Danny Danon says Obama hasn't been a friend of Israel

Likud parliamentarian makes statements ahead of US election while on book tour in Chicago; will speak in New York, Florida

JERUSALEM (AP) — A lawmaker from the Israeli prime minister’s party is in the United States ahead of the presidential election and has said that President Barack Obama has “not been a friend of Israel.”

Danny Danon, chairman of Likud’s international outreach branch, said in Chicago on Tuesday that Obama’s policies have been “catastrophic.”

Danon said he will also travel to Florida and New York to promote his new book and to meet with Republican and Democratic leaders.

He said he is not interfering in the presidential race but merely stating his personal opinion. He has previously praised Mitt Romney.

But his comments could be embarrassing to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been trying to shed accusations that he favors his longtime friend Romney in the race for the White House.