Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 16/12 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 1. – 16. September 2012 1. Neuer Tiefpunkt im israelisch­amerikanischen Verhältnis? Obwohl die USA und Israel enge Verbündete sind, ist das Verhältnis derzeit sehr angespannt. Anfang des Monats kam es Medienberichten zufolge zu einer scharfen Auseinandersetzung zwischen Premier Netanyahu und dem amerikanischen Botschafter in Israel Dan Shapiro. Darin kritisierte Netanyahu die unklare Iran-Politik der US­Administration, was jedoch von beiden Seiten dementiert wurde wie auch, dass Präsident Barack Obama ein Treffen mit Netanyahu abgelehnt habe. Des Weiteren ist Israel verstärkt zum Thema im amerikanischen Wahlkampf geworden. Der repu­blikanische Präsidentschaftskandidat Mitt Romnney warf Obama vor, Israel"unter einen Bus" geworfen zu haben. Zuvor hatten die Demokraten für Aufruhr gesorgt, als sie in ihrem Parteiprogramm auf den Passus verzichteten, in dem Jerusalem als Hauptstadt Israels bezeichnet wird – und dies später in einem Änderungsantrag der Parteiführung wieder korrigierten. Under the bus “Netanyahu knows America better than any other Israeli leader.[…] He could have moved mountains to forge a close American-Israeli alliance against Iran. But[…] his suspicious nature means that instead of building relations of trust with partners, he finds himself[…] at loggerheads with enemies. His parsimony means that[…] Netanyahu wouldn't pay with the settlements to stop Iran's centrifuges.[…] The prime minister didn't find a way to the U.S. president's heart; instead, he made himself hated by him. Because of Netanyahu, it's not Iran that is now perceived as a threat to world peace, but Israel.” Ari Shavit, HAA 06.09.12 Israel and the US: Shared values and interests "Any Israeli government will have to work together with any American administration, and vice versa. […] The relationship with the United States is an inseparable part of Israel’s deterrence. […] In order to maintain this critical US-Israel relationship, let us change the discourse.[…] Let the talk be about how together the two nations can tackle the challenges they share, rather than how America helps Israel. When this is the underlying theme, it is clear that Israel and the United States have shared values and interests that need to be defended, and it is necessary to agree on the required course of action given the region’s changes and threats." Zippi Livni, JPO 05.09.12. Cold-shouldering Netanyahu, coddling Morsi "Netanyahu[…] has been saying that a nuclear Iran would constitute a far greater danger to Israelis than an attempt to destroy[it…]. That he has been talking about this often and openly[…] has led some to assume[…] that he is laying the groundwork for getting the Americans on board. Well,[…] it sure doesn’t seem to be working. If anything, the Obama administration is growing increasingly impatient with Netanyahu.[…] The greater the anti-Western forces in the Middle East and the rest of the world, the colder the shoulder[…] Obama extends to Netanyahu.[…] If Egypt under Morsi is what the Obama administration considers a country transitioning to democracy, and Israel under Netanyahu is what the Obama administration considers a country too easy on the trigger, then heaven help us all. And a special prayer for a Mitt Romney victory." Ruthie Blum, IHY 04.09.12 Bibi, Obama have lost it "Obama has contracted Bibi's well-known hysteria and feels the need to respond to every statement 1