White House Chief Of Staff: 50 Years Of Israeli Occupation Must End

Denis McDonough speaks at the J Street Conference in Washington on March 23, 2015. Press TV

Haaretz: White House chief of staff: 50 years of Israeli occupation must end

U.S. cannot pretend Netanyahu didn't say no Palestinian state would be established on his watch, Denis McDonough tells J Street conference in Washington.

White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough made it clear on Monday that the crisis in U.S.-Israel relations over the issue of a Palestinian state remains, despite efforts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to clarify remarks he made late in the election campaign that no such state would be established on his watch.

“We cannot simply pretend that those comments were never made,” McDonough told the J Street conference in Washington, whose left-leaning audience received his remarks enthusiastically.

More News On White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough's Comments On U.S. - Israeli Relations

White House chief demands end to 50 years of Israeli occupation -- Reuters
White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough Says the Israeli Occupation 'Must End' -- Huffington Post
White House chief of Staff: US watching to see if Netanyahu's actions match words on 2 states -- Jerusalem Post
White House Warns Netanyahu Against Rejecting Two-State Solution -- WSJ
White House Official Pushes Netanyahu to ‘Match Words with Action’ -- Time

The Growing Rift Between Israel And The U.S.

Netanyahu and Obama. Photo: Jim Young/ Reuters

New York Times: White House Antagonism Toward Netanyahu Grows

WASHINGTON — The White House is stepping up its antagonism toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite his victory in this week’s elections, signaling that it is in no rush to repair a historic rift between the United States and Israel.

The sharpened tone indicates that the Obama administration may be re-evaluating its relationship with its closest ally in the Middle East, having lost patience with Mr. Netanyahu in the closing days of an election campaign in which he spotlighted deep disagreements with President Obama over a Palestinian state and a nuclear deal with Iran.

“You reach a tipping point,” said Daniel C. Kurtzer, a former American ambassador to Israel and Egypt. “It’s the culmination of six and a half years of frustration, including some direct hits at the president’s prestige and the office of the presidency.”

WNU Editor: The New York Times contempt for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been openly revealed in the past few weeks .... so this article is not a surprise. What is a surprise is that the White House is now openly stating that they are going to re-evaluate their relationship with Israel. What will this re-evaluation entail .... I do not know .... but I suspect that we are going to get a taste of it in the next few weeks/months with the announcement of an Iranian nuclear deal .... followed by reports a few days later that Israel was not consulted and/or informed.

President Obama Called To Congratulate Re-Elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday

USA Today: Obama makes call to Netanyahu

WASHINGTON — President Obama called to congratulate re-elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday, amid continuing tensions over the status of negotiations with the Palestinians, Iran policy and Netanyahu campaign tactics.

"The president emphasized the importance the United States places on our close military, intelligence, and security cooperation with Israel, which reflects the deep and abiding partnership between both countries," the White House said in a statement.

WNU Editor: Yup ... the Israel - U.S. alliance is going to undergo changes .... The Crisis Has Exploded (John Podhoretz, Commentary).

More News On President Obama Calling To Congratulate Re-Elected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday

Obama tells Netanyahu U.S. to 'reassess' policy on Israel, Mideast diplomacy -- Reuters
Obama Calls Netanyahu, Reaffirms Two-State Solution -- VOA
Obama calls Netanyahu to congratulate him on Israeli election -- Washington Post
In Netanyahu Call, Obama Says US Reassessing Peace Approach -- AP
Obama calls to congratulate Netanyahu -- The Hill
Obama has a few words for Netanyahu -- NBC
Source says Obama, Netanyahu call was 'tough', as Boehner announces visit -- YNet news
Obama to 'reassess' Israel relationship -- CNN
The crisis in US-Israel relations is much bigger than Bibi Netanyahu -- Zack Beauchamp, VOX News

How Netanyahu's Victory Will Impact Israeli - U.S. Relations

Carol Lee, WSH: Tension Between U.S., Israel Likely to Continue After Netanyahu’s Re-election

Obama and Netanyahu differ starkly on Iran and Middle East peace policy

WASHINGTON—Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decisive re-election on Tuesday likely has scuttled the possibility of a thaw in the White House’s frayed relationship with the leader of the U.S.’s closest Middle East ally.

White House officials hold out little hope that, in the remaining 20 months of President Barack Obama’s term, the U.S. and Israeli leaders will be able to narrow their differences over a nuclear agreement with Iran or make progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, based on early assessments Wednesday. Beyond the personal discord between Messrs. Obama and Netanyahu, the two differ starkly on Iran and Middle East peace policy.

Mr. Netanyahu’s position that a peace plan shouldn’t include the creation of a Palestinian state, articulated Monday on the eve of an election polling showed to be a razor close, leaves the possibility of resuming talks deeply uncertain.

WNU Editor: I guess this sums it all up .... White House Refuses To Congratulate Netanyahu For Victory (Daily Caller).

More News And Analysis On How Netanyahu's Victory Will Impact His Government's Relationship With President Obama's Administration

White House mum on apparent Netanyahu win -- USA Today
Obama Aide Stops Short of Congratulating Netanyahu on Vote -- Bloomberg
US Republicans hail Netanyahu comeback win in Israel -- i24 News
Israeli election means Obama likely stuck with Netanyahu -- FOX News
Netanyahu win puts US-Israeli relations on pause -- Deutsche Welle
U.S.-Israeli relations, already tense, face new tests with Netanyahu victor -- Paul Richter, L.A. Times
Will Netanyahu win seal Iran deal? -- Danielle Pletka, CNN
As Netanyahu Prevails in Israel, a Thorny Relationship Persists for U.S. -- Michael D. Shear, NYT
How Netanyahu's Win Affects U.S.-Israel Relations -- WSJ (Video)

US Government Slow To Renew Agreement To Guarantee Israel's Oil Supply In The Event Of An Embargo

A view of Haifa Bay, which is home to much of Israel’s heavy industry, including the Haifa Oil Refineries. Photo by Moran Mayan (Haaretz)

Fuel Fix: Senators push oil-supply pact with Israel

WASHINGTON — For more than three decades, the United States has pledged to help Israel get crude in case the country’s own oil supplies were cut off.

But a U.S.-Israel agreement guaranteeing that emergency assistance expired last November. And now, six senators are pressing the Obama administration to re-up the deal.

The senators delivered their plea in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging him “to expedite the renewal of this important agreement as a meaningful gesture of support to our friend and ally at this challenging time.”

WNU Editor: The reason why this agreement has not been renewed is simple .... it is not a priority for US Sec. of State John Kerry or for President Obama.

What Would Happen If The US Stopped Giving Money To Israel?

Photo from Pamela Geller

Mike Pearl, Vice News: We Asked a Military Expert What Would Happen if the US Stopped Giving Money to Israel

On Tuesday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress, and what he said was more or less what you'd expect: Basically, Iran is untrustworthy and dangerous, and allowing it to continue even a limited version of its nuclear program is going to lead to an "arms race" in the Middle East. The audience was dominated by Republicans, and they clapped like crazy as they listened to the speech.

The fact that the speech even happened was bananas. Netanyahu was invited by House Speaker John Boehner, who declined to ask the White House whether it would be OK for a foreign head of state to come preach to Congress about the dangers of the administration's impending nuclear deal with Iran. Obama didn't meet with Netanyahu during his visit, and Democrats—including usually staunch defenders of Israel—didn't hide how upset they were over the Israeli prime minister's heavy-handed slight.

WNU Editor: First things first .... such a cut-off will not happen in my lifetime. But just for arguments sake let us speculate that there is a cut-off .... so what would happen next? In the short to medium term there will be little if any military impact. Israel is country that is literally filled with weapons and weapon systems .... any U.S. cut-off would mean that it would only be more costly for Israel to buy parts and the newest tech. There will be impact financially and politically .... but welcome to what has always been the story and the norm in the Middle East .... political and financial instability.

The U.S. - Israel Split On How To Deal With Iran's Nuclear Program Is Enormous

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and President Obama at the White House in October. Credit Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

David Sanger, New York Times: For Netanyahu and Obama, Difference Over Iran Widened Into Chasm

WASHINGTON — Over six years of bitter disagreements about how to deal with the Iranian nuclear threat, President Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel kept running into one central problem: The two leaders never described their ultimate goal in quite the same way.

Mr. Obama has repeated a seemingly simple vow: On his watch, the United States would do whatever it took to “prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.” Mr. Netanyahu has used a different set of stock phrases. Iran had to be stopped from getting the “capability” to manufacture a weapon, he said, and Israel could never tolerate an Iran that was a “threshold nuclear state.”

WNU Editor: Both leaders do not see eye to eye on how to deal with Iran's nuclear program .... if there was any doubts on that it was put to bed today. What is my take on this entire affair .... it has been the same since day one .... Iran made the strategic decision years ago to put into place the basic ingredients necessary for a nuclear weapons program, and if in the future they should then decide to assemble such a weapon, to have the means to produce the necessary fissionable material .... and to do so fast. Their rational for developing such a program is the same rational the that Soviet Union used, the British and French used, the Chinese used, India and Pakistan used, and one can even say that Israel used .... we need such a weapons program because it is necessary for the defense and national security of our country. President Obama has come to accept this Iranian point of view .... Israeli PM Netanyahu has not, and he has made it very clear he is willing to exercise force to make sure that it does not happen.

President Obama And Israeli PM Netanyahu Differ On What Approach Is Needed To Confront Iran

Netanyahu and Obama. Photo: Jim Young/ Reuters

Reuters: Obama, Israel's Netanyahu clash over Iran diplomacy

(Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu clashed over Iran nuclear diplomacy on Monday on the eve of the Israeli prime minister’s hotly disputed address to Congress, underscoring the severity of U.S.-Israeli strains over the issue.

Even as the two leaders professed their commitment to a strong partnership and sought to play down the diplomatic row, they delivered dueling messages – Netanyahu in a speech to pro-Israeli supporters and Obama in an interview with Reuters – that hammered home their differences on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Update: Obama, Netanyahu face off ahead of speech to Congress -- CNN

WNU Editor: They do not see eye-to-eye on how to curtail Iran's nuclear program, and while President Obama is correct when he says the following .... Barack Obama: Iran nuclear deal will not destroy Israel relations (The Telegraph) .... relations between the current White House administration of President Obama and the current Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu are in "the toilet".

Tensions Rise Between The White House And Israel On The Eve Of Netanyahu's Congressional Speech

Stephen Collinson, CNN: Obama and Netanyahu: A clash of world views, not just personalities

Washington (CNN)The disconnect between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is about a lot more than bad personal chemistry.

Their relationship, which will be played out in all its dysfunctional glory during Netanyahu's visit to Washington this week, founders on a deep ideological divide and a sharply conflicting world view.

More News On The Rise Of Tensions Between Israel And The U.S. On The Eve Of Netanyahu's Congressional Speech

White House and Netanyahu Are Set to Make Dueling Cases in Washington -- NYT
Tensions flare as Netanyahu prepares to make his case against Iran deal -- FOX News
Day before Netanyahu's speech, Kerry warns against revealing details of Iran nuclear talks -- Haaretz/AP
Ahead of Netanyahu speech, Kerry warns against revealing details of Iran nuke talks -- YNet News
With hard feelings all around, White House set to rebut Netanyahu -- CNN
Netanyahu Congress speech a moment of high stakes -- Kevin Connolly, BBC
The Netanyahu speech controversy, explained -- Zack Beauchamp, VOX

Israeli PM Netanyahu Is Now Traveling To Washington To Deliver His Speech On Iran To Congress

Reuters: U.S.-Israel ties fraying over Netanyahu's planned Iran speech

(Reuters) - Signs are growing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's planned speech to Congress against a possible nuclear deal with Iran could damage his country's broad alliance with the United States.

The right-wing leader's acceptance of a Republican invitation to address the U.S. legislature already brought Netanyahu's long-strained relations with President Barack Obama to a new low due to the overture's partisan nature.

WNU Editor: There has always been a rift between the White House and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu .... the only difference now is that no one is hiding it.

More News On The Growing Rift Between the White House And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu heads to Washington to address Congress -- AP
Israel PM Netanyahu takes off on 'historic' US mission -- AFP
Israeli PM Heads To U.S. To Argue Against Deal With Iran -- Radio Free Europe
Netanyahu Flies to Washington to Deliver Speech on Iran's Nuclear 'Threat' -- Sputnik
Netanyahu to arrive in Washington to deliver controversial Congress speech -- The Guardian
Netanyahu on 'Historic Mission' to Stop Iran Nuclear Deal -- VOA
As rift widens over Netanyahu visit, concerns mount -- USA Today
Kerry and Netanyahu Hold Phone Conversation Amid Tensions -- NYT

White House Continues To Criticize Israeli PM Netanyahu

Reuters: Netanyahu speech 'destructive' to U.S.-Israeli ties: Susan Rice

(Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech next week to Congress, expected to assail U.S. policy on Iran's nuclear program, injects a "destructive" partisanship into U.S.-Israeli ties, President Barack Obama's national security adviser said.

Susan Rice's remarks late on Tuesday to the PBS television program "Charlie Rose" were some of the most critical to date. The planned March 3 speech, deepening tensions between Israel and its closest ally, has divided Washington, Israelis and American Jews.

WNU Editor: Both administrations do not see eye-to-eye on what needs to be done in the Middle East .... and they are making their opinions very clear about it. As to National Security Adviser Rice's assertion that politics has always been kept out of the U.S. - Israeli relationship until now (see above video) .... please .... it has always been about politics.

More News On White House Criticism of Israeli PM Netanyahu

Rice Says Netanyahu Visit Will Damage U.S.-Israel Relations -- Bloomberg
Susan Rice calls Netanyahu's Capitol Hill speech 'destructive' to US-Israel relations -- FOX News
White House: Partisanship 'destructive' to US-Israel ties -- YNet News
National Security Adviser Susan Rice blasts Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to address Congress next month as ‘destructive’ to Israel-U.S. relations -- New York Daily News
Obama aides sharpen criticism of Netanyahu ahead of speech -- AP
Rice comments show extent of growing U.S.-Israeli rift over Iran -- Market Watch
Netanyahu turns down meeting with Senate Democrats -- FOX News
In rare rebuke, U.S. Democrat says 'disappointed' over Netanyahu's refusal to meet -- Haaretz

Update: This is not going to make anyone happy .... Netanyahu: World powers ‘have given up’ in Iran nuke talks (Washington Post).

U.S. Tells Europe To Keep Israel In The Dark On Iran Nuclear Talks

Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman speaks to the press in Jerusalem on February 22, 2014. According to reports, Sherman cautioned her European counterparts from disclosing information to Israel on the Iranian nuclear deal (screen capture: YouTube)

David Sanger, New York Times: Fear of Israeli Leaks Fuels Distrust Over U.S. Talks With Iran

WASHINGTON — With the Obama administration racing to negotiate the outlines of a nuclear deal with Iran by the end of March, aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel have charged in recent days that they are being deliberately left in the dark about the details of the talks. The Americans have said that is untrue, but even one of Washington’s closest negotiating partners reports being warned about being too open with the Israelis, “because whatever we say may be used in a selective way.”

The tensions between the United States and Israel over negotiating with Tehran have a long and twisted history, and they plunged to a new low when Mr. Netanyahu engineered an invitation to address a joint meeting of Congress, in less than two weeks, to warn against a “bad deal.”

Previous Post: Report: U.S. 'Limiting' Information It Shares With Israel On Iran Nuclear Talks

Update #1: NY Times: US asked Europe to limit reports to Israel on Iran talks. -- i24 News
Update #2: Bibi leaks details of Iran talks: U.S. -- Tehran Times
Good or bad Iran nuke deal? Israel vs. the US administration -- George Jahn, AP

WNU Editor: The U.S. is denying these reports .... State Department denies halting updates to Israel on Iran (Times of Israel) .... but EU officials are now confirming that this is what the U.S. told them they must do .... EU officials confirm Israel not fully briefed on Iran talks (Times of Israel). Hmmmm .... someone is lying.

Report: U.S. 'Limiting' Information It Shares With Israel On Iran Nuclear Talks

Obama talks with Netanyahu before a press conference at the Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem, March 20, 2013. Photo by Pete Souza/White House

Haaretz: Fearing leaks, U.S. 'limiting' information it shares with Israel on Iran nuke talks

The Americans fear Netanyahu will make use of the information given to Israel for his own political needs, and will try to undermine the talks between Iran and the big powers.

As a result of the recent tension between the United States and Israel, the White House has begun to limit the scope, quality and depth of the information it shares with Jerusalem about the progress of the talks with Iran about its nuclear program, senior Israeli officials involved in the issue have told Haaretz.

More News On Reports That The U.S. Is 'Limiting' Information It Shares With Israel On Iran Nuclear Talks

Report: US cuts Israel out of Iran talks -- YNeT News
US to stop updating Israel on Iran nuclear talks — TV report -- Times of Israel
Report: US 'Punishing' Israel by Not Updating it on Iran Talks -- Arutz Sheva
State Department denies halting updates to Israel on Iran -- Times of Israel
White House denies report claiming US cut Israel out of Iran talks -- Ynet News
US officials deny report of freezing Israel out of Iran nuclear talks -- Jerusalem Post
U.S., Israeli Officials Deny U.S. Has Cut Israel Out of Iran Talks -- Washington Free Beacon

President Obama: Time For Iran To Decide On Nuclear Weapons. Admits 'Very Real Differences' With Netanyahu On Iran

Time: Obama: It’s Time for Iran to Decide on Nuclear Weapons

President Obama said Monday that Iran needs to decide whether it will agree to end its nuclear weapons research.

In a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the White House, Obama said he does not see much chance for an extension of the upcoming deadline on negotiations with the U.S. and several other countries, arguing that the issue is now whether Iran has the political will to get a deal done.

WNU Editor: President Obama definitely does not sound optimistic on an Iranian deal.

More News On Today's Comments From President Obama On The Iranian Nuclear Talks

Obama: Time Has Come for Iran to Decide on Nuclear Deal -- AP
Obama Says Time Is Running Out for Iran to Negotiate Nuclear Deal -- Bloomberg
Obama questions Iran's desire to achieve nuclear deal -- The Guardian
Obama Opposes Further Extensions of Iran Nuclear Talks -- WSJ
Obama says extending deadline for Iran nuclear deal not useful -- Reuters

Obama and Netanyahu Clash From Afar Over Israeli's Planned Speech -- NYT
Obama Cites 'Very Real Difference' With Netanyahu Over Iran Sanctions -- NBC
Obama warns Netanyahu: Don't sour Iran talks with Congress speech -- YNet News
Obama: ‘Real differences’ with Netanyahu over Iran -- Times of Israel

Why Should The Pentagon Be Concerned That Israeli PM Netanyahu Is Giving A Speech In Congress?

Barack Obama with Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office. Photo: Pete Souza.

Mark Perry, Al Jazeera: Netanyahu’s Congress invitation raises eyebrows among some US generals

Analysis: Top brass who have questioned Obama’s strategies don't want a foreign leader influencing US decision-making

WNU Editor: Israeli PM Netanyahu is not the first foreign leader to arrive in the U.S. to influence opinions and policies .... nor will he be the last. But when I read this article I said to myself that the U.S. is now dropping all pretext on being neutral on the upcoming Israeli election and are in fact trying their best to influence its outcome .... or more to the point .... the defeat of Israeli PM Netanyahu.

White House Continues To Criticize Israeli PM Netanyahu's Planned Visit To Congress

New York Times: Administration Official Criticizes Israeli Ambassador Over Netanyahu Visit

WNU Editor: What I find even more fascinating about this story is how involved the Obama administration has become in trying their best to influence Israel's elections .... Inside HQ of 'Obama army' opposing Netanyahu (WND). Suffice it to say that White House - Netanyahu relations are in the toilet.

More News On The White House Anger That Israeli PM Netanyahu Is Still Coming To Washington To Speak Deliver A Speech At The Congress

White House lashes Israeli envoy over Netanyahu speech -- Times of Israel
Obama official: Israel's ambassador to U.S. putting Netanyahu above U.S.-Israel relations -- Haaretz
Pelosi says Netanyahu speech to Congress could hurt Iran talks -- Reuters
Pelosi warns Netanyahu: Speech to Congress will hurt Iran talks -- The Hill
Obama Won't Meet with Netanyahu During Visit to Congress -- VOA
Obama: Netanyahu's visit too close to election for meeting -- CNN
‘No love lost between Obama & Netanyahu’ -- RT
Obama’s Israel Problem -- William Kristol, Weekly Standard
White House unhinged over Netanyahu speech -- Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post

Israeli Anger Over White House 'Mossad' Leak Continues

Barack Obama with Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office. Photo: Pete Souza.

Arutz Sheva: Fury in Israel Over Obama's Mossad 'Lies'

Senior Israeli says 'friends don't act like this' after Mossad Head denies US claim that he opposed Iran sanctions in talk with senators.

Previous Posts

(1) Israeli Mossad Report: New Iran Sanctions Bill In The U.S. Congress Will End Nuclear Negotiations With Iran
(2) Is The White House Reponsible For Leaking Mossad Report That New US Congressional Sanctions On Iran Will End Nuclear Talks

WNU Editor: The authors of the original report that caused this dispute are still sticking with their story (see the update at the bottom of their report) .... Israeli Mossad Goes Rogue, Warns U.S. on Iran Sanctions (Josh Rogin & Eli Lake, Bloomberg).

Senior White House Official Calls Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 'Chickenshit'

The Crisis In U.S.-Israel Relations Is Officially Here -- Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic

The Obama administration's anger is "red-hot" over Israel's settlement policies, and the Netanyahu government openly expresses contempt for Obama's understanding of the Middle East. Profound changes in the relationship may be coming.

The other day I was talking to a senior Obama administration official about the foreign leader who seems to frustrate the White House and the State Department the most. “The thing about Bibi is, he’s a chickenshit,” this official said, referring to the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, by his nickname.

This comment is representative of the gloves-off manner in which American and Israeli officials now talk about each other behind closed doors, and is yet another sign that relations between the Obama and Netanyahu governments have moved toward a full-blown crisis. The relationship between these two administrations— dual guarantors of the putatively “unbreakable” bond between the U.S. and Israel—is now the worst it's ever been, and it stands to get significantly worse after the November midterm elections. By next year, the Obama administration may actually withdraw diplomatic cover for Israel at the United Nations, but even before that, both sides are expecting a showdown over Iran, should an agreement be reached about the future of its nuclear program.

Read more ....

More News On A Senior White House Official Calling Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 'Chickenshit' And ‘Aspergery'

Binyamin Netanyahu 'chickenshit', say US officials in explosive interview -- The Guardian
Report: Senior administration officials call Israel’s Netanyahu ‘chickens–t’ and ‘Aspergery’ -- Washington Post
White House tries to ease flare-up over Netanyahu insults -- FOX News
White House to Haaretz: 'Chickenshit' jibe against Netanyahu inappropriate, counterproductive -- Haaretz
White House rejects insults of Netanyahu -- USA Today
U.S. Denies Crisis With Israel After Reported Netanyahu Insult -- NBC
Israel's Netanyahu fumes at reported U.S. slur -- Reuters
Israeli Leader Lashes Back at Harsh US Criticism -- AP
Netanyahu Responds to U.S. Official: I Am Not a 'Chickensh—t' -- Bloomberg
Netanyahu Responds To ‘Chickens***’ Comment: ‘I Am Being Attacked Because I Am Willing To Defend The State Of Israel’ -- CBS News
Israel PM vows no concessions after US criticism -- AFP
US official calls Netanyahu "chickenshit"; Israeli lawmaker calls US a third world country -- VOX News
Why are U.S. officials trash-talking Netanyahu? -- Daniel W. Drezner, Washington Post
Some background to the “Chickenshit” controversy -- David Bernstein, Washington Post
The ‘Chickenshitgate’ Fallout for America, Israel, and the Middle East -- Ben Cohen, Algemeiner

Israel Defense Chief Request To Meet Top U.S. Officials Denied By The White House

US Reportedly Denies Ya’alon Request To Meet With Kerry, Biden -- Times of Israel

Meeting with Hagel allowed to go ahead so as not to harm defense ties, US officials quoted saying

A request by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon to meet with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Adviser Susan Rice during his visit to Washington this week was denied by the Obama administration, according to US officials quoted in the Hebrew media.

According to a report in Ynet, the officials said the administration was settling scores with Ya’alon for statements he made in January in which he called Kerry “obsessive” and “messianic” about Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which came to an abrupt halt in April. Ya’alon also privately derided Kerry’s security proposals for an Israeli pullout from the West Bank.

Read more ....

More News On Israel Defense Chief Request To Meet Top U.S. Officials Denied By The White House

US officials: Israel defense chief denied meetings -- AP
Ya'alon Refused Meetings with Biden and Kerry -- Arutz Sheva
White House gives Israel defense minister the cold shoulder -- Al Arabiya
Ya'alon snub 'should come as no surprise,' US official says -- Jerusalem Post

My Comment: US Secretary of State John Kerry had someone more important to meet .... Kerry Meets With Elton John After Reportedly Refusing To Meet With Israeli Defense Minister (FOX News/Times of Israel).

Blowback From The White House's Decision To Halt A Missile Transfer To Israel Over Gaza Continues

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel hold a joint press availability in the Oval Office July 6, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Obama Deserts An Ally In Wartime -- New York Post editorial

What kind of ally refuses to send you desperately needed weapons when you’re smack in the middle of a war?

Apparently, that’s what the Obama folks did with Israel, which is caught up fighting with Hamas. It’s unforgivable.

The decision came, it seems, after White House officials learned that, unbeknownst to them, Israel had gotten mortar shells and grenade-illuminating rounds from the Pentagon to use against Hamas, as The Wall Street Journal reported last week.

Officials say they were “blindsided” by the transfer. But it turns out that it was done as a matter of routine: No OK by the president or secretary of state was needed.

Read more ....

My Comment: The White House may feel that it is doing nothing wrong with these actions .... but fellow Democrats are now getting worried on what will be the political costs in the upcoming November mid-term elections.