While much of the world talks of a “hard-line” Israeli government or a “militant” conservative Likud Party, could even an internal Likud publication dream up a better headline than the one currently on the homepage of Politico “In Washington, everyone loves Benjamin Netanyahu”.
Politico is a leading online political magazine, very well read on Capital Hill and amongst the Washington, D.C. political committee.
While it seems American diplomats regularly intervene for the left when it comes time for elections, today’s headline is something which any Public Relations Agency representing Israel, or hasbarah expert would dream of writing for Netanyahu. Amazingly on both sides of the political aisle, politicians clamored to be next to the Prime Minister of Israel:
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is an “old friend,” Mitt Romney told folks at the American Israel Public Affairs Conference in Washington Tuesday.
Rep. Howard Berman, the top Democrat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, edged in close enough at a Capitol press conference to be photographed with Netanyahu.
House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) can’t agree on much, but they joined arms to embrace Netanyahu for a private lunch meeting with Berman and other lawmakers who have a hand in foreign policy. And both leaders sent out transcripts of their remarks at the joint press conference.”
Netanyahu particularly should get points for how well he scores on both sides of the political aisle – and he should be the permanent spokesperson for the State of Israel, and if not we’d hire him in a heartbeat at our crisis PR agency.
Of course, a more accurate headline may have read: “In Washington, everyone except President Obama loves Benjamin Netanyahu.”