Barack Obama's diplomatic love-in leaves Israeli PM in cold

Telegraph Blogs (U.K.) ^ | April 21, 2009 | Philip Sherwell

[Schnucki]

By reaching out to Cuban dictator Raul Castro (verbally) and Venezuelan firebrand Hugo Chavez (literally, as he sought him sought across the room to shake hands), Barack Obama has made clear that he intends to pursue a less confrontational approach with America's traditional foes.

Hillary Clinton has just welcomed Mutassim Billah Gaddafi, Libyan national security advisor and son of long-time leader Moammar Gaddafi, to the State Department - in an encouter most notable for the visitor's shiny brown chocolate-coloured suit, as the gossip website jezebel records.

Even among supporters of a more conciliatory foreign policy, such as Eugene Robinson in the Washington Post, Mr Obama's docile demeanour in the company of demagogues such as Mr Chavez and Nicaragua's Sandanista leader Daniel Ortega has come in for some flak.

But the most telling sign of the new diplomatic order in Washington concerns a world leader who Mr Obama won't be meeting. Not yet anyway.

And that's Binyamin Netanyahu. The hawkish Israeli prime minister had planned to visit Washington early next month to attend the annual AIPAC conference and his aides had put out feelers to the White House to arrange a meeting with Mr Obama.

But apparently the president's people have said "he won't be in town" to meet with the leader of one of America's closest allies. Mr Netanhayu has in turn cancelled his plans to visit the the conference.

Yedioth Achronoth, the largest circulation daily in Israel, is also reporting that President Obama intends to see the two-state solution signed, sealed and delivered during his first term - a policy Mr Netanyahu has shown no inclination to back.

The paper says that Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, who has strong Israeli ties, told an (unnamed) Jewish leader; "In the next four years there is going to be a

[AmericanInTokyo]

Ally Japan is also PISSED about his caving in to North Korea a few weeks ago, too! (And they are DOING something about it).

Film at ll.

[Freedom Dignity n Honor]

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