Posted on 03/18/2015 9:04:48 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Barack Obama might have hoped for a leadership change that would reboot his poisoned relationship with Israel’s government. But he didn’t get it on Tuesday, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — thanks in part to a hard lurch right — appeared to make a dramatic comeback after trailing in pre-election polls.
As votes were counted Tuesday night, Netanyahu claimed a dramatic comeback victory. “Against all odds: A great victory for the Likud. A major victory for the Israeli people,” he posted on Facebook.
With more than 99 percent of the votes counted, Netanyahu’s Likud party had earned 30 seats in Israel’s Knesset to 24 seats for the center-left Zionist Union party led by his chief rival, Isaac Herzog. Netanyahu still needs to assemble a governing coalition to extend his rule, but that should be little challenge, given his surprising margin after polls showing a potential Likud defeat.
Indeed, Netanyahu will likely emerge strengthened, leading a more conservative coalition than he did before — and likely emboldened in his conflicts with the Obama administration over how to defend Israel.
The results were demoralizing for Democrats who consider the Israeli leader tantamount to a partisan rival — particularly since Netanyahu’s March 3 speech to Congress arranged by Speaker John Boehner behind the Obama White House’s back. In Herzog, Obama officials saw a possible fresh start with Israel on issues like the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and Iran’s nuclear program.
“They hate him, they should, and they’re praying that he is out of power,” said a former senior Obama administration official as early returns came in Tuesday night.
But if, as seems likely, those prayers aren’t answered, Netanyahu’s relations with Obama are likely to resume at their lowest point yet.
In the closing days of the campaign, Netanyahu seemed to reject his previous support for a Palestinian state, potentially dashing hopes for a renewed peace process still nurtured by Secretary of State John Kerry and other U.S. officials.
Netanyahu also cast himself as the target of foreigners — and while he was vague about the details, pro-Netanyahu media outlets often cited the role of former Obama campaign operative Jeremy Bird, who advised a grass-roots campaign organization that opposes Netanyahu. That group also partnered with the Washington-based OneVoice Movement, an international grass-roots group that supports the two-state solution and has taken State Department funding in the past.
And Netanyahu startled some U.S. observers when he cast the election in a racial light by ominously warning supporters on Election Day that Israeli Arabs were turning out in large numbers against him.
Netanyahu’s “scare tactics made the difference,” said Danny Ayalon, who served as Israel’s ambassador to Washington from 2002 to 2006 under a Likud government. “He now holds all the cards,” Ayalon said.
In Washington, conservatives expressed delight at the results.
“Sure loser: Obama,” tweeted Weekly Standard editor William Kristol.
“His electoral success is all the more impressive given the powerful forces that tried to undermine him, including, sadly, the full weight of the Obama political team. American officials should not be undermining the elected leaders of our closest allies,” Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said in a statement.
In particular, defending a nuclear deal with Iran would have been easier for Obama absent the protests of Netanyahu, who has warned Congress that Obama is striving for “a very bad deal” with Iran. Herzog also questioned the pending deal with Iran, but in more muted tones.
Perhaps the biggest question looming over a Netanyahu victory is how the Obama administration will react to the Israeli leader’s rejection of a Palestinian state; a day before the election, with his victory uncertain, when an interviewer asked whether he would oppose the creation of such a state while prime minister, Netanyahu said yes.
That would be a reversal of Netanyahu’s own stated position, as well a challenge to U.S. policy set in 2002 by President George W. Bush.
State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki seemed to downplay the remark Monday, saying that “there are many things said leading up to elections.”
Before the full margin of Netanyahu’s victory was clear on Tuesday, Ayalon predicted that “Bibi will retract” the statement.
“He made the remarks as a candidate representing Likud,” he added. “As a prime minister, he represents the government. And that depends on the coalition he builds.”
By Wednesday morning, some were far more pessimistic.
“With Netanyahu withdrawing his already tenuous support for a Palestinian state, it’s safe to say that there isn’t a peace process,” said Matthew Duss, president of the Foundation for Middle East Peace.
I have a dream... that Barack Obama will be exposed and prosecuted and spend his twilight years in an 8x12 Supermax cell in solitary confinement until dead.
Congressional Republicans need to investigate what the Obama regime and its affiliated U.S. nationals did to sway the Israeli election. They need to hit this big time.
As Rush is wont to say, “Conservatism wins every time it’s tried.”
So the Liberals want Bibi to make peace w/the Palestinians who call for the death of Israel? This confirms that “liberalism” is a spiritual disorder.
Peace process? Really? Why negotiate with terrorists? Just eliminate them.
With Netanyahu withdrawing his already tenuous support for a Palestinian state, it’s safe to say that there isn’t a peace process,”
What makes him think there WAS a peace process?
As long as there are “Palestinians” there will
be no peace.
“..it’s safe to say that there isn’t a peace process,”
There never was a “peace process.” The Palestinian Authority never abided by even one item they signed off on during the Oslo Accords. Israel did every single thing she said she would do. The whole thing was ridiculous, because Israel kept giving away land and getting absolutely no reciprocity. The Western nations were played for fools by the P.As. Israel never had a “peace partner.” Anyone paying attention realizes that.
Obama is a loser no matter what but we lost millions of taxpayer dollars in his devious little schemes intruding into the elections in Israel.
Very much so.
Foreigners need to stay the hell out of our elections. We need to stay the hell out of theirs.
There was never a ‘new low’ with Israeli/White House relations before the Obama administration.
Politico is just bitter because the Republicans let Bibi come and show this country what a real leader looks like. Haven’t seen the “congratulations” statement that our whiney adolescent sent, but Fox Radio reported that he congratulated the people of Israel for having an election! If true, that is the “new low.” (Although they should be congratulated for having much better judgment in voting than Americans had in ‘08 and ‘12.)
Any truth to the rumor that BO will write an executive order nullifying Bibi's win? It's in our constitution don't ya know!!
The Gaza was a little lab experiment on how the Pali’s would handle their own homeland. What a smashing failure that has turned out to be. Insanity would be to move forward but lieberalism is just that.
Well there's an understatement.
Dear God,
Thank you so much.
Yours,
exit82
GOPe: Yes, we have learned we will need to squash you like bugs right away, before you pull this sort of move on US.
Hey obammy,
Up yours mookabooker
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.