Refreshing Honesty, Israeli Style

Haaretz's Aluf Benn minces no words when it comes to Bibi Netanyahu's take on Obama, Scott Brown's win, and 2010 in Israel politically.

The Republican upset in the race for the U.S. Senate seat held for nearly half a century by liberal Edward M. Kennedy reflects a huge victory for opponents of U.S. President Barack Obama - and also for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Scott Brown defeated once-favored Martha Coakley for the Massachusetts seat even after U.S. President Barack Obama rushed to Boston on Sunday to try to save her candidacy.

Over the past nine months, Netanyahu has managed to curb pressure from Obama, who enjoys a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress. Now, however, Obama will be more dependent on the support of his Republican rivals, the supporters and friends of Netanyahu.

No Israeli politician matches his steps to the political goings-on in the U.S. as much as Netanyahu. He dragged out negotiations over the settlement freeze and then decided it would last for 10 months and end in September - just in time for U.S. Congressional elections in which Democrats are expected to suffer heavy losses.

Netanyahu understood he must withstand the pressure until his right-wing supporters recapture a position of power on Capitol Hill and work to rein in the White House's political activities. The election in Massachusetts, one of the most liberal states in America, will from this moment on be a burden for Obama.  

Tell me he's wrong. Quite frankly, it's brutally honest to the point where it seems to be outright bragging.  But in every way this analysis is correct.  The Israelis are clearly expecting a much more favorable climate for gaining concessions from the US now.  No doubt backing off Israel will be offered by Republicans as one of the first "bipartisan efforts" that President Obama can make to show he "heard the message of Massachusetts".