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Breaking: Obama will not meet with Netanyahu during trip to Washington. (Original Post) stevenleser Jan 2015 OP
Good. We should also proclaim that we would 'not secure his visit' just as israel Purveyor Jan 2015 #1
Congress will just pick up the tab then. Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #14
We never do oberliner Jan 2015 #17
I think there may be some coordination required, or is that also down the free form protocol drain? Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #21
Well, done...Obama advisory team. The strutting Surya Gayatri Jan 2015 #2
Why should he? He's not been invited by the White House and is an enemy of Obama. Comrade Grumpy Jan 2015 #3
Why is everyone here pretending leftynyc Jan 2015 #4
You know why. Behind the Aegis Jan 2015 #8
Yeah - I do know why leftynyc Jan 2015 #10
I can hardly wait and yes indeed, it will be fun mocking this POS. eom Purveyor Jan 2015 #29
Yup. Same group. Behind the Aegis Jan 2015 #34
Also not a surprise leftynyc Jan 2015 #36
Yes, I agree, he does. Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #15
Because DU is plagued with anti-semites? Is that what you are coyly implying? Comrade Grumpy Jan 2015 #38
Not being coy at all, nor claiming a plague. Behind the Aegis Jan 2015 #39
Not a damned dime should be spent to provide security. isobar Jan 2015 #5
Thankfully our lawmakers leftynyc Jan 2015 #11
You forgot the sarcasm tag. isobar Jan 2015 #20
Truly. Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #22
No, I didn't leftynyc Jan 2015 #25
You forgot it, again. isobar Jan 2015 #26
Why would hoping for something leftynyc Jan 2015 #27
Seriously, isobar Jan 2015 #28
The GOP is trying to boost Bibi's election chances with the new March 3 date, obviously. Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #30
You're funny. n/t Comrade Grumpy Jan 2015 #37
Yeah, we're too busy right now saving the world but have your people call my people GOLGO 13 Jan 2015 #6
I don't think he should have to meet with him. HappyMe Jan 2015 #7
No one in the Obama cabinet must meet with him n/t malaise Jan 2015 #9
You really think that's going leftynyc Jan 2015 #12
Massive Breaking News - Bibi Changes plans, Congress address on March 3, not Feb 11. Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #31
Which makes it even closer to their election leftynyc Jan 2015 #32
On that we can agree. Not that interfering with a foreign governments elections is not unknown to Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #33
At least we know that not Obama and neither Sec.Kerry mylye2222 Jan 2015 #13
All contrived by Republicans to stir up shit and forwarded by a Twitter age media. Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #16
Why would Boehner invite Netanyahu so close to the Israeli elections Peacetrain Jan 2015 #18
I've been thinking about this since I posted the OP. The Republicans have a double motive here. stevenleser Jan 2015 #19
Yep. And helps out Fox in feeding outrage to the ever hungry GOP base. Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #23
^^^^^Number one unanswered question........^^^^^^ looks like things have changed..... Fred Sanders Jan 2015 #24
Good. Meeting with war criminals are, at best, dicey. Tierra_y_Libertad Jan 2015 #35
kick! napkinz Jan 2015 #40
 

Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
1. Good. We should also proclaim that we would 'not secure his visit' just as israel
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 02:00 PM
Jan 2015

did with the Swedish FM.

Israel Told Swedish FM They Would Not Secure Her Visit

http://www.democraticunderground.com/113492987

 

Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
2. Well, done...Obama advisory team. The strutting
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 02:07 PM
Jan 2015

warmongerer should be relegated to the other end of Pennsylvania Ave. with his R/W apologists.

 

Comrade Grumpy

(13,184 posts)
3. Why should he? He's not been invited by the White House and is an enemy of Obama.
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 02:09 PM
Jan 2015

Let him and his Republican congressional buddies have their little wank-off and ignore them.

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
4. Why is everyone here pretending
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 02:24 PM
Jan 2015

this is some kind of dis? The White House has a policy of not meeting with heads of state when it's this close to their elections. This policy has been in place for quite some time. But go ahead and knock yourselves out:

http://news.yahoo.com/obama-won-t-meet-with-netanyahu-during-controversial-u-s--visit-173809042.html

President Barack Obama will not meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the latter's controversial March 3 visit to Washington, the White House announced Thursday, saying it risked looking like the Administration was trying to influence Israel's March 17 elections.

"The president will not be meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu because of the proximity to the Israeli election, which is just two weeks after his planned address to the U.S. Congress," National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a emailed statement.

Behind the Aegis

(53,979 posts)
8. You know why.
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 03:35 PM
Jan 2015


But, like you, I don't see this as a snub, and there is no indication Netanyahu even requested to meet with the President, nor was invited by the President. Tempest in a teapot from the Republicans, sipped in cups by a certain group.
 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
10. Yeah - I do know why
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 04:11 PM
Jan 2015

It's nonsense but let em have their fun. His address to congress will be quite enough.

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
36. Also not a surprise
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 05:35 PM
Jan 2015

I am enjoying those who are so closed minded they think you can't be pro-Israel and anti-Bibi.

 

Comrade Grumpy

(13,184 posts)
38. Because DU is plagued with anti-semites? Is that what you are coyly implying?
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 05:52 PM
Jan 2015

Don't be coy. Come out and make your accusations.

 

isobar

(188 posts)
5. Not a damned dime should be spent to provide security.
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 02:25 PM
Jan 2015

And Bibi's security should be disarmed while here. No motorcade, no nothin'


(Unless the GOP wants to foot the bill. )

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
25. No, I didn't
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 04:56 PM
Jan 2015

I would expect our lawmakers to act above such juvenile bullshit - I think Bibi acted like an imbecile when he said they couldn't secure a head of state (Sweden, I think) recently. I would hope our lawmakers wouldn't be such assholes.

 

isobar

(188 posts)
28. Seriously,
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 05:02 PM
Jan 2015

This is nothing but a joint Netanyahu-GOP fundraiser, and should be treated as such. It would be a big plus , in my eyes for any lawmaker to skip this little party.For the speaker to call for a joint session is very questionable.

No "dis " to Obama, the GOP is incapable of doing so.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
30. The GOP is trying to boost Bibi's election chances with the new March 3 date, obviously.
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 05:05 PM
Jan 2015

So I kind of take back what I thought the situation was before, given the change of date.

It is not Israel interfering in American politics, it is now the GOP interfering in Israeli politics.

GOLGO 13

(1,681 posts)
6. Yeah, we're too busy right now saving the world but have your people call my people
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 02:31 PM
Jan 2015

We'll do lunch...someday.

 

leftynyc

(26,060 posts)
32. Which makes it even closer to their election
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 05:17 PM
Jan 2015

(that's exactly two weeks before the election). The GOP is trying to get him reelected. I hope they fail spectacularly.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
33. On that we can agree. Not that interfering with a foreign governments elections is not unknown to
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 05:18 PM
Jan 2015

America.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
16. All contrived by Republicans to stir up shit and forwarded by a Twitter age media.
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 04:23 PM
Jan 2015

I did not look at the link...AOL owned HuffPo does wierd stuff to my computer.

Peacetrain

(22,878 posts)
18. Why would Boehner invite Netanyahu so close to the Israeli elections
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 04:36 PM
Jan 2015

knowing the White House and its major Secretaries are not going to meet with him.. because it is so close to an election.. that is the question that should be asked..and I think most of us with half a brain have figured out the reason behind it..

 

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)
19. I've been thinking about this since I posted the OP. The Republicans have a double motive here.
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 04:40 PM
Jan 2015

It's not just to embarrass Obama. They are meddling in the Israeli elections intentionally I think.

It wouldn't do for a Labor PM to be elected because they might try to negotiate with the Palestinians and that would deflate the GOP's entire line against Obama regarding Israel.

Fred Sanders

(23,946 posts)
24. ^^^^^Number one unanswered question........^^^^^^ looks like things have changed.....
Thu Jan 22, 2015, 04:55 PM
Jan 2015
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-to-couple-congressional-address-with-appearance-at-AIPAC-parley-in-March-388636

Israel election is March 17.

"US President Barack Obama will not receive Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in March at the White House, his administration said on Thursday, due to the proximity of his visit to Israel's elections.

"As a matter of long-standing practice and principle, we do not see heads of state or candidates in close proximity to their elections, so as to avoid the appearance of influencing a democratic election in a foreign country," Bernadette Meehan, spokesperson for the National Security Council, said in an e-mail.

Netanyahu will address a joint session of Congress during his visit, at the invitation of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), on Israel's position on negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program.

The Israeli prime minister has publicly advocated for increasing pressure on Iran during the negotiations, and is expected to support a bill under consideration in the Congress that would trigger new sanctions on Iran should the talks fail.

"The president has been clear about his opposition to Congress passing new legislation on Iran that could undermine our negotiations and divide the international community," Meehan added. "The president has had many conversations with the Prime Minister on this matter, and I am sure they will continue to be in contact on this and other important matters.”

Shortly after the White House announcement, the State Department also cited the proximity to Israel's elections for the reason that US Secretary of State John Kerry will not meet with Netanyahu during the Washington visit.

++++++++++++

Netanyahu on Thursday formally accepted an invitation to address the Congress, but will do so as a part of a trip to Washington in early March to attend the AIPAC conference, and not as part of a special trip to DC just for that occasion in mid-February.

++++++++++++

The invitation to Netanyahu in the name of the bipartisan leadership of the House of Representatives and Senate caused a kerfuffle, with some Netanyahu critics saying the Republicans were meddling in Israel's elections, and others that Boehner was using Netanyahu to wage a battle with Obama over Iran sanctions.

The White House said it was surprised that it was not informed in advance – either by Boehner or Israeli officials – of the visit, and that this was a breach of protocol.

In an apparent effort to rectify the situation, on Wednesday evening, after Boehner confirmed the speech to Congress could be moved from February 11 to March 3, Israel contacted the White House to inform it of the change of plans.

The statement put out by the PMO announcing Netanyahu's formal acceptance of the invitation, and the change of date, stressed that in his speeches both to Congress and AIPAC the Prime Minister would “thank President Obama, Congress and the American people for their support of Israel.”
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