Israeli leader backs out of Mandela funeral

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Israeli leader backs out of Mandela funeral
By JOSEF FEDERMAN, Assocated Press | December 9, 2013 | Updated: December 9, 2013 1:15pm

JERUSALEM (AP) — Fresh off a series of scandals over his high-flying lifestyle and expensive habits, Israel's prime minister says he will skip Nelson Mandela's funeral on Tuesday due to the high cost of the trip.

Benjamin Netanyahu's decision stood in contrast to the mad rush by world leaders to attend the event, and seemed to underscore the embattled Israeli leader's isolation on the world stage. Nearly 100 heads of state, along with tens of thousands of mourners, are expected at the memorial in a Soweto soccer stadium.

Netanyahu, who is known to enjoy puffing on expensive cigars and sipping cognac, has come under criticism several times in recent months for his free-spending habits.

Last week, official records obtained by a civil liberties group showed that Netanyahu had spent $1,700 in government funds on scented candles and $22,000 on the water bill at his vacation home. The disclosures set off a national uproar and gave new fodder to critics and comedians.

Earlier this year, a TV station reported that Netanyahu spent $127,000 in public funds for a special sleeping cabin on a five-hour flight to London to attend Margaret Thatcher's funeral. Netanyahu was forced to stop buying ice cream from his favorite Jerusalem parlor after an Israeli newspaper discovered his office was spending $3,000 a year for the treat.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Israeli-leader-backs-out-of-Mandela-funeral-5048528.php

[Iliyah]

1. BiBi is Cheney's long lost twin

[R Merm]

4. No more like Romney's long lost twin.

[iandhr]

2. It's almost like he is trying to shoot himself in the foot.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

3. That and ...

... it would be considered a bit ironic that he's attending a prominent civil rights icon's funeral while his government still occupies Palestinian land.

[randome]

5. "...seemed to underscore..." One of the most over-used phrases in journalism.

Netanyahu is still an idiot.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

[DallasNE]

6. This Is What Happens When People

Start believing their own press releases. They get intoxicated by the power and engage in doing really stupid, corrupt stuff. The last time he was in this country he was disrespectful of President Obama and got smacked down pretty good for that little trick. He has a real inflated view of who he really is so he thinks these goodies are his for the taking when it is just garden variety corruption.

[Purveyor]

7. I'm wondering if bibi is worried Mandela will sit up in his casket, point at bibi and proclaim

"apartheid is you and your gov't"?

[Alamuti Lotus]

8. Considering the zionist regime's former alliance with the S.A. apartheid government, that's wise

The excuses rendered are laughable, but his absence from the event is nonetheless quite appropriate.

[Sognefjord]

9. It would have been very awkward to say the least.