Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces an even more awkward time with Washington and re-energized critics at home who accused him on Wednesday of backing the loser in the U.S. presidential election.

With Iran topping his conservative agenda, Netanyahu will have to contend with a strengthened second-term Democratic president after four years of frosty dealings with Barack Obama and a rift over how to curb Tehran's nuclear program.

Facing his own re-election battle in January, polls give Netanyahu little chance of losing but perceptions that he has mishandled Israel's main ally have been seized on by opponents.

"I will continue to work with President Obama to ensure the interests that are vital for the security of Israel's citizens," Netanyahu said in a short, congratulatory statement hailing what he called strong strategic relations with Washington.

But in remarks underscoring a rift with the United States over possible Israeli military action against Iran, Netanyahu said in an interview broadcast on Israel's Channel 2 this week: "If there is no other way to stop Iran, Israel is ready to act."

Relations between Netanyahu and Obama hit a new low two months ago after the Israeli leader said nations which failed to set "red lines" for Iran - which denies seeking atomic arms - did not have the "moral right" to stop Israel from attacking.

Such comments, along with financial backing for Republican candidate Mitt Romney from a U.S. casino magnate who is also one of Netanyahu's biggest supporters, were seized upon by critics as evidence the Israeli leader was trying to undermine Obama.

Netanyahu denied he was interfering in U.S. politics.

But former Israeli ambassador to Washington, Sallai Meridor, suggested that Obama would not easily forget that Netanyahu had created a perception that Israel wanted Romney to defeat him.

Obama is "very strategic, very disciplined", Meridor said during a panel discussion on the U.S. election at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv.

"But I don't think we can just assume that what happened between them over past four years will have just evaporated," he said. "When people fight for their political life and have the perception that their partner is trying to undermine their chances, it's not going to disappear."

One of the Israeli prime minister's own leading coalition allies, Eli Yishai of the religious Shas party, said simply: "It's not a very good morning for Netanyahu."

More: http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/2956-obama-victory-spells-trouble-for-israels-netanyahu

Not true.
Obama is to defend US interest, not his personal interests.
Don't allow the societal decadence in your country Nigeria to blindfold you from the reality that
others still have sense of responsibility to their people.
Netanyahu may have prefared the Republican candidate because they are more aggressive going to war.
However, Democrats will still support Isreal, though with cause towards unnecessary aggressions.

Mitt Romney would have offered a tougher stance against Iran than Barack Obama! That may explain why Israel would have wanted a different outcome Yesterday!

Very feeble analysis

well it wont stop usa and israel from dealing with those bloody savages in religion of piss around israel

Abujafood: Mitt Romney would have offered a tougher stance against Iran than Barack Obama! That may explain why Israel would have wanted a different outcome Yesterday!

Republicans are always looking for new people to fight.

Olaolufred: Not true.
Obama is to defend US interest, not his personal interests.
Don't allow the societal decadence in your country Nigeria to blindfold you from the reality that
others still have sense of responsibility to their people.
Netanyahu may have prefared the Republican candidate because they are more aggressive going to war.
However, Democrats will still support Isreal, though with cause towards unnecessary aggressions.

so what are you saying?

Netanyahu congratulated Obama yesterday.

Hug transformer...

It is not correct to say that there will be an open rift between Netayahu and Obama. The US foreign policy is the same wether Democrat or Rebublican. In any case, if Romney had won the election, he would have also called in the Joint chiefs of staff and the secret service for briefing. I'm sure they would have told him that campaign rethorics is different from the real security issues. Also Israel, is US closest ally so no matter who occupies the white house, Israel's interest is paramount and protected.

Obama don break another record for Nairaland oh.. He broke the record for the "most mentioned/discussed name on Nl frontpage in two days"...
Our frontpage has been obamarised...

Olaolufred: Not true.
Obama is to defend US interest, not his personal interests.
Don't allow the societal decadence in your country Nigeria to blindfold you from the reality that
others still have sense of responsibility to their people.
Netanyahu may have prefared the Republican candidate because they are more aggressive going to war.
However, Democrats will still support Isreal, though with cause towards unnecessary aggressions.

Baba take it easy na.
Did you even read the article?? First word there is "(Reuters)". It was not written by a Nigerian, for Nigerians, about Nigerians, in Nigeria.
So how did Naija's decadence enter the matter?

Israel's Interest is US and US' Interest is Israel.

They will get over it. US-Israel relationship is beyond personalities.

israel dey form like say him fit defeat iran unilaterally,if only US fit just dey neutral,make iran make life tire israel small

israel will never get usa support in there so called military action again iran, as long as obama is there, let israel act alone nd c if iran wil nt wipe them off the surface of the earth.

It's a common knowledge that most Israelis wanted Romney to win because of his determination to pursue Iran's rumoured nuclear programme to a logical conclusion, particularly exploring the option of war. However, Obama has no choice but to stand by Israel against an increasingly daunting Iran and allies

means: It is not correct to say that there will be an open rift between Netayahu and Obama. The US foreign policy is the same wether Democrat or Rebublican. In any case, if Romney had won the election, he would have also called in the Joint chiefs of staff and the secret service for briefing. I'm sure they would have told him that campaign rethorics is different from the real security issues. Also Israel, is US closest ally so no matter who occupies the white house, Israel's interest is paramount and protected.

The problem with Obama and Israel is that he has done nothing and is unwilling to do anything. Now this has 2 sides to it. You can say it is to the interest of America for the president to concentrate on America, but the reality of todays world is quite different. As much as many blame Bush for the 2 wars, he never brought those wars on himself. He woke up one day with planes killing over 3000 people inside American soil. That is a declaration of war and Americans would have been furious with him if he didnt respond. Dont forget he won a reelection because of his response. Even Obama in such a situation would have had to act or he would have felt the backlash of Americans. The only problem was the length of the war.

So the reality is this, if America completely ignores the middle east, the middle east will eventually come and bite them in the azz. That is what experts are warning seriously about the arab spring. Lybia has become the new somalia. Egypt is the new pre 9/11 Iraq. These are time bombs wating to happen. Nigeria is already suffering the aftermaths of the Lybian war. These terrorists are real. They are planning and they will strike again if given the opportunity. It is not a fluke, it is real. If Obama continues to ignore the middle east peace process, it will come back and hunt him in a most damaging way. It isnt true to say every republican president wants to fight a war. Every president is faced with different kind of problems. You dont even plan for it. Some presidents are lucky not to have too many bad stuff in their time. The problem in dealing with Iran isnt that America must go to war against them, but America must look tough and not weak. The truth is that, under Obama, America has looked vey weak and countries have lost respect for them. In the long term, that might affect many things

Much as I wasn't too pleased with the Israeli's Prime Minister's support for Romney, I could understand where he was coming from. Howbeit, in foreign policies, America and Israel know who their enemies and allies are. Though things may still be frosty between the two, it will never interfere in America doing the right thing at the right time as long as the American interest and indeed the interest of the world at large is protected.

If you having election problems, i feel bad for you Son, i've got 99 problems but a Benjamin ain't one...Hit Me!!

Whatever the case may be, its necessary for us to have in mind the fact that, God loves Israel and always shows her favour.
But its also necessary to know the fact that each time Israel goes against God, a bigger hammer always come to wedge them.
So those who still believe Israel is invincible will be surprised if Iran is attacked first by the Israelis.
Let's us wait and see another hammer (IRAN) falling on the Israel. Let's pray for peace

Obama knows the consequence of going to war with iran, iran is not like iraq, iran has strong connection with the arab leaque nd obama would not want to break ties with them because most of the oil US is using are form middle east.

.

Anyone thinks Obama controls US foreign policy must be fooling themself; especially when it comes to Israel.

However, I am against US or Israel attack Iran. It will destroy civilizations. Persians are no child's play.

Netanyahu is a devil, Isreal is a friend of the US, but sometimes that friend needs to cautioned.

Obama knew in the course of the campaign that his stance on Israel was contributory to why the conservative white and the Jews wanted an alternative in Romney. I think they misconstrueded Obama on this. Just as he( Obama) said on the last debate that incase Israel is attacked or at war, America had no option than to stand by Israel. That was emphatic! and that is America's foreign policy, irrespective of the differences between personalities at the hem of affairs the interest of America comes first. He has been diplomatic with Israel to avoid a necessity of war in the situation Israel causes one.

codeline: i don't really agree with u. When u read all israels war u will know that isreal dont really need US. They only need som1 to cover their back against the soviet.

What are you saying son.

tpapi: israel dey form like say him fit defeat iran unilaterally,if only US fit just dey neutral,make iran make life tire israel small

if only muslim world wnt start shouting genocide when israel starts kicking sum iranian buttt

teniyi: Whatever the case may be, its necessary for us to have in mind the fact that, God loves Israel and always shows her favour.
But its also necessary to know the fact that each time Israel goes against God, a bigger hammer always come to wedge them.
So those who still believe Israel is invincible will be surprised if Iran is attacked first by the Israelis.
Let's us wait and see another hammer (IRAN) falling on the Israel. Let's pray for peace

broda abeg i over like wetin u talk joh. People just dey think say Israel nah the strongest for this world just because what God promised them

Obama's election will actually slow down any aggression of against Tehran from Jeruselam. Which is good news. There should be other ways of dealing with the Persians, not outright war. Obama uses better and strategies to solve issues like Iran without endangering or getting Americans hands dirty. The arab rising is an example. Tougher sanctions against Iran can put paid to their Nuclear arms ambition. Intelligency solves problems better than aggression.

obama will be different in his 2nd term.....

teniyi: Whatever the case may be, its necessary for us to have in mind the fact that, God loves Israel and always shows her favour.
But its also necessary to know the fact that each time Israel goes against God, a bigger hammer always come to wedge them.
So those who still believe Israel is invincible will be surprised if Iran is attacked first by the Israelis.
Let's us wait and see another hammer (IRAN) falling on the Israel. Let's pray for peace

israel is a people not a place