Netanyahu: US president no disaster for Israel
Source: Agencies |
March 29, 2010, Monday
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ISRAELI Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday rejected a description of United States President Barack Obama as Israel's "greatest disaster," a phrase a best-selling newspaper attributed to an anonymous confidant of the premier.
Besides defending Obama, Netanyahu tried to play down tension with Washington over Israeli settlement policy on occupied land in and near Jerusalem, telling his cabinet that Israel and the US were "allies and friends."
David Axelrod, a senior Obama adviser, also tried to smooth over the friction, citing a "deep, abiding interest" in Israel's security and denying the president had intended to slight Netanyahu at low-profile White House talks on Tuesday.
There was no sign of a quick resolution of the settlement dispute with Washington which flared when Israel announced plans during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden three weeks ago to build 1,600 homes for Jews in East Jerusalem.
The US is seeking unspecified goodwill gestures from Israel toward the Palestinians, who have refused to return to peace talks so long as settlement housing construction continues in occupied territory they want for a future state.
"We've got a real problem. You could say that Obama is the greatest disaster for Israel - a strategic disaster," the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronot quoted an unidentified Netanyahu confidant as saying.
A statement issued by Netanyahu's office said: "The prime minister emphatically rejects the anonymous quotes about President Obama that a newspaper attributed to one of his confidants, and he condemns them."
Netanyahu hammered home the message. "I want to say clearly, these comments are unacceptable to me. They do not come from anyone representing me," he said.
Besides defending Obama, Netanyahu tried to play down tension with Washington over Israeli settlement policy on occupied land in and near Jerusalem, telling his cabinet that Israel and the US were "allies and friends."
David Axelrod, a senior Obama adviser, also tried to smooth over the friction, citing a "deep, abiding interest" in Israel's security and denying the president had intended to slight Netanyahu at low-profile White House talks on Tuesday.
There was no sign of a quick resolution of the settlement dispute with Washington which flared when Israel announced plans during a visit by US Vice President Joe Biden three weeks ago to build 1,600 homes for Jews in East Jerusalem.
The US is seeking unspecified goodwill gestures from Israel toward the Palestinians, who have refused to return to peace talks so long as settlement housing construction continues in occupied territory they want for a future state.
"We've got a real problem. You could say that Obama is the greatest disaster for Israel - a strategic disaster," the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronot quoted an unidentified Netanyahu confidant as saying.
A statement issued by Netanyahu's office said: "The prime minister emphatically rejects the anonymous quotes about President Obama that a newspaper attributed to one of his confidants, and he condemns them."
Netanyahu hammered home the message. "I want to say clearly, these comments are unacceptable to me. They do not come from anyone representing me," he said.
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