A secretary of defence that supports dialogue w. Hamas, appeases the Iranians and see Israel as a problem for the US. What could possibly go wrong?

Netanyahu did not side with any candidate it is the corrupt media that is creating these false stories. Netanyahu new Romney from his days in Boston...how does that indicate that he supported romney. You guys in the media lie, lie and lie.

i would not get excited about hagel. he will soon realize that US needs israel for its forward dfence. In any case, israel will have to go it alone in any case on some matters. Hagel has a point of view and if he wants to move away from israel, that is his right. israel is not defenceless so stop going nuts on the appointment.

American Jews helped put the idiot Obama ...back into power and burned their Jewish Brothers. They voted in a pariah.

mr plocker is entitled to his (anti-netanyahu) opinions, but... president obama only nominates a secretary of defense - congress must examine and approve the nominee, usually in lengthy and loud hearings. and the democrats don't enjoy a majority there. it would be remarkably stupid and inept for president obama to nominate a candidate who is likely to be rejected, especially just to spite israel. please find some other excuse to bash bibi.

How does he know Who will be nominated next Defense secretary????? It is nowhere to be found in the US press. This editorial writter is whats wrong with some of press. They base their stories on their bias rather than fact.

The headline on ths story is misleading and pernicious. Senator Hagel for a long time, even during the first Obama administration was a candidate for an important position in the government. As a Republican with combat experience and considerable political heft in both political parties he brings much to any political appointment. The connection, or lack thereof, with Israeli policies are secondary to an executive decision to use his services.

THE POWER 25 (2007, Forbes) 1. American Association of Retired Persons 2. American Israel Public Affairs Committee 3. AFL-CIO 4. National Federation of Independent Business 5. Association of Trial Lawyers of America 6. National Rifle Association of America 7. Christian Coalition 8. American Medical Association 9. National Education Association 10. National Right to Life Committee 11. National Association of Realtors 12. American Bankers Association 13. National Association of Manufacturers 14. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees 15. Chamber of Commerce of the U.S.A. 16. Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States 17. American Farm Bureau Federation 18. Motion Picture Association of America 19. National Association of Home Builders of the U.S. 20. National Association of Broadcasters 21. American Hospital Association 22. National Governors' Association 23. American Legion 24. National Restaurant Association 25. International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Obama is not and never has been a friend of Israel. His appointment of the notorious Chuck Hagel fits in well with his anti-Israel agenda. Obama made a Chanukah party and all the Jews were fooled. We know who he really is.

for Cabinet positions. Did Israel consult US when they put Lieberman as FM? STAY OUT OF OUR BUSINESS!

Obama appointed samatha power in 2008 who called for military action against israel. Obama spent twenty years in rev wright's church. Bibi isn't the enemy but 70 percent of jews in the u.s and some in israel say poke me in the eye again. Those include ed koch who campaigned for obama. You get what you vote for. The liberal media has hurt israel by proppping up people like obama and livni.

Netanyahu dug a well under Obama but he fell in it. Every dog has its day.

Even Obama doesn't make policy based on whom he likes or dislikes. What Israel will either accept or reject over the next few years is that the situation here has changed. The electorate is different. The center to far left sympathizes with underdogs. Don;'t exercise American Jews into going to war over Chuck Hagel. It will be a losing battle. Strong support for Israel in the Congress and among the people will keep Hagel quiet enough. America, like Europe is tired of the Middle east conflict. I'm sure you in Israel are even more tired of it. Don't lose the love of America over a dumb fight over one Secretary of Defence..

Obama is picking Hagel because he thinks nominating a Republican for a senior cabinet position would make him look "bipartisan," and the Dems have always loved Hagel because he broke with the GOP on the Iraq war. This has absolutely nothing to do with "getting back at Netanyahu"... the world doesn't revolve around Israel.

I honestly think that the Israeli 'problem' is pretty easy to solve and resolve. However, in some forms we still hear that some insist on portraying Israel as such a 'bad' ally for America. My take on the whole thing is as follows: 1. Iran, is not only an Israeli problem. 2. The UN and the world, who decided that the Jews nation/people should have a state, are the ones who are expected to do something, swhen a dictators like the current one in Iran, is making such statements, etc. 3. I haven't seen, even for once, when was it that America went 'out of its way' to protect Israel, and only Israel. For example, I used to hear claims that the whole war in Iraq was because of Israel. Now, that everybody sees how much money is involved, nobody is even talking about Israel - people in the West are just happy with the outcome (among other things, a stable Oil production in Iraq, in very difficult times of financial crisis). Which is, by the way, something which balances Iran's oil production. 4. If, indeed, after all that we have seen in the last few months/years from Hamas, anyone in the world, or in America, wants to claim that Hamas is not a terror organization - there is nothing more to be said. Everybody knows what Hamas is. So, in the end of the day, the question is: are people going to help Israel resolve its issues, simply by addressing their own (e.g., Iran, North-Korea nuclear knowledge, Human Right violations, etc). Or, will they simply sit back, and condemn Israel, for not talking to Hamas, Asad, and their kind. I do believe that both the US and Israel have a lot of joint goals, issues, and mutual interests to keep the Israeli-American strategic alliance. It's not news to me that there might be other people out there, with different 'agendas'. As for Obama, for me it's enough that he does what's best for America - as I believe that being fair with Israel, is good for America. I'm really not asking for more.

So what if the POTUS is appointing a known detractor of Israel... thinking that decision would be made as a "slap in Bibis face" is rather egocentric. Congress will still make the decisions on whatever the writer is attempting to intimate in the way of lost funds. Worthless article.

The government of Israel has created this nightmare by abusing the support and friendship of its last remaining ally. The government of Israel IS a night mare and if the prediction for the election results are confirmed, that nightmare is likely to become the natural state of being for the state, its citizens and its neighbours.

I had faith in Obama, but this...? If he's appointing him shows what a true whack-job he is, no Jew who loves Israel could deny that.

Obama and his coterie represent the anti-Israel leftist Democrats. His entire world view is pro Muslim. His chief advisor, Samantha Power, a Democrat, even suggested to bomb Israel. It's only obvious that Obama choices for gov.ment posts are from the anti-Israeli camp, be it Republican or Democrat. This opinion piece is reeking of leftist bias: ignoring the American left harsh anti Israeli tirades and concentrating on Hagel who broke with the Republican mainstream and kept voting with, and for the Democrats during his political carrier. It's a disingenuous and dishonest attempt to link an Obama worshiping acolyte to the opposition Republican mainstream. Even the mere idea is absurd and twisted to the extreme. Hagel has no official position in the Republican Party: he's retired. Get ready for the worst to come: Obama emboldened by his re-election - thanks to the 70%-ers - will enlist every Israel haters - including vocal self-loathers to destroy Israel.

Indeed, Israel has some weight on certain issues in US politics but certainly NOT the kind that decides who gets into such an office. That's just sheer arrogance and irrational idealism. This position will be fled by a close circle in DC who thinks this person is right for the job or not. How anyone would think such a decision would be made to 'spite' ANY Israeli govt or politician is dillusional. Get a grip Sever: you're dreamy assertions are embarrassing.

You are wrong. In the today (November 18) edition of the conservative pro-Israeli Washington Times on page B3 Frank J. Gaffney Jr. has an article against the nomination of Hagel. Among other reasons Gaffney mentioned the long-standing hostility of Hagel against Israel, and Hagel’s view that Israel should negotiate with Hamas and Hezbollah. Panetta and his predecessor both were not friends of Israel, but Hagel has a much worst record. In the same day edition of the Wall Street Journal (Opinion page A15) Bret Stephens has an article titled “Chuck Hagel’s Jewish Problem” with a similar content. I am sure it is, or it will be in more conservative printed media. I do not expect that the liberal media will write about it, but it is not a co-incident that the pro-Israeli media made the first salvo against the nomination of Hagel. His nomination will ignite a Republican opposition similar to the Suzan Rice case.

It is no wonder Obama goes on making senseless choices.

You're right about Samantha Power. But what didn't seem to get much notice is the fact that had Susan Rice become Secretary of State, Obama wanted Samantha Power to replace her as UN Ambassador. Talk about a nightmare. Also, not only did Obama spend more than 20 years in Jeremiah Wright's church, but another of his close personal friends was Rashid Khalidi...the paid mouthpiece for Yasser Arafat and the PLO and a man who couldn't even bring himself to criticize the suicide bombings against Israeli civilians. So the question is whether Obama could have been such a notoriously bad judge of character that he chose to associate with people like these, or is it more likely he chose to have relationships with these people because they actually reflected his own personal views?

Do you honestly think that Obama thinks about screwing Bibi when he chooses the persons for one of the most important roles in the US government? What have you been smoking? You should have stayed an economics writer and not tried to expand into fileds that you have no understanding about.

You reap what you sow

USA is in a mess, and Obama will enjoy driving it deeper into a mire from which it may never emerge as the America the world has known , loved, and feared. ISRAEL is now wealthy enough and strong enough to stand its corner and strengthen its defences over the next few years to wean itself away from dependence on USA or any single power. An Ideal worth attaining. Self hating Jews and Idols they have enthroned will drive us to real independence if we are good enough to seek it