The President of the United States, Barack Obama “humiliated” the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with whom he held a meeting, says the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth today.The meeting was held on Tuesday evening in Washington, away from the eyes of the press, was an "ambush" by Obama, feeling “bloated” after the adoption of the health reform, wrote the newspaper, which publishes details of what may have been the meeting.
Soon after the start of the meeting, the U.S. president had asked the head of the Israeli government, what gestures was he willing to make toward the Palestinians, to persuade them to resume the peace talks that have been interrupted for more than a year.
Obama was not satisfied with the vague answers and called for concrete steps, while Netanyahu continued to speak in a theoretical framework of possible measures.
Also discussed was the controversial issue of the construction of Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, which put the long time allies on opposite sides when Israel announced the building of 1,600 homes, during the visit of Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden to Israel.
Washington saw the announcement as a humiliation to his vice president and, according to some local commentators, Obama wanted to return it to Netanyahu, especially after knowing that, hours earlier, Israel had given the green light to build another 20 buildings in East Jerusalem.
After an hour and a half of debate without agreements, Obama rose from his chair and said, “I’m going to the White House for dinner with Michelle and the girls”. ”I'll be around here. Tell me if there is something new”, answered Netanyahu, according to the report of the newspaper.Later, Netanyahu had requested a second meeting with Obama, which lasted just under half an hour.
The White House did not allow access to the press before or after the meeting, nor release official photos, as required by the protocol, which can be interpreted as another way to humiliate their guest.
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