Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is widely seen as getting the best of President Obama during his recent visit to Washington D.C. among Israelis. New numbers suggest Bibi is benefiting from a sustained boost in the Israeli polls from his arrogant snub of the American President.
Netanyahu maintaining strength, poll finds
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has succeeded in maintaining the political boost he received for defending Israel in his recent clash with US President Barack Obama, a poll broadcast by Channel 10 on Thursday night found.
The Dialog poll found that 50 percent of Israelis were satisfied with Netanyahu’s performance as prime minister, compared to just 38% who said so two months ago at the height of a scandal over Netanyahu’s overseas travels.
Most politicians would do almost anything for a 12 point jump in the polls. All Bibi had to do was lecture President Obama like a school child, followed on the heels of of Bibi's visit to Washington by a dedication of a provocatively sited settlement in Arab East Jerusalem, deliberately timed to be a blatant slap in the face for the American President.
East Jerusalem homes dedication 'provocative'
Israeli right-wing politicians defiantly dedicated new Jewish homes in the heart of Arab-dominated East Jerusalem yesterday, less than a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed in a much-hyped speech that he would never divide Jerusalem.
“Why now? They couldn’t wait for one more week? This is not a casual move,” said Meir Margilit, a councillor in Jerusalem’s municipality who claimed that the date of the ceremony had been coordinated with the prime minister’s office. “Mr Netanyahu is sending a message to the right-wing and to the Palestinians: ‘Nothing will stop us from building in Jerusalem and the West Bank’.”
Unusual in foreign policy matters, the Congress has shown its willingness to undercut the President on U.S. policy toward Israel. After his triumphant speech to the joint session of the Congress, why should Netanyahu do any of the things Obama want's him to do to make peace? Congress sent an unmistakable message that Bibi is free to ignore Obama. Netanyahu only welcomes America's money, weapons, and blind diplomatic support, not American ideas about curbing more settlements or making peace.
Israelis see all of this.
When will most Americans see it?