The television networks and studios aired the obvious, endless prattle following U.S. President Barack Obama's arrival in Israel on Wednesday, searching for dirt under the red carpets and ominous body language, and wondering when the infamous hostility between the American president and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will finally surface, so they could lament the lack of chemistry between them, and say how unfortunate it is for the Israelis that Shimon Peres is not the prime minister.
After all, we have been warning for years against the looming diplomatic tsunami and the potential catastrophe that will befall Israel-U.S. relations and Obama's impending revenge over Netanyahu's "blatant" interference in the U.S. elections (one of the outrageous lies that have been relentlessly pumped in the media).
In light (or in dark) of these ominous commentaries, one would think that Obama had disembarked a B-52 bomber when he landed here, when in fact the man coming down the presidential plane's ramp was all smiles. The village elders swear that never before have they seen so many hugs and friendly pats on the back. Woe to the prophets of doom.
So what happened? The people sitting in television studios and newsrooms do not always know more than we do. They have their points of view — usually antagonistic to that of Netanyahu (it's no secret that they would rather have Obama as their prime minister) — and it colors the glasses through which they report and comment on the events.
What we saw on Wednesday night shows the exact opposite of what they have been preaching for the past four years: Maybe the Netanyahu-led government was right after all. Maybe Obama realized, albeit a little late, that he cannot rely on the "Arab Spring" or on "moderate Islam"; that Israel is the United States' only credible ally in the region and that it draws so much fire because our enemies — which the U.S. shares — understand that Israel is the forward base for the Free World.
If we dare think like that, then we would understand that the leader of the world's superpower landed here yesterday not just to talk to us, but also to draw strength, inspiration and support from the people of Israel and their leadership ahead of the great challenges he faces in his second term.
