JERUSALEM -- It’s no secret that President Obama doesn’t see eye to eye with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.Obama and Netanyahu, who is up for re-election for a second term Tuesday, disagree on major issues such as Jewish settlements and how to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.The president’s frustration with Netanyahu was underscored this week when Jeffrey Goldberg, a U.S. columnist, reported that Obama has “privately and repeatedly” said to confidants that Israel “ ‘doesn’t know what its own best interests are.’ “There was a time when a poor relationship with a U.S. president would doom a candidacy in Israel. Israel depends on the United States more than any nation in the world for economic aid and security. But media polls here indicate Netanyahu should win re-election to his post easily. A majority of Israelis clearly believe Netanyahu knows what Israel’s interest are better than Obama on issues involving the Palestinians, terrorism and the threat of Iran’s nuclear program.Israeli media polls predict that a majority of seats in Israel’s 120-member parliament will go to conservative, pro-settler or Jewish religious parties, Netanyahu’s Likud being the largest among them. That will enable him to put together a coalition government and continue to rule Israel for another four years.“Everyone understands that only Israelis will determine who faithfully represents Israel’s vital interests,” Netanyahu said during a visit to the Israel Defense Forces’ Gaza Division.“Over the last four years, we have withstood enormous pressures. They wanted us to restrain our pressure on Iran, withdraw to the 1967 lines, divide Jerusalem and cease construction in Jerusalem. We have fended off those pressures.”At their rallies and in campaign ads, Likud and its ideological ally Yisrael Beiteinu and other right-wing parties are emphasizing their strength on security.Agencies
