Netanyahu Congratulates President Obama, Tries To Repair Rift

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated President Obama on his re-election on Wednesday, though, from the past few years of tensions between the two politicians, the congratulations may have been a little strained.

Netanyahu has repeatedly clashed with the president and was widely thought to be backing his Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, reports The Globe and Mail.

Israeli cabinet minister Eli Yishai spoke with reporters on Wednesday morning as news of Obama’s victory emerged. Yishai stated:

“It seems like it is not such a good morning for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”

Along with news of Obama’s victory, there was also concern in the country that poor personal chemistry between the two leaders would affect the relationship of their governments, especially if Netanyahu is re-elected in the January 22 election.

The pair’s rather cold relations are a result of vastly different world views. While Obama pressed the Prime Minister to end settlement construction in the occupied West Bank, Netanyahu only agreed to a temporary freeze. When the freeze time expired, he refused Obama’s request to extend it.

Peace talks between Israel and Palestinians quickly broke down, and Palestinians refuse to come back to the table because of the settlement construction.

The New York Times notes that, soon after he found out President Obama had won re-election, Prime Minister Netanyahu called the American ambassador to his office for a ceremonial hug. He also issued a statement that declared the bond between the two nations is “rock solid.”

While he attempted to do damage control on the strained relationship between him and President Obama, some Israeli leaders are worried that the prime minister effectively erased any kind of influence he may have over Washington on policy matters like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Iran.

They are worried that the US will agree to have direct talks with Iran and that they will also go easier on the Palestinian Authority’s request for upgraded status in the United Nations, which is expected later this month. Mitchell Barak, a pollster and strategist, stated at a morning gathering of Americans in Jerusalem who were watching the election:

“Netanyahu backed the wrong horse. Whoever is elected prime minister is going to have to handle the U.S.-Israel relationship, and we all know Netanyahu is not the right guy.”

Few believe that Obama will act against Netanyahu, though their already tense relationship (which was increased when the Israeli prime minister appeared to back Romney) will likely hurt efforts to coordinate any priorities they may share.