Why Merkel’s criticism only strengthens Netanyahu - Al-Monitor | Mazal Mualem | Posted May 2, 2016
▻http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2016/05/israel-netanyahu-germany-merkel-settlements-frustration.html#
The diplomatic uproar over the Der Spiegel report about German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s despair over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and of the ongoing construction in the settlements is not damaging Netanyahu politically. On the contrary. However, anyone who has spoken with senior German officials over the past two years knows that the claims that Germany is less inclined to unconditionally support Israel, which has since been denied (at least partially) by sources close to the chancellor, is a reliable reflection of reality. Germany, Israel’s most important ally in Europe, feels Netanyahu is leading it by the nose and taking it for granted while he keeps boosting the settlement enterprise.