US policy on Israel and Iran is part of the election discussion, although economics will be the deciding issue, Larry King told "Globes" in an interview ahead of last week's debate on "The future of the Israeli economy," moderated by "Globes" editor-in-chief Haggai Golan, and with the participation of King's business partner, Yaakobi Niv, in Tel Aviv.
King says, "The Jews have tremendous influence in New York, Obama will win New York. Florida will be a key battleground. There are many Jewish votes in southern Florida that may go against Obama."
King will visit Israel in June, and is due to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Shimon Peres. During King's last visit to Israel, in 1995, just before Netanyahu's previous term as prime minister, Netanyahu drove him back to the airport. "I like Bibi very much. I first met him when he was your Ambassador to the United Nations," says King, adding, "I don't like to get involved in internal politics in other nations. I know there is a sharp division in Israel, and someone said if there's 10 Israelis there's 11 opinions. And it is a manufactured kind of government. He walks a tender line. What to do about the settlements, Bibi Netanyahu is basically a kind of aggressive, I would call him conservative type, who would be more inclined toward strengthening Israel in the area of military and defense, and we look upon that as, is there a danger in that. I think Americans fear that Israel would take a first step; a first step against Iran. If they do, Netanyahu would probably be more inclined to do that."
King retired last year from CNN, where he hosted his interview show, "Larry King Live" for over 25 years. He will reportedly participate in a website of Mexico's Carlos Slim, the world's wealthiest man.
King, who is Jewish, says that Israel is like a second home. "When I come to Israel, I feel like I've come back to where my mother would have liked to have been, and my father; both were immigrants from Austria and Russia. Both dreamed of an Israel one day. My father never got to see it; he died of a heart attack in 1943. My mother did get to see Israel born, but never got to go there. So I come with a warm heart and much desire to learn more, and a great feeling of friendliness and a desire to meet more people and see more things that I can in the 4-5 days that I'll be there. But I really look forward to it. I can't wait to get there."
"Globes": Do you feel the way that we do here that the portrayal of Israeli in the international media is completely different from the reality here?
King:"I don't know if it's completely different. There's is a vast public relations game that goes on in the world. Everybody plays at it, we try to put ourselves in the best light. Israel I think is widely supported in the United States. Its political leadership is strong, the effect of the Jewish population in America on the politics of America is way out of line with the population. That is, i think that the Jewish population in America, what 3% maybe 2%, yet its impact is tremendous, many members of the Senate, many Congressional leaders, very strong in the lobbying department. And the other side has strong lobbyists too. But I think Israel is very well looked upon by Americans."
As for the US elections, King says, "The main discussion in America will be the economy in this election, and that will be the thrust of the election. Can Obama safely fend off the fact that this economy was caused by the previous administration, George Bush. Can Mr. Romney successfully show the public that it's more Obama's fault than anything else. It's an equally divided America. It should be a very close election."
King adds that Obama has been fine in the international area, but that his main obstacle is in the economy. "I think there's a lot to be said good, however, on the other hand, I don't think he's done a good job in projecting himself to the public," and notes that both Obama and Romney express complete support of the State of Israel which any American politician has to do in an election year.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 3, 2012
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