Netanyahu Wins, Obama Fumes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just thumb this nose at President Obama, again, this after the powerful conservative Israeli leader won his third straight election, and election that was mired with controversy and accusations that Obama operatives were in Israel actively trying to defeat Netanyahu.

 There is no secret that there has existed a rift between the U.S. and Israel ever since Obama took office, leaving many to question whether the Obama administration was still fully supportive of Israel.

 The problems between the two countries began a few years ago when Obama  suggested that Israel push back their borders to where they were in 1967.  A defiant Netanyahu scoffed at the suggestion, saying that Israel could not roll back its borders because of the decades-long aggression that Israel’s neighbors have shown since that 1967.

 Then there was the whole “Bibi Comes to Washington” issue that caused Obama to pitch a fit. Earlier this year, the Obama administration and congressional Democrats took issue with Netanyahu’s slated speech in front of the Congress, saying that Speaker Boehner, who invited to speak Netanyahu, broke traditional protocol about inviting a head of state to speak in the U.S.

 Democrats tried in earnest to prevent Netanyahu from speaking, even threatening to boycott the speech. After everything was said and done, Netanyahu gave his speech, while thirty-some Democrats shunned his address to Congress.

  Two of Netanyahu’s biggest supporters, Senators Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), both  applauded the election results.

Senator Marco Rubio/ The Shark Tank

  “Today’s parliamentary elections in Israel remind us of what unites our two countries and what distinguishes Israel, as the only true democracy in the Middle East, from its neighbors.  Millions of Israelis took to the polls to choose their representatives, and ultimately shape the government that will guide their country in the coming years.

 “Now that the Israeli people have made their decisions, it is time for the Israeli political process to work.  Whatever the outcome of that process, the United States will continue to stand firmly with our ally, Israel.  We will stand by the Israeli people and their duly elected political leadership.”-Sen. Marco Rubio

Ted Cruz

 “Prime Minister Netanyahu has been an extraordinary leader for Israel, and I congratulate him on what appears to be a victory today. His electoral success is all the more impressive given the powerful forces that tried to undermine him, including, sadly, the full weight of the Obama political team. American officials should not be undermining the elected leaders of our closest allies, especially when Prime Minister Netanyahu’s heroic – even Churchillian – opposition to a nuclear Iran has done such tremendous service to U.S. national security. The American people are proud to stand steadfastly with our Israeli brothers and sisters. May our friendship grow and prosper, and may the Nation of Israel stay forever strong.”-Sen. Ted Cruz