MK-elect Michael Oren (Kulanu) reacted Sunday to statements by US President Barack Obama about an alleged erosion of Israel's democratic nature, saying that they indicate “a strategic blow to Israel's standing in the world.”
"The democratic values that we share with the US are the central pillar in the relations between the countries, and therefore, Obama's statement constitutes a severe strategic blow,” the former ambassador to Washington repeated.
“Israel, as the the only stable democracy in the Middle East, is one of the only countries in the world that has not experienced a single day of undemocratic rule,” he said. “The only state in the Middle East whose citizens can all vote without harassment, even for parties that do not recognize Israel's right to exist.”
“The new government of Israel must, without delay, operate actively to rehabilitate the relationship with the US, to strengthen the military, intelligence and diplomatic cooperation, for the sake of the continued strategic friendship that is so vital for Israel.”
President Obama told Huffington Post Friday that “although Israel was founded based on the historic Jewish homeland and the need to have a Jewish homeland, Israeli democracy has been premised on everybody in the country being treated equally and fairly. And I think that that is what's best about Israeli democracy. If that is lost, then I think that not only does it give ammunition to folks who don't believe in a Jewish state, but it also I think starts to erode the name of democracy in the country."
"I did indicate to him that we continue to believe that a two-state solution is the only way for the long-term security of Israel, if it wants to stay both a Jewish state and democratic," Obama said. "And I indicated to him that given his statements prior to the election, it is going to be hard to find a path where people are seriously believing that negotiations are possible."