Posted on 01/07/2008 11:11:37 AM PST by bruinbirdman
U.S. President George W. Bush has declined to meet with former Prime Minister and current Likud Opposition Leader MK Binyamin Netanyahu during his upcoming visit to Israel, slated to begin on Wednesday, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Sources in Prime Minister Ehud Olmerts Kadima party quoted in the report offered this explanation: At the White House, they think [Mr. Netanyahu] is a liar because of his behavior when he was prime minister.
Outraged Likud officials accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of sabotaging what would normally be a routine meeting between a visiting U.S. President and an Israeli Opposition Leader, a long-established diplomatic custom.
Given the extent to which the prime minister is willing to endanger the country to survive politically, it is not surprising that the Prime Ministers Office is going out of its way to prevent Bibi (Netanyahu) from meeting with Bush, said senior Likud sources.
A spokesman for Olmert stated that he was unaware of any efforts to block a meeting between Bush and Netanyahu.
Bush has no plans to meet with any politician or other officials opposed to the Annapolis process.
And what is the official Israeli policy with regard to the Arabs living in Jerusalem? Please explain the official Israeli policy on what is to be done with the Arabs in Jerusalem once Jerusalem becomes the “complete and united” capital of Israel?
Again, what is Isreal going to do with the Arabs therein? What is THEIR stated policy as to what should be done to ensure that Jerusalem is the complete and united capital of Isreal? Please state their policy? Israel is living in a fantasy dreamworld of contradictions and you know it.
As to the notion that America is bullying Israel. If this is true, why the heck does Israel ask the U.S. to facitlite EVERY negotiation it ever has had with the palestinians? Can’t they do this themselves?
If Isreal doen’t want America’s input in their negotiations/foreign policy disputes, how about the STOP ASKING FOR IT in the first place.
That’s why we need Giuliani.
So help us all understand something. When Netanyahu was PM, he turned Hebron over to the palastinian authority. Aparently, when Netanyahu was in power, he was more than willing to trade land for nothing, HE ACTUALLY DID IT. Got Bush?
In otherwords, he BETRAYED Israel and cost himself the PM job in the process. So now we are to believe this man will be all hawk if he is elected as the next PM? I seriously doubt it.
So who has been the bigger disappointment to Israel Bush or Netanyahu?
Bill Clinton and Jimmuh Cahtuh weren’t capable people in the first place anyway.
“So help us all understand something. When Netanyahu was PM, he turned Hebron over to the palastinian authority. Aparently, when Netanyahu was in power, he was more than willing to trade land for nothing, HE ACTUALLY DID IT. Got Bush?
In otherwords, he BETRAYED Israel and cost himself the PM job in the process. So now we are to believe this man will be all hawk if he is elected as the next PM? I seriously doubt it.
So who has been the bigger disappointment to Israel Bush or Netanyahu?”
You certainly have a point. I was unaware Mr. Netanyahu turned over Hebron to the Palestinians when he was Israel’s Prime Minister. From his tough talk about Israel’s sovereignty, it doesn’t sound as though he would repeat the same mistake, but who knows?
Been 6 plus years since 9-11. People have forgotten naked aggression against the USA
You have a big mouth when it comes to Israel. Let’s assume you are a diplomat or an ex diplomat. You wouldn’t do one tenth as good as Netanyahu and probably worse than Olmert. Israel don’t have so much latitude being that it’s a nation of six million surrounded by two hundred million Muslims. You are arrogant blustery and stupid even though I know you are not stupid. So don’t act stupid.
OK Diplomat. What would you do if in charge of Israel?
You wouldnt do one tenth as good as Netanyahu and probably worse than Olmert.
I know one thing for certain, if I was Isreali PM, I'd NEVER trade land to the pali's for a worthless piece of paper (Netanyahu). Nor would I ever allow Isreal to be defeated militarily by Lebanon (Olmert). If this makes me arrogant and stupid, so be it.
The BDS over Isreal on this board is a gigantic lie. I'm sick of this delusion. So yea, I've been confronting posters on this issue and they have all run away with their tail betweeen their legs. Why, because facts confuse people with BDS.
Almost to a person they think Netanyahu will be a conservative savior to Israel. Yet, only a tiny percentage are aware of Bibi's Hebron blunder.
I don’t even think much about Benjamin Netanyau. All I know is you talk big but would flame out if dealt the same cards Israel has. You have no understanding of a nation surrounded by millions and millions of hostile Muslims. You play a game of pretend where Israel has 100 million Jews on the defensive instead of 5 million
How about that $95 Muslim oil? You think that might lead to even greater Muslim arrogance and sway over George Bush. And what kinds of negotiations he demands Israel to engage in
Israel keeps asking US to facilitate their negotiations. If they don't want our input, how about they find some other country to act as mediator for them? I fail to see why Bush is blamed for attempting to assist the negotiations when we are doing so on Israel's request.
Olmert aside, you truly cannot believe that Israel is going to agree to any condition that they do not want to commit to. Therefore, whatever it is you believe the U.S. is currently asking of Israel, if it is a condition that Israel would never agree to, it's irrelevant. I.e. giving west Jerusalem to the palis.
Saw him at CPAC in 2000. Great speaker.
Between this, and Condi constantly threatening the Israelis to "give more" to the Palis - I am amazed God doesn't strike our Nation down with the plague.
Shameful.
I may be mistaken but I think Diplomat may be complaining that to some extent leftist Israelis and weak Israeli politicians are the cause of the problem. Not US pressure.
Read this and cry:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1949469/posts
The author’s main complaint is that pres Bush did not dictate to Israel and respected Israeli sovereignty.
My beef has little to do with Israel’s government. Neither Olmert nor Netanyahu directly complained about the Bush incident. Israel always acts more diplomatically than I do. It’s the same old journalistic un-named sources within the admnistration/party that said “...”. I got that from the outset.
My annoyance was with those who think Bush is somehow at fault here and blame him and/or Rice. It has no relation to reality. This administration sure didn’t invent appeasement when it comes to this problem. Olmert shouldn’t have surrendered in Lebanon. Actions have consequences.
I caught him briefly on Scarbrough the other day. Duncan Hunter manages to be more pertinent in two minutes than any other guy is in 10 years.
Big D: IIRC GW started his first administration by telling Israel to do just that. He had a hands off policy for, how long? 18 months?
Or did he just do that in order to formulate a policy?
yitbos
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.