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declaration that Obama's support came from the 47 percent of American voters "who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it."
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Israelis expected to return Netanyahu to office with even more hawkish government
• JERUSALEM (AP) -- JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israelis focused on economic woes, the stalled Mideast peace process and Iran's nuclear program as they voted Tuesday in an election expected to return Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to office with an even more hawkish government.
• The election comes at a troubled time for Israel, and talks with the Palestinians often took a backseat to social issues in the three-month campaign.
• Still, many voters said they'd give Netanyahu a third term because they see no viable alternative. Polls suggest hard-line and religious parties that have been his traditional allies will form the core of his next coalition government.
• The big question is whether Netanyahu will be able to woo centrist parties with more moderate positions on peacemaking into his governing coalition -- and whether they would have any influence on his policies.
• Netanyahu's hard line on concessions to the Palestinians has put Israel into conflict with the international community, increasing its diplomatic isolation.
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Menendez, Royce usher in changes to Congress' foreign policy committees
• WASHINGTON (AP) -- A harrowing nighttime flight over the African jungle and a wild search for a rebel leader helped forge a relationship between Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez and Republican Rep. Ed Royce, two men standing at the forefront of Congress' changing guard on foreign policy.
• It was May 1997 and the lawmakers boarded a small plane to the African bush to plead with Jonas Savimbi, leader of the Angolan UNITA party, about ordering his forces to put down their arms and ending the country's civil war. Nearly 16 years later, Menendez and Royce are together again, collaborating as the new chairmen, respectively, of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees.
• They will lead a new group of foreign policy figures certain to challenge President (Continued on page 33)
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