Posted on 03/19/2015 7:19:56 AM PDT by Star Traveler
All aspects of relationship up for reevaluation; coming weeks critical as US waits to hear if PM will dial down anti-two-state, anti-Arab rhetoric.
WASHINGTON The Obama administration woke up Wednesday morning to a sobering new reality on the ground in Jerusalem instead of a weakened or rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Washington will now face the return of King Bibi. The White House has to come to terms with a Netanyahu who, defying the predictions, has been shored up by a strong mandate for his rightward-turning campaign.
In the final days before the election, the Obama administration was on good behavior both the State Department and the White House barely responded to campaign statements by Netanyahu that walked back his previous comments in support of a two-state agreement. They also abided not-very-veiled accusations of US meddling in an effort to undermine Netanyahus candidacy. But on Wednesday, the gloves came off.
In a set of coordinated messages, the White House and State Department launched their first barrage, mostly focusing on Netanyahus comments apparently repudiating his 2009 statements in support of a two-state solution.
The coming weeks will be critical for the short-term future of the relationship, at least until 2017. It seems that the Obama administration is waiting to see if Netanyahus campaign rhetoric will be backed up by a rightist coalition but in the meantime has few reservations about giving an already teetering relationship a rope with which to hang itself.
The morning after the elections found US-Israel relations more shaky than ever before. The State Department made a few things clear. US Secretary of State John Kerrys call to congratulate Netanyahu was perfunctory and chilly. The two did not talk policy at all, said spokeswoman Jen Psaki.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...
This explains Netanyahus position much better and also explains he has not backed away from his Bar-Ilan speech.
PM still wants a peaceful two-state solution
I dont want a one-state solution. I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution, Prime Minister Netanyahu tells MSNBC in an interview after the elections.
Trying to clarify his position after the White House said it would draw its own conclusions from his comments on Election Day, in which he ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state if re-elected, Netanyahu says, I havent changed my policy. I never retracted my speech in Bar-Ilan University calling for a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes a Jewish state.
Netanyahu explains that circumstances have changed since the Bar-Ilan speech was made in 2009.
Walking back pre-vote pitch, PM says he is not a one-stater
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3269694/posts
I always knew Netanyahu would stick to his long-standing policy, going back years and years. And it didn’t take him long to do that.
Now is the time for Bibi to take off the gloves! Tell us the truth about the imposter in the White Hut........we know you know. help bring the FreeWorld back from the brink....
You’re not going to find Netanyahu creating a hassle where he doesn’t have to. Netanyahu will confine his talking about these things to just matters that have to do with ISRAEL. Netanyahu is concerned about the survival of the very small state of Israel and not about “making a statement to the world” about Obama ... :-) ...
Now is the time for Bibi to take off the gloves! Tell us the truth about the imposter in the White Hut........we know you know. help bring the FreeWorld back from the brink....
Take a look at Post #43 ... :-) ...
The Kenyan usurper is out of control.
It’s time for the House Pubs to put impeachment back on the table.
At least till the next election campaign.
Yes, he is, and he’s more obstinate and dedicated than ever. I hope something serious in the works to protect the country from this demon.
re @43
right - but there comes a time when - like now - the unrestrained actions of a world leader are determined to destroy your country - and the world of FREE countries - then all bets may be off.
there is a limit to all things
Netanyahu knows how to survive and to insure the survival of Israel ... :-) ... Israel is in good hands with Netanyahu!
Didn’t you mean to put OBAMA’s picture up there? ... LOL ...
Definitely not. It’s a pro-Israel song by Bob Dylan.
I just saw “Neighborhood Bully” under Netanyahu and I knew that didn’t fit ... :-) ...
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