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January 17, 2013

Netanyahu Responds to Reported Obama Criticism as E1 
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has taken what is being
described as a subtle dig at President Obama following widespread
reports of a rift between the two. Bloomberg News has recently reported
that Obama chided Netanyahu's government in private, apparently saying:
"Israel doesn't know what its own best interests are" and expressing the
view that Netanyahu is a "political coward." Visiting an Israeli army
base on Wednesday, Netanyahu appeared to respond.

Prime Minister Netanyahu: "I think everyone understands that only
Israeli citizens will be the ones who determine who loyally represents
the state of Israel's vital interests. In the past four years, we have
faced tremendous pressures. We were demanded to restrain pressure
against Iran, to withdraw to the 1967 border lines, to divide Jerusalem,
that we won't build in Jerusalem. We repelled those pressures and I
shall continue to protect Israel's vital interests for the sake of the
security of Israel's citizens."

Despite talk of a rift between President Obama and Netanyahu, Obama has
yet to take any action on one of the most controversial settlement
expansions by the Israeli government in years. Israel is now expanding
the E1 settlement in the West Bank after putting it on hold since
objections were raised under George W. Bush. The E1 zone is particularly
sensitive because its completion would bisect the West Bank, dashing
whatever remote hopes remain for a two-state solution. But the Obama
administration has refused to cut aid or even offer criticism, limiting
its reaction to calling the E1 expansion "counterproductive."

 

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