Mr. Bush, Thanks for Your Support of Israel, But Stay Out of Israel’s Domestic Politics

Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, George W. Bush was ready for his emergency assignment of assuring Ehud Olmert’s political survival. As he walked down the receiving line and was introduced to Shas’ Minister Eli Yishai, Bush said he “understood he needed to talk to Yishai the next day to convince him to stay in the government,” Ha’aretz reported.

At Thursday night’s dinner in Olmert’s official residence, Bush repeated the message, “"Take care of Olmert, so he will stay in power." Sitting across the table from him were Ministers Yishai, Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beitanu), Ehud Barak (Labor) and Shaul Mofaz (Kadima), all poised to jump Olmert’s leaky ship or push him off the plank after publication of the Winograd Commission investigation of the Lebanon War or if Olmert’s negotiating team goes too far. [All except Lieberman can be seen in the picture to Olmert’s right.]

In 1972 then-Ambassador Yitzhak Rabin was criticized for his support of tricky-Dicky Richard Nixon. American presidents got involved in past elections in Israel, openly exhibiting their opposition to Prime Ministers Shamir and Netanyahu. Involvement in Israel’s domestic politics was wrong then; it’s wrong now. Bush should not be supporting any Israeli, especially one under investigation for misfeasance, nonfeasance and malfeasance.

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