Netanyahu tried to interfere in U.S. elections: Olmert

Source : http://en.mehrnews.com/detail/News/100903

TEHRAN, Dec. 2 (MNA) – Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that Benjamin Netanyahu's aggressive quarrel with the Obama administration over the agreement with Iran signed in Geneva endangers Israel, and panned Netanyahu for "losing his head."Olmert accused Netanyahu of "declaring war on the United States" and of attempting to incite the Congress against U.S. President Barack Obama.Olmert spoke Sunday at a closed panel discussion on "the strategic implications of the interim agreement between the P5 + 1 and Iran," held at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University.Olmert said both his government and that of his predecessor Ariel Sharon wished to avoid public confrontation with the American administration over Iran. "At no stage did we want to do battle with Israel's number one ally and to incite the Congress against the president," he asserted.Olmert called Netanyahu's acts and statements unprecedented. "The danger and the potential damage from it are incomparably larger" than the value of the public debate with the United States, he said.When Netanyahu took office in 2009, he changed Israeli policy in favor of "declarations" and "threats," Olmert said.Olmert also said Netanyahu's Iran policy put an undue financial strain on Israel, criticizing the NIS 10 Billion spent on preparations for a possible attack on Iran. "This is money that was wasted," Olmert said. "If the State of Israel ever decided act on its threats this money will not change anything, but it has great significance as to the state's budget."Olmert rejected the claim that Netanyahu's threats led to the severe sanctions that brought about the compromise with Iran, and said that these started even before Netanyahu took office.He warned Netanyahu, without directly naming him, against a conflict with Obama, "the man whose support for the State of Israel, his good will, is possibly the most important basis for the country's strategic interest," and added that "we need to guard against anything that could possibly make it seem that we desire to fight with our greatest ally."Olmert also claimed that Netanyahu openly intervened against Obama in the U.S. presidential elections last year, a move he termed a "historic mistake."

Netanyahu paints himself into a corner

Source : islamicinvitationturkey.com 

the Israeli parliamentary election of January 22, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line bloc suffered an unprecedented drop in the number of seats it won, which clearly showed that the popularity of his alliance is dropping precipitously. Netanyahu’s radical approach toward foreign policy, especially his intransigence on the Mideast peace process, and the worsening economic situation in Israel were two major factors behind his surprise setback.

In other words, most of the Israeli settlers and the Arab Israelis have become fed up with Netanyahu’s overemphasis on foreign policy and his inattention to internal issues. Moreover, Netanyahu’s exaggeration of alleged security threats, including his fixation with Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, and his adamant rejection of Palestine’s application for recognition of its statehood at the United Nations have caused numerous problems for Israel, most notably the rise in tension with its main ally, the United States.

Netanyahu called for early elections three months ago, expecting an easy victory that would increase the number of seats of his Likud Party and their allies in the Knesset. In fact, he thought he would form a coalition government with less friction with opposition parties. However, the results show that he will have to scramble to put together a coalition of parties, including center-left groups that have dramatically different views than Netanyahu on many polarizing issues.

Such a situation would largely benefit Iran, since Netanyahu’s rivals are determined to force him to change his stance on Iran as well as many other foreign policy issues. Israel’s center-left parties are mostly focused on internal issues, especially the economic situation and the controversial issue of conscription. If they join the government, Netanyahu will be compelled to tone down his rhetoric on Iran if he wants the coalition government to survive.

Given Israel’s economic situation and the political turmoil in the region, Netanyahu’s threats against Iran will be viewed as empty, and even the most obstinate Israeli hard-liners will not endorse his Iranophobia campaign.