Israelis fear PM is meddling in US politics
Source: Associated Press
JERUSALEM (AP) — It is a taboo for Israeli leaders to give even the slightest hint of favoritism in politics in the United States, Israel's closest ally. So some Israelis are squirming over a perception that their prime minister is siding with Republican Mitt Romney in the U.S. presidential race, in the belief he will take a harder line on archenemy Iran if elected.
With President Barack Obama holding a narrow lead in opinion polls, Benjamin Netanyahu's perceived strategy looks risky to Israelis who fear their alliance with the U.S. could be in trouble if the incumbent wins.
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Netanyahu's inner circle includes Ron Dermer, a former Republican activist in the U.S., and Sheldon Adelson, the American casino billionaire who has contributed tens of millions of dollars to the Republicans.
Netanyahu's friendship with Romney goes back to the 1970s, when they worked together at a Boston investment firm. During the campaign, Romney has accused Obama of throwing Israel "under the bus." And in comments to a closed fundraiser that were captured on videotape, Romney sounded as if he had received many of his talking points directly from Netanyahu as he listed reasons why peace between Israel and the Palestinians isn't possible.
Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/israelis-fear-pm-meddling-us-politics-161611300.html
The odd thing is that the Israeli media, aside from the newspapers owned by prominent Romney backer and Netenyahu backer, Sheldon Adelson, has been much more upfront about criticizing Beni for his efforts to influence the U.S. election than local media, which generally ignores the Adelson's close ties to both men.
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