“We were looking forward to hosting the bilateral meeting, and we were surprised to first learn via media reports that the prime minister, rather than accept our invitation, opted to cancel his visit”, said Ned Price, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council. But another Israeli official, also close to Netanyahu, told the Associated Press the prime minister wanted to avoid any meetings with presidential contenders. He’s the American version of Bibi Netanyahu. Oh, and just a quick FYI: That speech happened on March 5, 2012, which just happened to be the day before Super Tuesday, so it’s not like the GOP nomination was completely settled at that point.
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Israel’s Channel 10 TV, citing unnamed Israeli sources, said Netanyahu’s decision to cancel the trip appeared to be motivated by reluctance to be perceived as interfering in the USA presidential election campaign, should any candidates seek to meet him in Washington.
Netanyahu’s cancelation is unprecedented, writes Raphael Ahren at The Times of Israel.
It was the latest episode in a fraught relationship between the right-wing Israeli leader and Democratic U.S. president that has yet to recover from deep differences over last year’s U.S.-led worldwide nuclear deal with Israel’s foe Iran. Sometimes you invite yourself even when the president doesn’t want to see you.
What’s at the heart of this snub isn’t clear. Residual bitter grapes in general?
The White House said Netanyahu had been planning on meeting with Obama and members of the administration around the same time as the American-Israel Political Affairs Committee was set to hold its annual conference, either March 17 or March 18.
The Embassy of Israel declined to comment on the White House’s characterization of the invitation or whether a communication breakdown occurred in conveying an RSVP.
USA military aid to Israel has amounted to more than $124.3 billion since it began in 1962, according to a U.S. congressional report, released late past year.
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Biden’s trip, due to begin Tuesday, comes amid a five-month wave of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories that has killed 181 Palestinians and 28 Israelis. “Reports that we were not able to accommodate the prime minister’s schedule are false”.
