GOP lawmaker slams Obama for threatening Israel policy change

Rep. Robert Dold (R-Ill.) said he “can’t think of a worse message” than for the Obama administration to warn it might change its position toward Israel following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks about Palestinian statehood.

On the eve of the Israeli elections last week, Netanyahu vowed he wouldn’t allow the creation of a Palestinian state if he were reelected. He later walked back those comments in media interviews upon his reelection victory.

{mosads}But the Obama administration isn’t buying it. President Obama told Netanyahu during a phone call congratulating him on his reelection that the U.S. would “need to reassess our options” on U.S.-Israeli relations. 

Dold said the escalating feud between Netanyahu and Obama loses sight of the long-term relationship between the two countries.

“Think about that for a second. President Obama has left everyone with the impression that the United States could change its course and abandon Israel at the U.N.,” Dold said on the House floor.

“I can’t think of a worse message to send to our friends in Israel and a better gift to the anti-Israel factions of the international community,” the Illinois Republican added. 

Dold urged the Obama administration to cease infighting with a critical ally in the Middle East, despite bitter feelings between the two governments about international negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program and Netanyahu’s recent controversial address to Congress. 

“The days of this administration challenging and undercutting Israel’s prime minster, regardless of who that prime minster may be, must stop,” Dold said.