Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has learned his lesson from the previous US presidential election campaign. This time, he is trying to maintain a neutral facade regarding the bloody battle between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Ron Dermer received instructions to keep his distance from controversial territory, and Netanyahu instructed his people to be discreet. They are not to externalize the silent prayers emitting from the prime minister's chambers in Jerusalem for the defeat of the Democratic candidate. Clinton is the last person who Netanyahu wants to see in the White House — even less than President Barack Obama.

On Sept. 9, Netanyahu had a small "slip" that betrayed a fraction of his real emotions: In an English-language public relations clip that was disseminated on the internet, Netanyahu spoke about the Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria and said that the casting of settlements as an obstacle for peace is "perplexing." He compared the presence of the Jewish settlers in the West Bank to the presence of "nearly 2 million Arabs living inside of Israel."

Why, asked Netanyahu, are Israel's Arab citizens not viewed as an obstacle to peace, but the settlers are? Then he implied criticism of some ''otherwise enlightened countries'' (according to Netanyahu), which promote this scandal (to evacuate the Jewish settlers). He said, "Our region needs more tolerance, not less. … Societies that demand ethnic cleansing do not pursue peace."

This was a heavy hint directed at Europe, but not only Europe. The US administration is also known for its consistent opposition to Israel's settlement enterprise in the territories, and has much to say on the issue. As expected, Netanyahu's use of the explosive "ethnic cleansing" term aroused a storm. The prime minister was hit by criticism not only from the European Union, but also — and mainly — from Washington. The United States hurried to blatantly denounce Netanyahu's new clip and made it clear that its State Department was in "direct contact" with Israel regarding this statement, a message that it termed "inappropriate and unhelpful." State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said, "We obviously strongly disagree with the characterization that those who oppose settlement activity or view it as an obstacle to peace are somehow calling for ethnic cleansing of Jews from the West Bank."