Presidential Tantrums

"Get over your temper tantrum, Mr. President."
 "Look, there was a free and fair democratic election, the only nation in the region that will have such a thing. The president should get over it. Get over your temper tantrum, Mr. President. It's time that we work together with our Israeli friends and try to stem this tide of ISIS and Iranian movement throughout the region, which is threatening the very fabric of the region."
"The president is letting his personal feelings toward Netanyahu get in the way of important policy issues. I am convinced of it, because, either that, or [Mr. Obama] is delusional. I am not sure which."
"Bibi's rhetoric concerning an election campaign pales in comparison as to the threat, the direct threat, to the United States of America of ISIS. The president has his priorities so screwed up, that it's unbelievable."
"If he does that,[accept the PA's urging of a UN security resolution] then -- and it would be approved by the U.N., then the United States Congress would have to examine our funding for the United Nations. It would be a violation because of the president's anger over a statement by Bibi, by the prime minister of Israel. It would contradict American policy for the last at least 10 presidents of the United States."
Senator John McCain, Senate Homeland Security committee 

"This is about the mutual concern we have for Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon. I will tell you that the special relationship that America has with the Israeli people transcends any of the politics. This administration should be better than this, that Prime Minister Netanyahu has been re-elected."
House Majority Leader Rep.Kevin McCarthy, R-California

"We take him at his word when he said that it wouldn’t happen during his prime ministership. That’s why we’ve got to evaluate what other options are available to make sure that we don’t see a chaotic situation in the region."
"We’re going to make sure that regardless of disagreements we have on policy that our military and intelligence cooperation to keep the Israeli people safe continues. And that cooperation also helps the American people to stay safe."
"We indicated that that kind of rhetoric was contrary to what is the best of Israel’s traditions."
"Israeli democracy had been premised on everybody in the country being treated equally and fairly; I think that is what is best about Israeli democracy. If that is lost, then I think that not only does it give ammunition to folks who don’t believe in a Jewish state."
U.S. President Barack Obama

President Barack Obama meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, Friday, May 20, 2011. (photo credit: AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Well, well, a monumental hissy-fit over the unmitigated gall of the head of another country's government disagreeing with the American President, both in public and in the most prestigiously powerful forum in the United States: Congress. Upstaging the President of the United States? Castigating the Commander in Chief for his decision to court a country whose government is a direct threat to world stability, and certainly to the existence of another Middle East State? What has the U.S. got to lose?

And what, in contrast, has Israel got to lose over the Islamic Republic of Iran gaining grudging permission to proceed with its nuclear aspirations, sanctions removed? And therein lies the truth of the matter, that the U.S. has no right to dictate to Israel how it should react over the catastrophic decision of a egotistical President whose focus on his historical legacy overrides his responsibility to the world, to the U.S., to American allies. His bullying tactics as opposed to Netanyanhu's refusal to bend to Obama's will.

Mr. Obama speaks rather unconvincingly of the American interpretation of Israeli functional events. As though the Prime Minister of Israel requires a lesson on parliamentary democracy. While in reality the President of the United States did deserve a lesson in Middle East politics. Barack Obama is fuming over the insult to his integrity, his honourable performance, his executive status as the most powerful man on the planet whose policies and decisions a mere regional politician dares to refute.

"I don't want a one-state solution; I want a sustainable, peaceful two-state solution, but for that, circumstances have to change. I was talking about what is achievable and what is not achievable. To make it achievable, then you have to have real negotiations with people who are committed to peace", explained the post-election Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. And that is a twofold message; that Israel must have a partner in peace negotiations whose commitment to peace and arriving at a solution to enmity must be met halfway.

And the other part of the message is that in dealing with a human-rights-abusing, terrorist-funding, proxy-international-assaulting, nuclear-weapons-searching country like Iran, to place trust in the country that negotiations will result in a reliable, verifiable agreement that matches the concerns of Iran's neighbours and the expectations of the international community, the United States must be bargaining with a trustworthy partner. Which is quite simply not the case.

The Obama administration made it quite clear that their preference was to have a replacement for Benjamin Netanyahu and his political party. And covert means were put in place to effect that change, along with belligerent overt interventions. Despite which the Israeli electorate preferred the democratic route of their own selection, one that would give them the most reliable hope for security in defence of their country, notwithstanding America's 'guarantees' that it stands behind Israel, come what may.

The American President is furious over the ingratitude that he sees on the part of a nation that has relied heavily on the goodwill and concern of his great country. But in his administration goodwill and concern have been spectacularly missing and this, more than anything -- well almost, if one overlooks the fact that American policy under this president has resulted in a chaotic collapse of relations between the U.S. and its former allies -- motivates Israelis to look closer to home for answers to the challenges of their future.