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Obama/Netanyahu Post-Election Reset
US/Israeli relations remain unchanged.
By Stephen Lendman
Neither leader says they're sorry. Netanyahu bet on the wrong candidate. Relations with Obama have been strained for months. Both clearly dislike each other and show it.
Political necessity requires getting along. They'll find a way. Israeli elections are in January. Netanyahu's stuck with Obama for four years. His own political prospects are on the line.
On November 8, both leaders spoke by phone. Netanyahu offered congratulations.
"This was a vote of confidence in your leadership," he said. "We will continue collectively fighting the challenges faced by both the US and Israel, and promote peace and security in the region."
Earlier on Thursday, he rejected accusations of strained US/Israeli relations. He denied pro-Romney bias. Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert accused him of hurting US/Israeli ties by trying to undermine Obama's reelection chances and offending him.
In damage control mode, Netanyahu told Obama:
"This was a vote of confidence in your leadership. We will continue collectively fighting the challenges faced by both the U.S. and Israel, and promote peace and security in the region.""We we have a strategic partnership (with America). We cooperate in all fields, but most of all in security, where the cooperation is deep, wide and firm."
On November 9, Haaretz headlined "Betting on the wrong horse: The night Benjamin Netanyahu will not soon forget," saying:
Obama's reelection caught him off guard. He expected Romney to win. Close political advisor Arthur Finkelstein gave him bad advice. He predicted Romney by 4% in the popular vote and victories in all swing states.
Netanyahu was swayed. "In private conversations, he ridiculed anyone who advised him not to rule out a scenario in which" Obama would win. He did so despite most polls predicting it.
"For Netanyahu, (Finkelstein's) word is sacred." He also predicts Netanyahu's reelection. Maybe he's telling his boss what he wants to hear. He may end up making another "meta-mistake."
