 2:52am

    Sorry BEBE, we did all we could. Pray for the peace of Jeruselum! And to all the Israelis (individuals), you might want to reconsider Jesus Christ as the Messiah…because the earth is going to get really bad for you all according to the Old and New Testements. Good chance America is going down with the O policies and nobody except GOD, who has a pretty intense plan for your country will be there to help!

    Report this comment

    Female  
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