By
Larry Laibson

It is very disheartening that Israel, our long and steadfast ally in a troubling region, receives lukewarm or almost chilling receptions by Obama and his Administration. Problems have persisted in recent years and Obama’s approval in Israel has been the lowest of any President acerbated by numerous examples including unrealistic demands for unreasonable concessions to create a Palestinian State, lukewarm support during the Hamas shelling of Israel from Gaza, Obama’s consistent disrespectful relationship with Bibi Netanyahu and recent Obama’s activities to defeat Netanyahu in this week’s important elections.

Netanyahu won a decisive victory in the Israel election March 17, 2015 taking 30 seats, besting his rival party by 6 seats. Within the next few weeks, he hopes to form his coalition government that will have the necessary 61 seats to keep control of the Knesset and re-elect him as Prime Minister for a record breaking fourth term.
Israel re-elected the appropriate Leader for these very troubling times. Israel’s borders include few friends and many enemies as Iran’s hegemony spreads though their support of numerous terrorist bodies and expansion of its territorial reach in the quest of a regional ultimate Islamic State. Iran continues to call for the annihilation of Israel, to issue “death to America” statements and to recently practice naval war games against a mock U.S. naval carrier.
It is in this atmosphere that Obama is inexplicably pushing his Iranian nuclear deal.

Netanyahu was “Churchillian” in his masterful speech to a joint session of Congress last month that outlined the clear and present dangers of a nuclear armed Iran. The President is hell bent to consummate this deal, seemingly at any costs, and refuses to engage Congress in this critical act that will affect our security for generations. Why is the President allowing Iran to get nuclear weapons in 10 years under a Sunset Clause? Why aren’t the negotiations including Iran’s development of ICBM’s which can carry nuclear payloads to Europe and the U.S.? To avoid Congress’s involvement as required by the Constitution, Obama is calling the deal an “Agreement” rather than a “Treaty” and is calling the Senators “traitors” for sending the excellent letter to Iran’s Leader calling out the Constitutional requirements and the ability of the next president to undo any “Agreement” (which even Kerry said was not “legally binding”).

Netanyahu was clearly not against any deal. The Sunset Clause was the “deal-breaker.” Obama said he would walk away from a “weak deal” but I think this is pure rhetoric as he needs the deal for a number of reasons, including as a quid pro quo to elevate Iran as a regional power including his proxy for fighting ISIS in Iraq and as a legacy to his failed Administration.

Israel is directly threatened as are other Middle East nations like Saudi Arabia and Egypt that have already started their moves to achieve nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu’s speech to Washington brought details of Obama’s terrible Iran deal to the awareness of both Congress and the American people. The subsequent Senate letter builds on the travesty of the unconstitutional actions being pursued by Obama in by-passing Congress.

Obama’s pique has been significantly elevated by these actions as he no longer has “free reign” to negotiate anything he wants with Iran.
“What does it say about the President of the United States when he’s more concerned about undermining and attacking the prime minister of Israel than he is standing up to the mortal threat a nuclear Iran poses?” Ted Cruz.

Like a petulant child who is not getting what he wants from his elders, Obama covertly tried to defeat Netanyahu by linking one of his top 2012 campaign managers of field operations, Jeremy Bird, with OneVoice, a non-profit company who had been funded earlier by a $350,000 State Department grant which was still open. Congress rightly is now investigating this arrangement, including the continued tax free status of OneVoice and potential legal issues of the Administration actions.

Netanyahu’s election victory returns a very strong Leader to a nation facing many existential threats. In light of Obama’s many areas of questionable support for Israel in general and specifically his petulant disrespectful behavior with its Leader, will Obama now be a World Leader , recognize Netanyahu’s successful reelection and work with him with proper diplomacy?

This may be naive however. Obama does not face challenges or adversities well, especially from people he considers “adversaries” and not agreeing with him.

Regarding Netanyahu’s reelection, Obama is likely pouting. I’ll be surprised if he says anything or if he does it will be perfunctory and unworthy of that for an important ally. Even worse, will Obama’s support for Israel erode even further?