IF ISRAELIS had been voting in the US elections, they would have re elected Mr Clinton by an even greater margin than the American people did, a slew of opinion polls has shown.
The Presidents genuine affection for the late Yitzhak Rabin, his reassuring pledge not to "forsake" Israel after Mr Rabin's assassination, his leading role in anti terrorism summits and peacemaking ceremonies in short, his commitment to Israel's well being - have been appreciated even among the half of the Israeli electorate that reviles the compromises inherent in the Clinton sponsored peace process with the Palestinians.
But if the Israeli public is overwhelmingly pro Clinton, the current Israeli leadership must have felt more mixed emotions as the returns came in. The Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, held a news conference specifically to congratulate Mr Clinton, but behind the smiles and the salutations, there is probably concern.
When Mr Netanyahu first visited the White House after his election victory last May, he and the President held a joint press conference. An Israeli journalist asked the President if he had been able to explain to Mr Netanyahu why his administration had so conspicuously supported Mr Netanyahu's rival, Mr Shimon Peres, in the election campaign. Deeply embarrassed, Mr Clinton's usual media flair failed him, and he muttered something about no explanation being necessary.
In truth, of course, the explanation was obvious. Mr Clinton had hoped to see the moderate Mr Peres returned to power, completing the peace accords with the Palestinians, and moving on to a deal with Syria that would bring comprehensive peace to the Middle East. Mr Netanyahu's victory shattered that hope. But until this week, with vital Jewish votes at stake, Mr Clinton could not afford the political risk of confronting Mr Netanyahu over the stalemate.
Now, though, safely back in power, he can turn the screws. Already yesterday, his ambassador in Tel Aviv, Mr Martin Indyk, was warning that American patience with Mr Netanyahu is not infinite.
The peace process is deadlocked over the overdue Israeli military withdrawal from Hebron. The terms of the pull out were agreed in a deal signed at the White House in September 1995. Mr Netanyahu, on taking office, demanded changes. So far, no new deal has been finalised. It seems likely now that Mr Clinton will press Mr Netanyahu to complete it urgently.
Certainly, the Palestinians are anticipating a more robust Clinton stance on Israel now that the elections have been won. The Palestinian leader, Mr Yasser Arafat, predicted that the President would now give peace efforts "a push forward".
A Dole presidency might have been even more of a problem for the Israeli Prime Minister. Mr Dole might well have placed the Middle East on a foreign policy back burner.