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Netanyahu's paranoia extends to 'self-hating Jews' Emanuel and Axelrod
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel news, Rahm Emanuel 

At about 3:15 P.M. yesterday, the government's 100th day in office, political correspondents' beepers went off. In an unprecedented move, the Prime Minister's Bureau was inviting the correspondents to a press conference at the Knesset that was slated to begin in 15 minutes. This was the start of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's panicked, disproportionate response to the criticism senior Kadima politicians had leveled at him three hours earlier.

Kadima MKs had attacked Netanyahu at a press conference under the banner "100 days, zero gains. It's the same old Bibi." Later, Kadima supporters handed out stickers with anti-Netanyahu slogans in the Knesset cafeteria.

Netanyahu, who - unusually - was in the cafeteria on Wednesday, got one of the stickers from his political adviser, Shalom Shlomo, and summoned ministers Yisrael Katz, Gideon Sa'ar and Gilad Erdan to a meeting. "I want to call a press conference," Netanyahu said. His colleagues tried to dissuade him, but he insisted.
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However, instead of appearing at the press conference himself, he stayed in his office and sent his advisers.

An atmosphere of permanent crisis has surrounded Netanyahu's bureau ever since he took office, so it was no surprise that the press conference also had an air of panic. The five advisers - National Security Adviser Uzi Arad, cabinet secretary Zvi Hauser, director general of the Prime Minister's Office Eyal Gabai, political adviser Ron Dermer and Nir Hefetz, who heads the public relations desk - arrived at the meeting without a prearranged, uniform message. Over and over, they cut each other off.

Hauser tried to convince the press that Netanyahu's zigzagging on the issue of value-added tax was a deliberate ploy coordinated with the other coalition parties. Arad once again lambasted U.S. President Barack Obama's refusal to honor understandings reached with his predecessor, George W. Bush, on the issue of the settlements, but argued that coordination with Washington on Iran had actually improved. Dermer emphasized Netanyahu's speech at Bar-Ilan University, which he said won international plaudits. And Hefetz denied that there was any panic in Netanyahu's bureau, attributing the friction there to "work-related pressure."

But despite the unified front they tried to present, it is clear that all of Netanyahu's aides dislike each other: They are constantly badmouthing each other and blaming each other for leaks. Arad, for example, demanded that Hauser undergo a lie-detector test and is now demanding the same of Hefetz. And the latter two say "it is impossible to work with" Arad.

Compounding the problem is an inexperienced bureau chief, Natan Eshel, and a former spokesman, Yossi Levy, who is still clinging to his office and refusing to give it up to his replacement, Hefetz - who, for his part, is kept out of half the discussions.

Netanyahu appears to be suffering from confusion and paranoia. He is convinced that the media are after him, that his aides are leaking information against him and that the American administration wants him out of office. Two months after his visit to Washington, he is still finding it difficult to communication normally with the White House. To appreciate the depth of his paranoia, it is enough to hear how he refers to Rahm Emanuel and David Axelrod, Obama's senior aides: as "self-hating Jews."

"He thought that his speech at Bar-Ilan would become mandatory reading at schools in the United States, and when he realized that Obama gave no such order, he went back to being frustrated," one of his associates said.

At a recent meeting with with Netanyahu, ostensibly about the understandings with the U.S. on the settlements, former prime minister Ehud Olmert was shocked to see the prime minister focusing mainly on the media. "Is this what he called me in for?" a source close to Olmert quoted him as saying.

Behind closed doors, Netanyahu's coalition partners - including Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman - have also expressed shock at his behavior. One senior minister told an aide that he is finding it very difficult to work with the premier. "He drives us mad," the minister said. "Every minute things change, and I am constantly busy doing maintenance on Netanyahu."
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  1.   Compare the treatment 16:20  |  Carl 09/07/09
  2.   Doesnt matter who is the prime minister anymore 16:41  |  Leor 09/07/09
  3.   Great to hear that Bibi is voicing at least dismay... 16:42  |  Esther 09/07/09
  4.   What did you expect 16:44  |  Michael N 09/07/09
  5.   What Goes Around Comes Around 16:59  |  Yaakov Sullivan 09/07/09
  6.   Emmanuel and Axelrod are not self haters 17:09  |  Mark Jeffery Koch 09/07/09
  7.   Netanyahu - Obama 17:15  |  ari 09/07/09
  8.   "100 days Zero gains" 17:18  |  Akram Zekaria 09/07/09
  9.   For once Sullivan is right - What goes around comes around 17:23  |  Christopher 09/07/09
  10.   Netanyahu`s paranoia 17:48  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/07/09
  11.   Remember the first 100 days of Kadima in government 17:55  |  Zev 09/07/09
  12.   Doesnt matter who is the prime minister anymore? 17:56  |  Mark Lincoln 09/07/09
  13.   Excellent Post Mark J Koch 17:58  |  Bill 09/07/09
  14.   Netanyahu`s paranoia 18:01  |  Winski 09/07/09
  15.   Bibi would eliminate the free press if he could! 18:01  |  Ed 09/07/09
  16.   Not as drastic a change as you think Ari 18:05  |  Mark Lincoln 09/07/09
  17.   the Richard Nixon of Israel 18:09  |  avramele 09/07/09
  18.   2 states demanded from Jews+ just a negotiating point for Pals 18:10  |  Sam 09/07/09
  19.   #6 mr koch the porblem is that for 61 years everything thta israe 18:10  |  v hardman 09/07/09
  20.   Excellent post Mark 18:24  |  Rob 09/07/09
  21.   The psychology behind the "self-hating" 19:19  |  Heinz 09/07/09
  22.   Prime Minister Netanyahu 19:42  |  Wendy 09/07/09
  23.   being left meaning not being right 19:43  |  a Jew 09/07/09
  24.   Anyone know? 19:53  |  Mark Lincoln 09/07/09
  25.   Netanyahu`s paranoia extends to `self-hating Jews` Emanuel and Ax 19:56  |  Esther Sherman 09/07/09
  26.   Netanyahu is operating under lot of pressure 19:56  |  James Gordon 09/07/09
  27.   It sounds like you have a self-hating Prime Minister. 19:57  |  MIKE 09/07/09
  28.   How could the Israelis be so blind? 20:02  |  Igor 09/07/09
  29.   Netanyahu is a putz for making remarks 20:13  |  StevieT 09/07/09
  30.   Sad.... 20:14  |  D. H. 09/07/09
  31.   Koch #6 `Emmanuel` 20:16  |  Colin Wright 09/07/09
  32.   Typical 20:18  |  Zardoz 09/07/09
  33.   Bravo Heinz, etc. 20:20  |  Student 09/07/09
  34.   #6 excellent 20:21  |  American 09/07/09
  35.   Wendy`s being ironic, right? eom 20:21  |  Student 09/07/09
  36.   "self-hating Jews" 20:23  |  jimbo 09/07/09
  37.   All Kadima, Grow Up! 20:25  |  SDunc 09/07/09
  38.   Bibi vs. Obama 20:27  |  Carole Clarke 09/07/09
  39.   the diagnosis is very plausible 20:33  |  Bev 09/07/09
  40.   You`re my psychoanalist, you`re so easy to resist.. 20:38  |  Nemesis 09/07/09
  41.   The real danger- extreme democrats advising young President. 20:46  |  17 09/07/09
  42.   Bibi delusional 20:48  |  Barry Freed 09/07/09
  43.   netanyahu off the wall 20:54  |  malach hamovess 09/07/09
  44.   Netanyahu Versus the World 21:06  |  Walid 09/07/09
  45.   Paranoid? 21:12  |  Lese Majeste 09/07/09
  46.   Netanyahu 21:19  |  Alan Sidransky 09/07/09
  47.   Netanyahu is not perfect. 21:27  |  Michael 09/07/09
  48.   Bibi 21:28  |  Karen 09/07/09
  49.   A lot of people are saying Tzipi Livni lost the election 21:29  |  Chris Linthwaite 09/07/09
  50.   Akram #8 verbalizes his opinion: 21:55  |  Esther 09/07/09
  51.   Bibi is playing the "jew card` left and right.. 21:56  |  MM 09/07/09
  52.   Self-Hating Jews 21:58  |  Marcus Taylor 09/07/09
  53.   Esther Sherman #24... what you mean is that the media... 22:02  |  Esther 09/07/09
  54.   Atmosphere, Shmatmosphere... 22:08  |  Fortuna Benmayor 09/07/09
  55.   `Jewish-majority country` 22:09  |  Joe Mellon 09/07/09
  56.   talkbacker 22:10  |  Michael 09/07/09
  57.   Rahm and David 22:11  |  Paz Mundial 09/07/09
  58.   Not too swift, Bibi ! 22:11  |  MIKE 09/07/09
  59.   Mandatory reading 22:15  |  Paz Mundial 09/07/09
  60.   usa prof who showed speech to class 00:35  |  prof b 10/07/09
  61.   tto Wendy 00:37  |  eva 10/07/09
  62.   44 Walid - It Was The Strawberries - 2nd Try 00:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 10/07/09
  63.   Obama gives Bibi electroshock treatment 01:02  |  Gully Foyle 10/07/09
  64.   a throwback to another era 01:03  |  leucippe 10/07/09
  65.   Must admit, somewhat surprised PM speaks in extreme terms.... 01:04  |  Smadar 10/07/09
  66.   Paz Mundial 01:58  |  James 10/07/09
  67.   Netanyahu vs. Emmanuel 02:07  |  Captain Stupendous! 10/07/09
  68.   SDunc 02:08  |  r cummings 10/07/09
  69.   Smadar 02:08  |  Danite 10/07/09
  70.   they are self hatin jews... 02:30  |  harvey 10/07/09
  71.   and by the way, 02:32  |  harvey 10/07/09
  72.   Michael from Jefferson 02:35  |  r cummings 10/07/09
  73.   Israel and USA 03:35  |  Rigoletto 10/07/09
  74.   Number six. And all alike He should have included you 03:50  |  eric 10/07/09
  75.   Self hating Jews. 04:04  |  JT Rodgers 10/07/09
  76.   On a lighter note, Mazel Tov to Omri Casspi joining NBA! 04:21  |  Smadar 10/07/09
  77.   The meek shall inherit !! 04:28  |  Concerned 10/07/09
  78.   Self-hating Jews? Bibi, that`s truly pathetic. 11:07  |  Michael 10/07/09
  79.   David Axelrod and Rham 11:48  |  American 10/07/09
  80.   Obama`s slipping poll numbers 12:20  |  petra 10/07/09
  81.   Nathanyahu likes the $$$but given NOTHING in exchange 13:14  |  Ray Rubenson 10/07/09
  82.   The "lingo" of right wing Zionists 13:29  |  Douglas Stewart 10/07/09
  83.   what happend to Israel? 16:09  |  Tony Silver 10/07/09
  84.   And Netanyahu is One of the More Sane Ones 17:23  |  YesWeHaveNoBananas 10/07/09
  85.   existential danger 18:53  |  michael 10/07/09
  86.   Netanyahu 20:11  |  dcgrabham 10/07/09
  87.   unconsidered possibility 20:24  |  potobac 10/07/09
  88.   Axelrod and Emmanuel are not self-hating Jews! 20:27  |  Lee 10/07/09
  89.   Chris Linthwaite - The last Jewish Republican? 21:19  |  Reid 10/07/09
  90.   @James 21:19  |  LibertyBell 10/07/09
  91.   #84 Yes We Have No Bananas 21:29  |  Der Zweifler 10/07/09
  92.   Ro #22 Well said Wendy 22:50  |  Gabi 10/07/09
  93.   Bibi was right: Left conspired with obama to oust bibi.... 22:59  |  bernard ross 10/07/09
  94.   Emanuel and Axelrod harming Israel 23:09  |  Chava 10/07/09
  95.   arrticle on Neatnyahu 00:48  |  ivan stux 11/07/09
  96.   Jew and Israeli are two different things...... 00:50  |  Albert 11/07/09
  97.   Self-hating jew. What does that mean? 01:55  |  WHG 11/07/09
  98.   The price of Netanyahu`s paranoia. Is it worth $150 000? 02:02  |  Maureen Ann 11/07/09
  99.   Uh, `Yaacov`, MJK... Netanyahu isn`t paranoid... 02:32  |  shneerhere 11/07/09
  100.   BIBI 02:39  |  Peter 11/07/09
  101.   axelrod and emmanuel...dumb and dumber 02:40  |  Connie 11/07/09
  102.   der zweifler 03:38  |  frau connie 11/07/09
  103.   Perhaps the chickens are 04:21  |  Sam 11/07/09
  104.   You think we got 3rd term of W. 06:00  |  Sam 11/07/09
  105.   For frau connie # 97: good post. 08:01  |  Fortuna Benmayor 11/07/09
  106.   89 Reid - You`re Right, Sorta 08:06  |  Mark of Lewiston 11/07/09
  107.   So In The Future... 09:01  |  Yosemite 11/07/09
  108.   90 Liberty Bell - Defense Industry Sales 09:05  |  Stars & Stripes 11/07/09
  109.   This May Save People Thousands $$$... 10:13  |  Yosemite 11/07/09
  110.   Israel`s Need for Security 13:02  |  Veritas 11/07/09
  111.   Trying to comprehend all these paranoid posts... 14:42  |  Esther 11/07/09
  112.   Obama busy changing the world ! 16:40  |  Akram Zekaria 11/07/09
  113.   Americans first 16:46  |  Liam Coonan 11/07/09
  114.   104- good one Esther ! 17:30  |  Akram Zekaria 11/07/09
  115.   Actually I am sorry for Netanyahu. He`s losing everything 2nd tr 17:32  |  S 11/07/09
  116.   Power corrupts....... 19:21  |  NS 11/07/09
  117.   #94 shneerhere, self-hating Catholics or self-hating Europeans? 19:22  |  BDS 11/07/09
  118.   The Barry and Bibi show 21:59  |  Balbal 11/07/09
  119.   Fortuna Benmayor 22:14  |  Connie 11/07/09
  120.   Reid, the republicans remain in disarray 22:23  |  Ibrahim 11/07/09
  121.   Cantor`s chances of singing a victory song 22:46  |  Mark Lincoln 11/07/09
  122.   schneerhere 94 03:47  |  potobac 12/07/09
  123.   # 110 potobac 04:18  |  17 12/07/09
  124.   Netanyahu`s paranoia 05:39  |  JoJo 12/07/09
  125.   # 10 Chris 06:42  |  ben 12/07/09
  126.   JoJo Obama`s rating is 07:06  |  Chet 12/07/09
  127.   17 #123 23:57  |  potobac 12/07/09
  128.   2nd TRY CHET - There are TWO RATINGS 07:33  |  Ibn Musa 14/07/09
  129.   This the regular haaretz paranoia 17:15  |  Henry 14/07/09
  130.   CHET - AS I WAS SAYING - TWO RATINGS 17:39  |  Ibn Musa 14/07/09
  131.   Self-hating Jews: Emanuel and Axelrod 16:29  |  Aussie Stan 15/07/09
  132.   CHET- FORGET WHAT I SAID 17:12  |  Ibn Musa 15/07/09
  133.   127 Potobac - In an attempt to keep u better informed 17:20  |  Ibn Musa 15/07/09
  134.   Potobac - Here are some facts to be aware of 17:22  |  Ibn Musa 15/07/09
  135.   ibn musa 134 19:32  |  potobac 15/07/09
  136.   #131 Aussie Stan 1. 04:35  |  Jim 16/07/09
  137.   #131 Aussie Stan 2. 04:41  |  Jim 16/07/09
  138.   #10 Chris Linthwaite 08:37  |  Jim 16/07/09
  139.   Self Hating Jews ? 10:16  |  Michael 18/07/09
  140.   AND HOW WAS IT WRITEN? 07:05  |  AMIHAI 20/07/09
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