Obama Is Avoiding Netanyahu

Barack Obama announced that he is not planning to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to visit the U.S. in March at the invitation of the opposition Republicans. In the context of continually worsening relations with the White House, Israel is strengthening its ties to Russia and promising not to join Western sanctions against Moscow.

In an interview with CNN late Wednesday evening the American president announced that he is “declining” to meet with Netanyahu because the White House traditionally does not hold meetings with foreign leaders in the run-up to elections in those leaders’ countries. “I think that’s inappropriate and that’s true with some of our closest allies.”

In early March, Netanyahu is planning to visit Washington at the invitation of Republican House Speaker John Boehner, in order to convince legislators not to approve the nuclear agreement with Iran. This will take place on the eve of elections to the Israeli Knesset, which Netanyahu’s Likud Party is hoping to win.

As many experts have pointed out, the nuclear deal with Iran is one of the main foreign policy trump cards held by the U.S. president. In a recent address to the American people, he even warned Congress that he will veto any Republican attempts to oppose a deal with Iran. Thus, Netanyahu is essentially issuing a challenge to Obama.

Unsurprisingly, the While House expressed sharp disappointment with the fact that Tel Aviv did not consult with them prior to accepting the invitation. As The Washington Post reported on Thursday, citing its sources, an administration official reproached the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer for the fact that Netanyahu is prioritizing public relations over Israeli-American relations. Dermer himself announced in return that he is only looking after the interests of his country and noted that Boehner should have been the one who handled communications with the White House.

The Post also observed that Dermer is not a run-of-the-mill ambassador, but that he is American by birth and formerly worked in the Republican Party organization. And last but not least, that he is known in Israel as “Bibi’s brains” — Bibi is Netanyahu’s nickname.

The administration’s unconcealed displeasure with Netanyahu’s visit is yet one more sign of the severe worsening of relations between the leaders of the two countries. The leftist Israeli publication Haaretz recently called both leaders “best foes forever.”

It is necessary to keep in mind that the U.S. has essentially withdrawn from a mediating role in deciding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In this sense, political conflicts have not affected the military alliance, and in diplomatic circles of both countries, it is stressed that the U.S. will continue to render military assistance to Israel.

It is worth noting, that against the background of friction with Washington, Tel Aviv is actively developing relations with Moscow.

During a visit to Russia this week, Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman announced that Israel is not planning to join in sanctions against Russia. What’s more, the two countries are conducting negotiations about Israel’s joining the free trade zone between Russia and other members of the Customs Union. From the very start of the conflict in Ukraine, Israel has occupied a neutral position. Lieberman himself declared in an interview with Interfax, that regarding sanctions, “we don’t feel any particular pressure.”

Russian-Israeli political scientist Benny Briskin, who at one time was an adviser to Netanyahu, believes that relations between Moscow and Tel Aviv will only improve against the background of the escalation of the situation, despite the fact that Russia also supports a deal with Iran. Such a position is expected from Moscow, while in contrast the U.S. had always maintained a different position and was perceived as a solid ally of Israel.

“Israel’s position in the conflict between the West and Russia is in fact neutral in many respects. First, the Israeli government has very warm and close relations with the Russian government at all levels. There is a mutual understanding of interests. Second, we have in the highest levels of government in Israel many émigrés from Russia, from the USSR. They speak one language, understand one another’s mentality, therefore they frequently understand the motivation behind Russia’s actions in this conflict,” said Briskin.