Most Israeli Officials Congratulate Obama, But Danon Says Israel Must Not ‘Cave in’ to His Demands
by JNS.org
Most Israeli officials congratulated President Barack Obama on his reelection Tuesday, starting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The strategic alliance between Israel and the U.S. is stronger than ever. I will continue to work with President Obama in order to assure the interests that are vital to the security of the citizens of Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement, despite reported tension between the two leaders over how to deal with Iran.
President Shimon Peres said “During his four years in office, the president contributed immensely to the security of Israel.” Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren said the relationship between Obama and Netanyahu “is completely fine” and that he doesn’t “expect any change regarding Israel in Obama’s second term.”
“The two countries have intimate, strong relations, we have mutual interests—the resumption of the peace process immediately without preconditions; on the Iran issue where our differences have been reduced significantly recently, we work together to make sure Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons,” Oren said.
World Likud Chair Danny Danon, however, was not as diplomatic. “Israel must not cave in to Obama’s demands; his re-election attests to the fact that the responsibility of furthering Israel’s interests lies with Israel and Israel alone,” Danon said. “We cannot trust anyone but ourselves,” he added.