More craziness from Israel– pressure on Obama without the usual lobby middlemen. Aluf Benn, an editor at Haaretz, echoes David Broder’s column saying that a U.S. attack on Iran would resurrect the economy and reelect Obama (Broder link here), then goes further and advises Obama to carry out such an attack so as to win Israel’s compliance with international law re colonies in West Bank. Israel sure is a tough lay!

Broder is the voice of the American center, which supported Obama and still believes in his ability to get back on track. If the president listens to him, the conditions will be created for a historic deal with Israel: elimination of the Iranian threat in return for Palestinian independence and dismantlement of the settlements in the West Bank. In other words: You give me Itamar, I will give you Natanz. Obama and Netanyahu are great campaigners when in the opposition, but their political trade names became blurred when they came into power. They will be tested in their ability to overcome character weaknesses, old baggage and past disputes, in order to create a blueprint that will reshape the Middle East. If they succeed, they will leave a legacy – and win the next elections.

Oh and this: Netanyahu was reported to be planning to tell Biden today, the U.S. must attack Iran. Says my tipster: Boorish but predictable. They don’t even have the decency to wait a couple of weeks after the election. (Thanks to Ofer Neiman for Benn pickup).