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White House: Israeli reports of Obama-Netanyahu tensions are 'totally false' White House: Israeli reports of Obama-Netanyahu tensions are 'totally false'
(about 17 hours later)
The White House denounced reports in the Israeli media on Tuesday that purported to reveal details of a tense private telephone call between president Barack Obama and Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.The White House denounced reports in the Israeli media on Tuesday that purported to reveal details of a tense private telephone call between president Barack Obama and Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The reports, which the Obama administration were “shocking and disappointing” fabrications that did not bear “any resemblance to reality”, came after US officials fiercely rejected a series of other slurs directed against the US secretary of state, John Kerry, which have also appeared in the Israeli media in recent days. The reports, which the Obama administration said were based on “shocking and disappointing” fabrications that did not bear “any resemblance to reality”, came after US officials fiercely rejected a series of other slurs directed against the US secretary of state, John Kerry, which have also appeared in the Israeli media in recent days.
Both sets of reports were attributed to anonymous sources and suggest a concerted campaign against Washington, which has expressed rising concern over civilian deaths in the Gaza conflict and is pressing Israel to adopt an immediate, unilateral humanitarian ceasefire.Both sets of reports were attributed to anonymous sources and suggest a concerted campaign against Washington, which has expressed rising concern over civilian deaths in the Gaza conflict and is pressing Israel to adopt an immediate, unilateral humanitarian ceasefire.
The report claimed to have access to a leaked portion of transcript of Obama’s call with Netanyahu, which took place on on Sunday; it was aired on Tuesday evening in Israel on Channel One, a respected TV outlet. It quoted a “senior American source” and, showing excerpts of the supposed transcript, said that Obama had been and hostile and impatient with Israel’s prime minister.The report claimed to have access to a leaked portion of transcript of Obama’s call with Netanyahu, which took place on on Sunday; it was aired on Tuesday evening in Israel on Channel One, a respected TV outlet. It quoted a “senior American source” and, showing excerpts of the supposed transcript, said that Obama had been and hostile and impatient with Israel’s prime minister.
Just over an hour later, White House officials released a flurry of a strongly-worded statements rebutting the reports.Just over an hour later, White House officials released a flurry of a strongly-worded statements rebutting the reports.
“We have seen these reports, and neither the reports nor the alleged transcript bear any resemblance to reality,” said Bernadette Meehan, a national security council spokeswoman. “It’s shocking and disappointing that someone would sink to misrepresenting a private conversation between the president and the prime minister in fabrications to the Israeli press.”“We have seen these reports, and neither the reports nor the alleged transcript bear any resemblance to reality,” said Bernadette Meehan, a national security council spokeswoman. “It’s shocking and disappointing that someone would sink to misrepresenting a private conversation between the president and the prime minister in fabrications to the Israeli press.”
Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser at the White House, said the transcript was “totally false”. Netanyahu’s office also confirmed the transcript was fake.Ben Rhodes, the deputy national security adviser at the White House, said the transcript was “totally false”. Netanyahu’s office also confirmed the transcript was fake.
By then the reports had been widely disseminated, in Israel as elsewhere, as indicating – incorrectly, as it turned out – that Obama had been taking a tough and condescending position in private with Israel, demanding it cease its military activities.By then the reports had been widely disseminated, in Israel as elsewhere, as indicating – incorrectly, as it turned out – that Obama had been taking a tough and condescending position in private with Israel, demanding it cease its military activities.
Even before the false reports about the Obama-Netanyahu call were broadcast, the US and Israel were seeking to heal a pre-existing diplomatic rift over the fallout of Kerry’s failed attempt to broker a ceasefire to the conflict, that has claimed more than 1,100 Palestinian lives, many of them civilians.Even before the false reports about the Obama-Netanyahu call were broadcast, the US and Israel were seeking to heal a pre-existing diplomatic rift over the fallout of Kerry’s failed attempt to broker a ceasefire to the conflict, that has claimed more than 1,100 Palestinian lives, many of them civilians.
That dispute revolved around leaks in the Israeli media about Kerry’s diplomatic efforts in the region, which the US officials complained has mischaracterised his discussions with Israeli counterpart and contained unfair and personal barbs. One report, citing very senior officials in Jerusalem, described Kerry’s diplomatic efforts as a “strategic terrorist attack”.That dispute revolved around leaks in the Israeli media about Kerry’s diplomatic efforts in the region, which the US officials complained has mischaracterised his discussions with Israeli counterpart and contained unfair and personal barbs. One report, citing very senior officials in Jerusalem, described Kerry’s diplomatic efforts as a “strategic terrorist attack”.
In Washington on Tuesday, Kerry dismissed the criticism. “I’m not going to worry about the personal attacks,” he told reporters. “I’ve taken hits before in politics. I’m not worried about that. This is not about me.”In Washington on Tuesday, Kerry dismissed the criticism. “I’m not going to worry about the personal attacks,” he told reporters. “I’ve taken hits before in politics. I’m not worried about that. This is not about me.”
Israel is widely believed to have resisted Kerry’s intervention in the Middle East from the start, and despite repeated public assurances from both sides that relations between the two allies are undamaged, there are indications that tensions remain appear high and may be increasing.Israel is widely believed to have resisted Kerry’s intervention in the Middle East from the start, and despite repeated public assurances from both sides that relations between the two allies are undamaged, there are indications that tensions remain appear high and may be increasing.
Those fissures were hinted at by Kerry during his remarks to reporters, when he said that Netanyahu had asked him to attempt to broker a temporary humanitarian ceasefire. Reports in Israel suggested the prime minister’s office disputed that account of the call, indicating it was Kerry – not Netanyahu – who broached the topic of the pause in fighting.Those fissures were hinted at by Kerry during his remarks to reporters, when he said that Netanyahu had asked him to attempt to broker a temporary humanitarian ceasefire. Reports in Israel suggested the prime minister’s office disputed that account of the call, indicating it was Kerry – not Netanyahu – who broached the topic of the pause in fighting.
Kerry, however, directly tied the discussion of the ceasefire to Netanyahu, providing reporters with a surprisingly detailed summary of the call.Kerry, however, directly tied the discussion of the ceasefire to Netanyahu, providing reporters with a surprisingly detailed summary of the call.
“Prime minister Netanyahu himself said to me, ‘Can you try to get a humanitarian ceasefire for this period of time?’” Kerry said. “And if it weren’t for his commitment to it, obviously the president of the United States and I would not be trying to make this effort.”“Prime minister Netanyahu himself said to me, ‘Can you try to get a humanitarian ceasefire for this period of time?’” Kerry said. “And if it weren’t for his commitment to it, obviously the president of the United States and I would not be trying to make this effort.”
Pointedly, Kerry added: “Now, I take this commitment at face value or someone is playing a different game here, and I hope that’s not the fact.”Pointedly, Kerry added: “Now, I take this commitment at face value or someone is playing a different game here, and I hope that’s not the fact.”