The only truly liberal democracy in the Middle East and America's greatest ally in the region yesterday conducted a free and fair election which returned its prime minister to office with a renewed mandate to govern. But to the Associated Press, the takeaway was that the Israeli people threw away an opportunity for a "thaw" in U.S.-Israeli relations by failing to oust Benjamin Netanyahu.
I first noticed this story on Yahoo! News's main page:
Netanyahu win dashes prospect for a thaw with Obama
WASHINGTON (AP) — Benjamin Netanyahu's decisive election victory likely dashes any prospect for a thaw in the tense and tumultuous relationship between President Barack Obama and the Israeli leader. Moreover, Netanyahu's campaign tack to the...
Another AP article, shortly before 4 p.m. Eastern by Josef Federman, laments "Netanyahu victory leaves damage in wake." Here's an excerpt (emphasis mine):
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strong showing in national elections this week has come with a price: He has managed to antagonize friends and foes alike with hard-line rhetoric on the campaign trail.
While the tough talk gave Netanyahu a last-minute boost in the polls, the Israeli leader could now face a difficult task convincing an already skeptical world that he is serious about reaching peace with his Arab neighbors — particularly if, as expected, he forms a new government comprised of religious and nationalistic parties.
Trailing in opinion polls, Netanyahu took a sharp turn to the right in the final days of the campaign to shore up support among his core nationalistic constituency.
He vowed to increase settlement construction in east Jerusalem, the Palestinians' would-be capital, and rejected the idea of a Palestinian state in current conditions — putting him at odds with U.S. and European positions and reversing his own policy of the past six years.
In a last-ditch attempt to spur his supporters to the polls Tuesday, he warned that Arab citizens were voting "in droves" and endangering years of rule by his Likud Party. The comments drew accusations of racism from Israeli Arabs and a White House rebuke.
In Washington, the Obama administration said Wednesday that it was "deeply concerned" by the divisive language used by the Likud.
And here's how the aforementioned article by AP's Julie Pace opens (emphasis mine):
WASHINGTON (AP) — Benjamin Netanyahu's decisive election victory likely dashes any prospect for a thaw in the tense and tumultuous relationship between President Barack Obama and the Israeli leader. Moreover, Netanyahu's campaign tack to the right, particularly his rejection of Palestinian statehood, will further complicate pursuit of an elusive peace by Obama and his successor.
If Netanyahu holds firm to his opposition to a two-state resolution to the Mideast conflict, it could force whoever sits in the Oval Office to choose between the prime minister and a longstanding U.S. policy with bipartisan support. It could also make it more difficult for Washington to stop Palestinian leaders from taking their case against Israel to the United Nations and other international organizations, where they already have the backing of Europe and many other countries.
On Wednesday, the White House quickly reaffirmed its support for the idea of two independent nations living side by side, a central tenant of peace negotiations led by presidents from both U.S. political parties. And the White House sharply chastised Netanyahu's party for using anti-Arab rhetoric in the lead-up to the election.
"Rhetoric that seeks to marginalize one segment of their population is deeply concerning and it is divisive," Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said.
