Jerusalem – Netanyahu Phones Obama, Congratulates Him on Election Win

Jerusalem – Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu telephoned US President Barack Obama Thursday afternoon to personally congratulate him on his re-election to a second four-year term.

It was “a vote of confidence in your leadership,” Netanyahu said.

He looked forward, Netanyahu said, to continuing to work with the Obama to address the great challenges facing both the US and Israel as well as to advance peace and security in our region.

It was the latest in a series of conciliatory gestures to Obama, that Netanyahu has made since elections results were announced Wednesday.

Netanyahu is looking to reassure both Obama and the Israeli public that any past tensions between them, won’t impact their future relationship.

Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu said, “In recent days, I have been hearing voices ­ that are coming from among us ­ that are trying to stir things up between us and United States.

“This will not help them,” he said at a cornerstone-laying ceremony at Ashdod Hospital.

“The alliance between Israel and the United States is strong. We have a strategic partnership. We have cooperation in all areas but especially in the security sphere; there, cooperation is deep, broad and fundamental,” he said.

“One of the foundations of our security is the brave partnership between us and the United States,” Netanyahu said.

On Wednesday, Netanyahu hosted US Ambassador Daniel Shapiro in his Jerusalem office to pledge his support for Obama.

But at a meeting with Jewish community leaders in New York on Wednesday Olmert slammed Netanyahu for supporting Obama’s Republican challengers Mitt Romney during the elections.

“Netanyahu’s behavior in recent months brings up the question if Netanyahu has a friend in the White House, and I’m not sure [he does],” Olmert said.

“This could be very critical in certain areas,” he added.

Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath told Israel Radio on Thursday, “It was very clear that Mr. Netanyahu would have preferred Mr. Romney.”

Reporters and pundits have speculated that Obama would now “seek revenge” against Netanyahu.

A Israel Radio journalist asked Shapiro that question outright during an interview Thursday morning conducted in Hebrew.

Shapiro rejected the idea that Obama would determine US policy based on his emotional reaction to a head of state.

Shapiro said that Obama is motivated by strategy, not revenge. He noted that as president, Obama had a responsibility to preserve America’s strategic interests, one of which was its strong ties with Israel.

“The close working relationship will continue,” Shapiro said.

Netanyahu, he said, is the elected leader of a significant American ally. As a result, it is important for Obama to have a good relationship with him.

Shapiro said he had been with the two men during the nine different face-to-face meetings they have had.

In each meeting they spoke in an open manner, Shapiro said. He added that they often speak on the phone. Their emissaries are charged with deepening the relationship, he said.

“It does not mean that there is no disagreement between the nations,² Shapiro said.

“We are good enough friends to disagree, and still work together to find a solution,” he added.

Shapiro said that when he met with Natanyahu on Wednesday, he accepted his warm congratulations on behalf of the Obama.

“We spoke about all the issues that we are working together on, the attempt to resume direct negotiations with the Palestinians, to prevent their unilateral steps at the UN, and to halt Iran nuclear program,” Shapiro said.

Both countries want to work together on security issues, he said.

He then met with Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich in Tel Aviv, where she congratulated him on US President Barack Obama’s reelection.

Yacimovich also expressed admiration for Obama’s economic and social reforms.

“Obama is a true friend of Israel and I am sure that in his second term he will continue to stand by Israel in diplomatic, security and international affairs,” she said.

Lahav Harkov contributed to this report.

Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post