While ministers would not choose a side ahead of the US presidential election on
Tuesday, several MKs and parties took a stance for US president Barack Obama or
Republican candidate Mitt Romney.
Israel is indifferent to the outcome of
the US election, as the Jewish state will continue to enjoy bi-partisan American
support irrespective of who wins, Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told
Israel Radio Tuesday.
Responding to whether Israel expects a potentially
re-empowered Barack Obama to apply pressure on Israel to make concessions to the
Palestinians, Ayalon stressed that "Israel does not need any pressure in order
to make peace or to reach diplomatic agreements." Finance Minister Yuval
Steinitz denied that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu tried to get involved in
the US election.
"Israel will not reveal which candidate it prefers," he
told Army Radio on Monday. "We are not intervening and do not favor anyone.
Those of us who have a preference are keeping it to ourselves." However, not
everyone in the Likud kept his stance to himself.
MK Danny Danon (Likud)
said "Obama made many mistakes in his foreign policy and his appeasing,
ingratiating treatment of the Muslim world, and has brought extremism to the
region." In September, Danon published a book in the US titled Israel: The Will
to Prevail, in which he described what he called Obama's mistakes in dealing
with the Middle East.
The Likud MK said he is sure Romney will be better
for Israel and the Likud.
MK Arieh Eldad (National Union) called Obama
"the most hostile president to Israel in recent decades." "The money sent to aid
Israeli security following pressure from Congress cannot hide Obama's attempts
to push Israel into a suicidal corner and try to force the establishment of a
Palestinian state," Eldad stated. "Obama also prevented Israel from attacking
the Iranian nuclear industry on time, putting Israel under an existential
threat."
On the opposite side of the political spectrum, MK Ahmed Tibi
(UAL-Ta'al) expressed ambivalence about both candidates, calling Obama the
"default choice."
"I wanted Barack Obama to win four years ago, because he
symbolized a refreshing change, but his stances in the last four years on the
Palestinian issue were disappointing and passive," Tibi said.
"Obama surrendered
to [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu's dictates."
At the same time, Tibi said
Romney is the candidate of Netanyahu and right wing American-Jewish
philanthropist Sheldon Adelson, who is "conservative and capitalist," so he
still prefers Romney.
Meanwhile, Meretz threw its support behind the
incumbent, throwing a "Mesi-bama," a combination of mesiba (party) and Obama at
party headquarters in Tel Aviv Tuesday night.
"We'll stay up all night
with giant televisions and a ton of alcohol for the 'Mesi-bama' on the roof of
Meretz headquarters," the invitation reads. "If Obama wins, we'll be very happy.
If Romney wins, the alcohol will help."