Facing criticism, Netanyahu denies interfering in U.S. vote

[trailmonkee]

Source: REUTERS

(Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday denied accusations he was interfering in U.S. politics after coming under fire for fiercely criticizing Washington's handling of Iran.

Relations between Netanyahu and President Barack Obama hit a new low this week after the Israeli leader said nations that failed to set red lines for Iran did not have the "moral right" to prevent Israel from launching a military strike.

He did not mention the United States by name, but the comments were clearly aimed at Obama and his administration.

Coming less than two months before a U.S. presidential election, critics accused Netanyahu of seeking to influence the vote - a charge the Israeli prime minister rejected in interviews published in local media on Friday.

"That's nonsense, because what's guiding me is not the election in the United States but the centrifuges in Iran," he told Israel's Hayom daily newspaper.

"If the Iranians ... had stopped enriching material and preparing a bomb until the U.S. election was over, I would have been able to wait," he added.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/14/us-israel-us-netanyahu-idUSBRE88D0AQ20120914

[Surya Gayatri]

1. Hope this dangerous war merchant faces so much domestic

blow-back that he has to shut his big blowhard mouth.

[Firebrand Gary]

2. Oh good, so like Romney he is also a liar! nt

[Hubert Flottz]

3. Well...

He lies just like a republican.

[fredamae]

4. Didn't he and Romney go to school together?

I believe I heard that on a program a couple days ago...suggesting a long term friendship?
Anyone else?

[BlueMTexpat]

6. I don't know about scolarity, but they do have a working relationship

that goes back a long ways.

This is from Fox, so should perhaps be taken with a grain of salt.

The connection between Romney and Netanyahu goes back decades. It started in the mid-1970s when they were corporate consultants at the Boston Consulting Group and has lasted nearly 40 years -- with Netanyahu, the world-wise politician, occasionally offering advice to Romney, the successful financier turned politician.

Yet the friendship until recently had gone largely unnoticed, or at least until Romney emerged as the likely 2012 GOP presidential nominee and during a primary debate brought attention to it. Responding to a controversial statement Newt Gingrich had made about Palestinians, Romney said: "Before I made a statement of that nature, I'd get on the phone to my friend Bibi Netanyahu" and ask for his advice.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/07/25/romney-overseas-tour-chance-to-showcase-netanyahu-friendship/#ixzz26RpUQJxf

[fredamae]

12. Thanks :) At least some of what

I'm hearing is true. Anyway-Wow--His reach is far and wide, isn't it?

[nanabugg]

5. I love a President who will stand firm on behalf of America first! nt

[Anthony McCarthy]

7. Likud is a fascist party, the Republican party is a fascist party

Netanyahu is carrying water for Romney and the Republicans, he's a foreign head of government attempting to interfere with an American election. The head of government in a country that wouldn't exist without massive subsidies from the United States government. He should be required to register as lobbyist whenever he gets near a government official or office holder.

[byeya]

8. Likud = fascist; Republicans = fascist: Well said

Cut off all aid and all military contacts with Israel from the USA and from NATO until
another government is installed that does not include Likud.

[66 dmhlt]

9. Note to "Kneepad" Rmoney: POTUS Is NOT a position in Bibi's Cabinet

[Frances]

10. I read yesterday

that Adelson funds a free newspaper that is basically an advertisement for Netanyahu in Israel.

Is that true?

Is Adelson pushing Netanyahu to try to stir up trouble for Obama so that Adelson can be the power behind the throne for a Repub president?

[jsr]

11. And Adelson receives a $2B tax cut

for the $100M he invested in the race.

[L0oniX]

13. Netanyahu, STFU!