’Israeli’ Opinion: Warm US Embrace Will Quickly be Replaced by Cold Shoulder If Hagel Confirmed

Local Editor

An "Israeli" op-ed article published in "Israeli" daily Yedioth Ahronoth expressed concern of US President Barack Obama's nomination of Senator Chuck Hagel to become new Secretary of Military Affairs on Monday.

The "Israeli" author had mentioned, "Hagel as defense minister is the ultimate nightmare of the rightist government which, according to the polls, is expected to be established in "Israel" following the January elections."
"Hagel comes off as a conservative politician who is disgusted by what he views as the excessive influence of the American Jewish lobby, supports dialogue with Iran on the nuclear issue, is against tightening the sanctions and is willing to extend a hand of reconciliation to Hamas," he added.
Moreover, the article saw that, "If and when Hagel walks through the gates of the Pentagon, the appearance of close security relations between "Israel" and the US will remain, but behind closed doors things will begin to operate differently."
"Unwritten agreements will dissipate; the close personal relations will be hurt; the extra budgetary aide will decrease or maybe even disappear completely; and the warm embrace will quickly be replaced by a cold shoulder," the "Israeli" author highlighted.

The author concluded that "Israeli" PM Netanyahu does not have the option of asking Obama to reconsider Hagel's nomination anymore, since he had lost that privilege when he made the mistake of heading the anti-Obama camp during the 2012 US elections.

Source: Yedioth Ahronoth, edited by moqawama.org