This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/21/israel-us-presidential-race
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Israel makes no distinctions in US presidential race, says minister | Israel makes no distinctions in US presidential race, says minister |
| (30 days later) | |
| An Israeli government minister has sought to defuse accusations that Binyamin Netanyahu is attempting to influence the outcome of the US presidential election, saying Israel's official policy is "to stay as far away as possible" from its ally's domestic politics. | An Israeli government minister has sought to defuse accusations that Binyamin Netanyahu is attempting to influence the outcome of the US presidential election, saying Israel's official policy is "to stay as far away as possible" from its ally's domestic politics. |
| Danny Ayalon, Israel's deputy foreign minister and a former ambassador to the US, told a conference in New York that Israel "makes no distinctions" between Democrats and Republicans. "Israel has no better friend than the US and no better friend than President Obama in the international community," he said, according to a report in Haaretz. | Danny Ayalon, Israel's deputy foreign minister and a former ambassador to the US, told a conference in New York that Israel "makes no distinctions" between Democrats and Republicans. "Israel has no better friend than the US and no better friend than President Obama in the international community," he said, according to a report in Haaretz. |
| Footage of Netanyahu featured in a political advertisement broadcast in the swing state of Florida. The ad was produced by Secure America Now, a hawkish non-profit organisation, without the consent of the Israeli prime minister's office. | Footage of Netanyahu featured in a political advertisement broadcast in the swing state of Florida. The ad was produced by Secure America Now, a hawkish non-profit organisation, without the consent of the Israeli prime minister's office. |
| Ayalon told the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organisations that he wanted to set the record straight in case there was any "misreading" of Israel's intentions. The current "noise" over US-Israel relations was a result of "not very well judiciously planned remarks from both sides" being misconstrued. On the issue of Iran, Israel and the US "see eye to eye", Ayalon said. | Ayalon told the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organisations that he wanted to set the record straight in case there was any "misreading" of Israel's intentions. The current "noise" over US-Israel relations was a result of "not very well judiciously planned remarks from both sides" being misconstrued. On the issue of Iran, Israel and the US "see eye to eye", Ayalon said. |
| Relations between the US and Israel have been severely strained in recent weeks over the issue of how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme. Netanyahu has publicly demanded that the US sets clear "red lines" beyond which it would take military action to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. The US has declined to do so. | Relations between the US and Israel have been severely strained in recent weeks over the issue of how to deal with Iran's nuclear programme. Netanyahu has publicly demanded that the US sets clear "red lines" beyond which it would take military action to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities. The US has declined to do so. |
| After a press conference at which Netanyahu said that without red lines there could be no "red light" to unilateral military action by Israel, he and Obama spent an hour on the phone in an attempt to repair the breach. But officials in Jerusalem subsequently claimed that the White House had rejected a request for a face-to-face meeting when Netanyahu visits the US next week. US officials denied this version of events. | After a press conference at which Netanyahu said that without red lines there could be no "red light" to unilateral military action by Israel, he and Obama spent an hour on the phone in an attempt to repair the breach. But officials in Jerusalem subsequently claimed that the White House had rejected a request for a face-to-face meeting when Netanyahu visits the US next week. US officials denied this version of events. |
| Obama's opponent in the election, Mitt Romney, has adopted a significantly more hawkish stance on Iran. Netanyahu's warm relationship with Romney contrasts with the froideur between him and Obama. | Obama's opponent in the election, Mitt Romney, has adopted a significantly more hawkish stance on Iran. Netanyahu's warm relationship with Romney contrasts with the froideur between him and Obama. |
| A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry said he could not confirm the veracity of Ayalon's remarks. | A spokesman for the Israeli foreign ministry said he could not confirm the veracity of Ayalon's remarks. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |