Silence that speaks volumes: blackout as Israel’s leader leaves White House

[Poll_Blind]

Source: The Times

Two separate meetings between President Obama and Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, failed to produce so much as an official photograph as a chill settled over US-Israeli relations and secrecy shrouded any efforts to repair them.

The Israeli Prime Minister was due to fly home from Washington after three days marked by Israeli defiance on the issue of settlements and an extraordinary silence maintained by both sides after his three-and-a-half-hour visit to the White House.

--snip--

White House staff denied Mr Netanyahu the usual photo opportunities afforded to a visiting leader, issued only the vaguest summary of their talks — let alone a joint statement — and reversed a decision to release an official photo of their meetings.

--snip--

White House sources said that observers were right to infer from the news blackout that relations between the two sides were not good but later hinted that some Israeli proposals had been favourably received. Direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been shelved since 2008.

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7074832.ece

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Yowch. Not even a photo. I wondered why there was hardly any media about the visit between the two. This is very unusual for official visits of this nature.

PB

[elehhhhna]

1. hopefully he got spanked and Barak took away his checkbook.

[Poll_Blind]

3. The checkbook is not Obama's to take away, that's Congress' realm.

Netanyahu is rapidly losing goodwill credit with the Bank of Obama, though, and that makes him increasingly isolated both at home and abroad.

PB

[rpannier]

4. Bush I took away the checkbook in '91

It was only after pressure from the Israeli Lobby and Congress that he changed his mind

The President can withhold sending funds

[Poll_Blind]

7. Interesting- is this what you're talking about:

Israel, Ignoring Bush, Presses for Loan Guarantees

Do you know how that turned out? I'll probably do a little more research later unless you recall off the top of your head.

And, funny too, it's pretty much about the same crap we're having to deal with in 2010!

PB

[rpannier]

10. Israel got the money

It was hailed as a success at either the JDL or AIPAC Conference

I saw it on a documentary on Asia-Pacific TV out of Australia about a year ago, so I'm not totally up on all the facts.

I should probably do like you and research it more

Thanks for the link

[bananas]

11. Didn't Bill Clinton threaten to do that

unless Israel gave the antidote to Mashaal?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khaled_Mashal#Assassination_attempt
http://web.archive.org/web/20080308162315/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9710/05/israel/

edit to add: longer article: http://wallwritings.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/bibi-told-mossad-kill-khalid-now-khalid-is-key-to-israels-future/

[JackRiddler]

23. That would be Barack, not Barak (in this case it matters)

[polichick]

2. imo Netanyahu is lucky they let him in the WH. nt

[defendandprotect]

5. What we need is a BLACKOUT on any further $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[safeinOhio]

6. I hope the great historic

liberal Jewish community steps up and puts an end to the right wing leaders that are now in power. I think it is about to start.

[timtom]

13. Looks like it's already in the works:

http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

I've been on their mailing list for about a year now.

[Lil Missy]

8. Time to stop funding them, and bulldoze all the housing on disputed land.

[Ghost of Tom Joad]

12. Wouldn't it be prudent to

provide all the settlement housing to the Palestinians? Think of the good public relations that would provide.

[Gin]

20. I think so too....after all we payed for them.

[earcandle]

9. Could Obama be stronger than previously thunk?

[icee]

14. I think the way Obama is handling Israel is great. If we completely

detached ourselves from Israel, we could have a hundred years of peace. It's nice for a mouse to roar occasionally, but it would also be nice if it would shut up once in a while.

[harun]

15. +1

[lutefisk]

16. It wouldn't hurt to involve Jimmy Carter, and/or even Bill Clinton in the process

I don't see why the POTUS needs to prove his administration can deal with this issue alone. I think Carter and Clinton could still do something...

:nuke: :spank: :hi:

[whosinpower]

17. There is a very easy fix that Netanyahu overlooks

Building in Jerusalem in Arab dominated areas - allow Arab's to live in the rebuilt areas. All those units that he/they have given approval too - every single one of them can be owned/leased by an Arab. There would be no preference given to one group.

[UndertheOcean]

18. Ha Ha Ha .... n/t

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

21. Please elaborate? -nt

[UndertheOcean]

22. Like that will ever happen ? (I am a lefty pinko commie who ...

wants to abolish all borders,BTW).

My laughter is because I don't think the Israelis will never do what you described ... not until they elect someone from the far Israeli Left .

[hunter]

19. I wonder if they frisked Mr. Netanyahu before they let him in the White House?

Or maybe they used one of those fancy high technology see-through-clothes full body scanners.

"Unlike previous visits this will be a serious discussion, sir. And please don't forget, we've already got the mouse pointer resting on the upload button."