Ex-Israeli Ambassador To U.S. Advises Netanyahu Not to Sign Aid Deal With Obama

The Jerusalem Post reports: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should hold off on signing a new defense pact with the United States, Kulanu MK Michael Oren (pictured) said on Tuesday, in advice that reached the prime minister and other Israeli leaders.

Oren has taken a risk by promoting a point of view opposed by his party leader, Moshe Kahlon. When Kahlon urged Netanyahu to sign a deal as soon as possible at Monday’s Kulanu faction meeting with cameras rolling and Oren by his side, the former ambassador raised eyebrows by leaving the room.

It was not the first time Kahlon has undermined Oren on diplomatic issues, even though Oren was supposed to be in charge of deciding the party’s diplomatic platform.

Kahlon also distanced himself from Oren’s criticism of US President Barack Obama in his 2015 memoir, Ally.