In recent interviews with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that aired this afternoon, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak and President Shimon Peres praised President Obama.
BARAK: I should tell you honestly that this administration under President Obama is doing, in regard to our security, more than anything that I can remember in the past. … In terms of the support for our security, the cooperation of our intelligence, the sharing of sorts in a very open way even when there are differences.
PERES: When I look at the record of President Obama concerning the major issues, security, I think it’s a highly satisfactory record, from an Israeli point of view.
A surprised Wolf Blitzer:
“They were extremely complimentary to President Obama, both of them, even as Romney was still basically on the ground in Israel,” Blitzer said today. “I was pretty surprised by the effusive enthusiastic praise they had for President Obama given some of the problems President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu had in their personal relationship.”
Israel's Defense Minister praises Obama's resolve, denies tensions with Netanyahu
Israel's defense minister extolled what he called Barack Obama's resolve and risk-taking on Thursday, remarks likely to help the U.S. president's re-election bid after the Pentagon beefed up warnings to Iran over its nuclear program.
The comments by Ehud Barak, lone centrist in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's conservative coalition, also appeared to dampen speculation the Israelis could defy U.S. remonstrations by attacking their arch-foe's nuclear facilities unilaterally.