Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo: GPO
What harms the US harms Israel
Analysis: Israel needs bipartisan support in America and Netanyahu's meddling in internal politics threatens the allies' relationship, not only today but into the next presidency.
During one of his last visits in Washington, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be heard, in a casual manner, saying that there's no reason to worry about his relationship with US President Barack Obama. After all, the president will soon be going home as the end of his term approaches.
It should be remembered however, that even after Obama leaves the White House, the Democratic Party will continue to exist. Within this party, House Representatives and Senators interpret Netanyahu's behavior as meddling in internal elections - Congress' midterm elections to take place in just another three months.
The prime minister already has this kind of meddling on his resume. On the evening of Presidential elections in 2012, Netanyahu did little to hide his support for the Republican candidate Mitt Romney in action, words, and other subtle ways that were hidden from sight.
Netanyahu should learn from his mistakes and the policy of former prime ministers not to choose candidates to support in American elections. (Photo: GPO)
Netanyahu bet on the wrong horse in the race of 2012, and now it seems that he didn't learn anything from the experience.
Israeli leaders have always avoided picking and openly supporting one candidate over another in American politics, and for good reason. They understood that Israel must have positive relations with both the parties dominating the US. Almost all of them were able to produce warmth and intimacy with the White House, not content to rely on a Give and Take relationship.
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This only served to help Israel. What previous prime ministers were able to accomplish in a discreet phone call with the US President was sometimes worth more than a military airlift bringing vital supplies during wartime.
Hillary Clinton won't be forgiving of Netanyahu's meddling if elected to the White House in 2016. (Photo: AFP)
In the Democratic Party, which enjoys the support of most of America's Jewish population, government officials see Netanyahu's behavior not only as chutzpah, but mostly as ingratitude. Leading up to the midterm elections, fights for political survival are being played out and the prime minister's actions exacerbate the situation.
In two years the growing crisis between the two nations could come back against Israel like a boomerang. At the moment pollsters are predicting that if Hillary Clinton runs for the presidency in 2016, she'll beat any Republican candidate she may face. After being victorious over Romney, Obama showed restraint with Netanyahu, but never really forgave him.
Even Hillary, who still remembers well how Netanyahu deceived her husband Bill when he was President, won't before forgiving if she reaches the White House. When the prime minister harms Obama, he harms all Democrats, or in other words, half of America.
