Third paragraph, third line -- for "unenforceable," please read "enforceable." Apologies to all.

To many it is obvious that the US will be unable to negotiate any type of peace in the ME and it is a waste of time, energy and money to even bother. The US is in a no-win position. Israelis are determined to alienate as many humans on earth as possible, including many Americans while making the Arabs as angry as possible while ensuring there will eventually be a terrible war which Israel can not win. Americans no longer want to waste their wealth and blood in the ME and since they can not keep Israel from going over the cliff, will just retreat from the ME. Over the next few years Israelis are going to discover that the US just no longer cares because the old, white Christians that might have cared are now becoming a miniscule minority in the US. Demographics and economics are causing the US to ignore Israel at the same time Israelis are giving the US the "finger." Be real careful what you wish for because there are ALWAYS unintended consequences for every action.

"Very clever people" -- really? Like the ones who advised Obama to abandon Egypt and Tunisia? Like the ones who told him not to buttress security at the United States Consulate in Benghazi? How about the super clever ones who told him not to threaten to cut off all aid to Algeria instantly if the Algerian government were to do something rash? Or were you perhaps referring to the advisors who told Obama that he while it is correct and proper to visit just about every Arab country in the Middle East, all invitations from Israel should be ignored? Or was it the advisors that told him it was okay to have a private conversation with the then-head of state of France and to malign the head of state of a sovereign nation that is an American ally? Kneeling to kiss the Saudi king's ring -- wow, that was a priceless piece of advice! The list goes on and on .... you're a fool, Michael. Israel is not falling into a "trap" -- Israel can outthink the best minds the United States has to offer any time, and does so on a routine basis. What you are seeing in Israel is that the voting public is moving to the right. The people of Israel are observing the changing political realities in the Middle East and taking steps to secure the future of the State of Israel. There is no longer room in Israeli politics for die-hard leftists who are ready and willing to mortgage Israel's future just because a not-particularly-intelligent-American-president with a very clear anti-Israel agenda makes promises he has no intention of keeping.

Whatever on earth makes you think that Israelis care about what the Europeans may or may not think? Don't you think Jews are well aware of the unimaginable suffering they endured at the hands of the Europeans. But I'll tell you this: the Europeans are shameless. They'll come running to Israel for below-market priced natural gas like the lap dogs they are. You keep reading the European press, though -- I'm sure that journalists throughout Europe are heartened that at least one person actually continues to pay attention to European opinions about anything.

Not to be a fanboy, But you have great information, and you know how to answer people really well.

1996 Clinton wanted Peres and his new Middle East and he tried hard to help him and right up to the final days all the polls showed Peres heading for a comfortable victory then a Tel Aviv bus was blown up and unexpectedly the Peres supporters turned to the strongman. Clinton tried to help Peres but he didn't cause him to lose. In 2009 whilst he didn't try to influence the actual election Obama did try put the squeeze on Peres to appoint Livni to form a government but to his credit he decided Bibi had a better chance of forming a coalition so went with him. 2013 Obama is working to try and undermine Bibi during the campaign itself and you can be sure he is going to be putting serious pressure this time not to give the job to Bibi and this time Peres will be more supportive of the idea because he doesn't like what he has seen for the past 3 years under Bibi and he likes Shelly, she is a good old fashioned socialist and still committed to oslo. Bibi needs to come out of this election with a small but working right wing majority then he can chose to invite the left or leave them out. If not however unlikely given his own personal feeling and pressure from Obama there is a possibility Peres will give Shelly has a chance to make a small and stable leftist coalition.

The Americans don't have long memories, they thank you your the greatest and after that start laying down the law. America was furious when Israel destroyed their new found ally against Iran had his nuclear reactor destroyed by Israel and went along with the international condemnation. Ten years later they are all saying to themselves thank god Israel bombed that reactor.

If it were up to you we would just go down the toilet a little bit faster.

You have made a claim "Nethanjahu himself clearly and openly supporting Mitt Romney....." now for my challenge. Put up or shut up - provide a single proof of the above statement and I will not post here. Failure to do so and you do not post here. Bet I know who will win that one.

Ophir Falk hit it right on the nail! Obama has not exactly fulfilled the world's hopes and expectations of him when he got elected. His Nobel Peace Prize put the prize to shame, unfortunately. Obama has a lot going for him but foreign policy is not his strength. This step was a screw up, especially given the Israeli mentality.

I make a point of explaining things in detail and not calling anybody names. I will make an exception this time and let Jeff Segalovitz, of Raanana, know that he is a fool. He and others must vote their ideals and conscience not dafka.

Babe, that may be your most venomous rant to date. No one does the sullen & spiteful mode like you. You do of course realize that the next four years of the Obama administration, and his agenda for Israel, are going to literally have you bouncing off the walls, yes?

Oh, I know. I don't know if it's a question of not having long memories. I think it is more a question of the United States having zero political acumen in international affairs coupled with every now and again electing a president who is an idiot who harbors a private agenda. Obama would have to grow a second and third brain before he can match Prime Minister Netanyahu's political savvy in international affairs. That's why the United States is an international laughingstock and Israel is much feared. Prime Minister Netanyahu is clearly a student of Machiavelli -- it is better to have your enemies fear you than like you. Israel's enemies fear her greatly. Israel doesn't particularly fear them. It's Israel's so called "friends" -- i.e., the United States -- that bear watching, especially when the occupant of the White House is a horse's ass, as happens to presently be the case. Still, it is rather amusing to watch as Netanyahu makes Obama look like the incompetent amateur that he is and treats Obama with the disdain that Obama so richly deserves. I assure you that while Obama will be groveling at Netanyahu's feet, begging for a state invitation to visit Israel, none will be forthcoming. The rules, quite simply, have changed, and the United States needs to toe the line.

Au contraire. I will spend the next four years watching as the United States loses respect from whatever countries remain that have any for the U.S., and as Netanyahu -- who will be re-elected with a very comfortable plurality -- thwarts Obama's pathetic efforts to bully him at every turn. I'm sorry that you confuse truth with "sullen and spiteful." But if you cannot stand the heat -- get out of the kitchen. Israel is in the business of looking after Israel's interests -- and those decisions are made in Jerusalem, not Washington D.C. Just look where Obama's decisions have led the world. Do you really think Israel pays him much attention?

First of all, I am not digging a deep hole. Secondly, when was the last time you took the pulse of the Israeli electorate? I know you are ignorant when it comes to United States politics, particularly the interplay between the executive and the legislative branches of government. I hadn't realized that you are woefully ignorant when it comes to Israeli politics, as well. Shameful, really.

Does not the president of Israel get elected by the Knesset? Peres will be retired, and will stumble off into oblivion. His grip on reality is tenuous at best, and he seems to think he's still living in the glory years of the Israel left.

your fan all along, I would it be now ! XXXChris

Bibi interfered heavily against Obama in the USA elections, so we shouldnt be surprised. If Israelis now vote to be davka, then sadly I guess we deserve a PM who doesnt work for a future democratic and safe Jewish state, with a Jewish majority and without throwing away billions on land that we will have to return one day. Just think how that money could help health, education, the poor etc

Do I think Israel pays Obama any attention? You & all Israelis dread and hang on his every word. As well you should, for he has always had a real agenda concerning Israel, and now you definitely got on his bad side during the election. You mentioned "heat in the kitchen" earlier. An apt phrase for the next four years of Obama & Israel, for he'll have the time, and a heavy variety of tools, both to turn the burners up on Israel to settle his account with the Israeli govt., and to impose his progressive vision of the future upon the ME. Sarah, brace yourself for four long years of unrelenting heat, & a true turning of the screws direct from DC. He intends to make his mark.

You mean that because of a.temporary President in USA, you will change your vote,? That is ridiculous! Vote in a mature fashion for who YOU really think is good for YOUR country.

Netanyahu won't be elected dog catcher in US. Get out of your ghetto and look around once in a while.

If Naftali Bennett & Co do strong enough that they have to be in the coalition, and they have to give Naftali the Defense Ministry, so Hagel is forced to deal with him.

Trust me, Cameron, we've faced worse and survived. Obama's just the latest in a long line of idiots who thinks he can force Israelo to do that which Israel does not wish to do. I realize that he wishes to make his mark in history, but he isn't going to do it at Israel's expense. He'd better start hunting for another patsy. If he were smart, he'd choose a country a little less technologically advanced than Israel, one that does not control two of the largest natural gas fields ever discovered, and very definitely one that does not have nuclear weapons capacity and the moxie to use them. The Kingdom of Togo might be about right. That's a total tyranny. Perhaps he can use his rapidly declining influence to force his idea of democracy there. Of course, it goes without saying that his idea of democracy needs a bit of tweaking. Egypt, Tunisia and Libya have been MAJOR disappointments, after all. These are things he really can't pin on Israel, poor thing. I bet he spends long hours on the phone crying his heart out to the "Reverend" Jeremiah. Oh well. He is, after all, a lame duck.

Israel should be more concerned with this big a-- EARTHQUAKE coming its way,,, its about a Clock and the HOUR, add destiny just for a good measure.

Keep dreaming about that wealth. That was at least forty years ago, before the democrats bankrupted the USA with its entitlements, health care reform, and printing of money. Record number of people out of work and on food stamps. Israel's GDP growing faster than US and unemployment much lower, You have your countries reversed