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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd L), Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch (L) and Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino (R) during a visit at The National Traffic Police headquarters in central Israel. January 09, 2013. Photo by Kobi Gideon / GPO/FLASH90

Israel - Seemingly taking a page out of US President Barack Obama’s playbook, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu went to the Israel police’s traffic control center at Bet Dagan on Wednesday, radiating a sense that he is on top of the situation as storms continue to pummel the country.

When Hurricane Sandy struck New Jersey and New York in late October, just a week before the US elections, Obama went to the stricken areas looking concerned, presidential, and effectively managing the crisis, something that stemmed Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s momentum and helped Obama win a second term.

Netanyahu is not facing in two weeks time nearly as tough an electoral challenge as Obama did, and the storm that is currently rocking Israel is not nearly as powerful as Hurricane Sandy was, yet Netanyahu made sure to go to Beit Dagan and – with cameras whirling – hold a meeting with the country’s police top brass and heads of the other emergency services.

“We waited many years for this rain, and I hope it remains for a blessing, and will not cause fatalities,” he said, calling on the public to act responsibly and listen to the police’s directives.

Netanyahu thanked the public for its “patience,” saying they understand that after the traffic jams disappear, “we will remain with full water reservoirs which we need.”

The prime minister said he convened the meeting to receive a briefing on the situation, as well as to thank all those working in the inclement weather to ensure that services were provided and those in need received assistance.  “The system is working well,” he said.

Netanyahu said he already directed his director general to look into compensation payments for people facing significant damage and financial loss from the storm.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (2nd R), Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch (R), Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino (2nd L) and Major General Bruno Stein (L), head of the Israel Police’s traffic division during a visit at The National Traffic Police headquarters in central Israel. January 09, 2013. Photo by Kobi Gideon / GPO/FLASH90

“A month after Operation Pillar of Defense, the emergency services are proving again to the home front that there is someone to rely on,” Netanyahu said.

Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post

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