Comments on: Netanyahu attacks Obama again, claims White House rejected meeting request

By: Piotr Berman

Piotr Berman — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 23:57:36 +0000

Re-electing Netanyahu? Israel is a small country, and the talent pool of politicians is a bit shallow. First I conjecture that it is a bit hard to find a better candidate than Netanyahu in the current coalition. Reuven Rivlin perhaps, but does he have a chance to win Likud primaries? Folks that have a chance do not seem any better. Prime minister Lieberman? Yishai?

It is also possible that a combination of missteps and economy will bring Yachimovich, Mofaz or Lapid to PM. But is it indeed possible?

By: eporue

eporue — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:21:47 +0000

are you israelis going to re-elect this clown? you know, that then all is lost… not only, that he is killing you, but your choice to choose him again will kill you… because you will be seen as all what this mad guy represents…

By: ToivoS

ToivoS — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 23:16:43 +0000

Of course the Obama administration snubbed Netanyahu. Didn’t we read 2 or 3 days ago that N wanted to meet with Obama on his next visit. This was a public statement. It was an act of arrogance and disrespect on Netanyahu’s account. Third rate powers do not publicly announce these kinds of meetings with the world’s most powerful country, rather they send an emissary, with hat in hand, who approaches the Washington protocol officer and plead for a meeting. If granted, they can then announce it. They do not announce it before being given permission.

Obama had to slap down Netanyahu for this insolence, any thing less would be a sign of weakness on Obama’s part.

Obama was perfectly correct to say that Israel had not requested a meeting for the simple reason the Israelis violated the protocol for requesting such a meeting. Hopefully, those fools in the PM’s office will let this drop if they do not want a more explicit slap down.

It is actually fun watching Obama teach Netanyahu some manners and see the student whine away in the corner after each lesson.

By: Sydney Nestel

Sydney Nestel — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 18:12:58 +0000

According to JTA:

The White House statement … denied reports that Netanyahu requested a Washington meeting later this month.

“Contrary to reports in the press, there was never a request for Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet with President Obama in Washington, nor was a request for a meeting ever denied,” it said.

see: http://www.jta.org/news/article/2012/09/11/3106736/obama-netanyahu-discuss-iran

So someone is straight out lying. Who – the WH or BB?

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:53:34 +0000

Mitchell,

You believe thats true though? What do you expect them to say? “Yes Obama doesnt like Netanyahu so he wont meet him”? Seriously when PM comes to US they pick a date and place to see each other.
And even if true, it shows that Netanyahu isnt worth hooking up with for the White House.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 13:52:42 +0000

I don’t believe the Zionist US Pres is sincere. This is just to placate the anxious public. Let Israel send their people to die and leave the peace loving people out of this. Any Americans who.believe the lies about Iran, can join the suicide mission

I’m still waiting for Bush’s kids to share the “sacrifice”.

By: weindeb

weindeb — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:54:45 +0000

Mr. Cohen, although I’m glad that you “…hate to disappoint EVERYBODY” by being privy to the truth and nobly sharing it, I quite frankly 1) wonder whether a mere scheduling difficulty truly accounts for Bibi’s non-visit and 2) think that maybe what’s really important here is a perception that of course might be too good to be true.

By: Noam Sheizaf

Noam Sheizaf — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:04:38 +0000

Mitchell, I agree that this is how it seems from the White House’s side. The question is why the PMO went to the Israeli press last night, claiming that the president snubbed Netanyahu?

By: Mitchell Cohen

Mitchell Cohen — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:51:27 +0000

I hate to disappoint EVERYBODY (from those on the left who are drooling at the possibility that Obama has refused to meet Bibi to those on the right who are poucing at this so-called news item to drag Obama through the coals for refusing to meet Netanyahu). It is a mere scheduling issue, which even Fox News acknowledges….

By: weindeb

weindeb — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 23:51:27 +0000

I was downright thrilled to learn, if it is indeed true, that the White House has refused Netanyahu’s request to meet with President Obama. As to that statement, “Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don’t have a moral right to place a red light before Israel.”, one can only hope that it exposes this arrogant warmonger for what he is. And to think it issued from the mouth of a leader of a country in continued and deliberate contravention of international law, of a country itself a nuclear power outside the NPT. “Chutzbah” is simply too cute a word for this rabid Israeli neocon. “Appalling”, “disgusting”, “maniacal” come closer to the issue.