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McCain, asked on CNN's "State of the Union" show if
U.S.-Israel relations were at a dangerous point, said, "I think
that's up to the president of the United States."
Obama's sensitive relationship with Netanyahu was strained
further by comments Netanyahu made in the closing moments of his
successful campaign for re-election last week.
"The president should get over it," McCain said on CNN. "Get
over your temper tantrum, Mr. President.
"The least of your problems is what Bibi Netanyahu said during
an election campaign. If every politician were held to
everything they say in a political campaign, obviously that
would be a topic of long discussion."
McCain, a leading voice in Congress on foreign relations, urged
Obama to focus on the growing Islamic State threat in the Middle
East and curbing Iran's nuclear program.
Netanyahu has become an issue in Democrat Obama's rocky
relationship with Congress, where Republicans hold majorities in
both the House and Senate.
Netanyahu told the U.S. Congress earlier this month that the
United States should do more to stop Iran's nuclear program,
speaking at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner, who
did not consult the White House in advance.
A group of 47 senators also bypassed Obama this month by sending
a letter to Iran that the White House said undermined
negotiations with Tehran on nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu drew a further rebuke from the White House last week
when he abandoned a commitment to negotiate a Palestinian state,
even though he later backed off from his comments. Media reports
said the United States was reviewing its position on a U.N.
Security Council resolution on Palestinian state.
In the past Israel has relied on U.S. veto power on the Security
Council to support its interests.
(Writing and reporting by Bill Trott; Editing by Raissa
Kasolowsky)
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