Romney uses Adelson’s free paper to criticize Obama

By Noam Sheizaf July 28, 2012 | Edit

Israeli press criticizes Netanyahu for “putting all his money” on the Republican candidate.

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney gave two interviews to the Hebrew press prior to his visit to Israel: One to Haaretz, a low circulation paper read by the country’s liberal elite, and the other to Yisrael Hayom,the most widely read Israeli daily, owned by gambling billionaire and known Obama opponent Sheldon Adelson. Yisrael Hayom, which is distributed for free at considerable loss, is known for its unabashed support of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Adelson is also one of the Romney campaign’s biggest donors.

In his Haaretz interview Romney was very careful when mentioning President Obama, making it known several times that he would follow the practice of not criticizing the administration while traveling abroad. However, his interview to Sheldon’s tabloid was quite different:

I would treat Israel like the friend and ally it is. We share not only common interests, but also common values.

I cannot imagine going to the United Nations, as Obama did, and criticizing Israel in front of the world,” he said. “You don’t criticize your allies in public to achieve the applause of your foes.”

The Israeli press this weekend covered Prime Minister Netanyahu’s attempt to arrange a successful visit for his friend, without making his political preferences too obvious. On Ynet, Israel’s most popular Hebrew news site, diplomatic correspondent Atila Somfalvi writes this morning that “Netanyahu is putting all his money on Romney.”

Netanyahu ignores the criticism about his over-involvement in American politics… he is betting, and he is not even ashamed of it. He is placing all his money on one candidate, cherishes him and helps his campaign.

Haaret’z diplomatic correspondent, Barak Ravid, reports on Netanyahu’s efforts to help the Romney campaign to solve the mistake made in scheduling a fundraiser during the Jewish fast day of Tisha b’Av. Romney will hold his fundraiser tomorrow instead. The event will be closed to the media, so we won’t get to see who comes to support the Republican nominee, and whether they are from the Israeli far right and the settler movement.

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TEST TEST GAL Our team has been devastated by the horrific events of this latest war. The world is reeling from Israel’s unprecedented onslaught on Gaza, inflicting mass devastation and death upon besieged Palestinians, as well as the atrocious attack and kidnappings by Hamas in Israel on October 7. Our hearts are with all the people and communities facing this violence. We are in an extraordinarily dangerous era in Israel-Palestine. The bloodshed has reached extreme levels of brutality and threatens to engulf the entire region. Emboldened settlers in the West Bank, backed by the army, are seizing the opportunity to intensify their attacks on Palestinians. The most far-right government in Israel’s history is ramping up its policing of dissent, using the cover of war to silence Palestinian citizens and left-wing Jews who object to its policies. This escalation has a very clear context, one that +972 has spent the past 14 years covering: Israeli society’s growing racism and militarism, entrenched occupation and apartheid, and a normalized siege on Gaza. We are well positioned to cover this perilous moment – but we need your help to do it. This terrible period will challenge the humanity of all of those working for a better future in this land. Palestinians and Israelis are already organizing and strategizing to put up the fight of their lives. Can we count on your support? +972 Magazine is a leading media voice of this movement, a desperately needed platform where Palestinian and Israeli journalists, activists, and thinkers can report on and analyze what is happening, guided by humanism, equality, and justice. Join us.

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