Relations between the United States and Israel aren’t terribly good right now. How bad are they? Well, an anonymous senior White House official called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu“chickenshit.”
And it’s not only that; Goldberg says that over the years, Obama administration officials have described Netanyahu as “recalcitrant, myopic, reactionary, obtuse, blustering, pompous, and ‘Aspergery.’” As for the “chickenshit” charge, well, that has to do with a belief in the White House that Netanyahu is too afraid of angering his political base to do what’s right (something United States politicians obviously have no experience with).
This same official elaborated, “The only thing he’s interested in is protecting himself from political defeat… He’s got no guts.” And then there’s this:
Another manifestation of his chicken-shittedness, in the view of Obama administration officials, is his near-pathological desire for career-preservation… [and] clear signals by Netanyahu to his political base, in advance of possible elections next year, that he is still with them, despite his rhetorical commitment to a two-state solution. The public criticism of Obama policies is simultaneously heartfelt, and also designed to mobilize the base.
The bad feelings are mutual, however, since Netanyahu has reportedly “written off” the White House and whatever he plans on doing with an Iran nuclear arms deal, he’s going directly to Congress and the American people.
xoxo,
Polly
