Politicians on the left and right congratulated US President Barack Obama on his
reelection Wednesday, touting US and Israel’s strong relationship.
Deputy
Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon was the first Israeli politician to comment on
Obama’s victory, tweeting: “Congratulations to President Obama and the American
people on his reelection. President Obama will be an excellent President for
Israel.”
Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich sent a letter to Obama, saying
his victory reflects the achievements of his first term.
“I have a great
appreciation for your work toward a change in American society, your agenda and
the values you promote, which are part of my ideology – equality, a fair economy
and the government’s responsibility for its citizens,” Yacimovich
wrote.
“We in Israel expect to continue the special relationship between
Israel and America, a true alliance and friendship.”
“Shas congratulates
US President Barack Obama on his victory. The election focused on economic
policy toward American citizens, and Obama’s win teaches us that the weaker
sectors demand leadership that will not abandon them,” Housing Minister Ariel
Attias said.
Attias made a reference to the Jewish custom of blessing
kings, and commended Obama and the US for supporting Israel ahead of the joint
challenges both countries face.
Opposition leader Shaul Mofaz (Kadima)
said the challenges facing Israel and America necessitate continued cooperation,
and he is convinced Obama and the American people will continue to stand with
Israel, as friends and partners with shared values and goals.
Yesh Atid
congratulated Obama on his winning a second term, calling on him to keep his
explicit promise to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to act
immediately to renew negotiations with the Palestinians.
The party also
called on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to take immediate steps to fix the
poor relations between him and the Obama administration, and slammed Netanyahu
for inappropriately intervening on the side of the Republicans in the American
election.
Meretz threw a mesi-bama – a combination of mesiba (“party”)
and Obama – on Tuesday night, and, following his victory speech, released a
video with snippets of the president’s speeches and people cheering, “yes we
can.” The clip ended with the message: “The Left won in America, and we will
soon in Israel.”
MK Dov Henin (Hadash) tweeted “we now have two months to
get rid of [Republican candidate] Mitt Romney’s political twin,” in reference to
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the upcoming election.
On the
right, the National Union said Obama’s victory will boost the Israeli
left.
“The upcoming Israeli election will be about building a national
coalition that will help Netanyahu withstand the pressures put upon him,” the
party said.
“[That coalition should be] a Jewish coalition that is
strengthened by the knitted- kippa [national religious] merger of the National
Union and Habayit Hayehudi, as opposed to a weak, left-wing coalition with [Yesh
Atid leader Yair] Lapid and [Shas’ Arye] Deri.” MK Danny Danon (Likud) released
two statements – an aggressive one in Hebrew, and a more politically-correct one
in English.
“We will not bow to Obama’s will,” Danon said in Hebrew. “His
election shows Israel must take care of its interests on its own, and we do not
have who to trust other than ourselves.
Obama hurt America with his
naïve, substandard foreign policy, which prefers the Arab world instead of
Israel and the West.”
In English, however, Danon congratulated Obama on
his reelection and called for him to visit Israel.
“Now is the time for
President Obama to return to the wise and time-honored policy of ‘zero daylight’
between our respective nations,” he said. “This is especially true as it
pertains to the existential threat posed to Israel and the West by the prospect
of a nuclear Iran.”