Netanyahu to Critics of US Relationship: You Will “Not Get Away With It”
by Zach Pontz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to critics Thursday saying, “There are those among us who are trying to instigate strife between Israel and the US,” adding they would “not get away with it.”
The Prime Minister made the statements at a cornerstone-laying event for a hospital in Ashdod.
“The alliance between the countries is strong and cooperation exists in all fields, especially when it comes to security, there cooperation is deep, broad and fundamental,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu’s comments came a day after former Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Olmert made provocative remarks at a meeting with New York Jewish leaders. “Following what Netanyahu did in the last few months, the question arises of whether or not our prime minister has a friend in the White House,” he said.
Olmert also said, “What took place this time was a breaking of all the rules, when our prime minister intervened in the US elections in the name of an American billionaire with a clear interest in the vote,” Olmert continued. “The very same billionaire used Israel’s prime minister to advance a nominee of his own for president.”
Olmert was referencing Jewish-American casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who reportedly donated upwards of $70 million to Romney’s failed campaign. Adelson also owns the Israeli daily newspaper Israel Hayom, which many see as a backer of Netanyahu.
During the election some accused Benjamin Netanyahu of backing GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney. In Florida a pro-Romney organization used video of Netanyahu at press conference speaking on the Iranian nuclear threat in an attempt to persuade Jewish voters.
According to The Times of Israel on Thursday US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro denied that tension exists between the two leaders. He said their relationship was an open one and that in the nine meetings between the two held over the years, discussions were positive and constructive and would continue to be.