The New York Times.
JERUSALEM — Over the past several years, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has on several occasions confronted or even undercut President Obama, taking his message directly to the Israel-friendly
United States Congress, challenging Mr. Obama’s appeal to the Arab
world, and seeming this fall to support his opponent, Mitt Romney.
Mr. Netanyahu woke up Wednesday to find not only that his Republican
friend had lost, but also that many Israelis were questioning whether he
had risked their collective relationship with Washington.
“This has not been a very good morning for Netanyahu,” a deputy prime
minister, Eli Yishai of the religious Shas Party, told journalists in
Eilat.
The prime minister, facing his own re-election fight on Jan. 22, did not
directly acknowledge any missteps, but he rushed to repair the
relationship. He called the American ambassador to his office for a
ceremonial hug. He issued a damage-control statement declaring the bond
between the two nations “rock solid.” He put out word to leaders of his
Likud Party whose congratulatory messages had included criticism of Mr.
Obama that they should stop.
