Miffed at Obama over Iran, Netanyahu cozies up to France's Hollande (+video)

[Jesus Malverde]

Much as a jilted friend demonstrates his pique by publicly cultivating new relationships, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is showcasing his fury with President Obama and his policy on Iran by embracing French President – and Iran hardliner – Francois Hollande.

When Mr. Netanyahu declared to Mr. Hollande Sunday at the outset of the French leader’s three-day visit to Israel that “Your support and your friendship is real, it’s sincere,” the words sounded as much like a message to Washington about the Israeli leader’s deep distrust of Mr. Obama’s pursuit of a diplomatic breakthrough with Iran as anything else.

But just in case the message wasn’t clear enough, Netanyahu added in his heaping of praise on Hollande that “You were one out of six” to stand firm last week against the conclusion of an interim deal with Iran over its nuclear program that Netanyahu said would have been “good for Iran” but “really bad for the rest of the world.”

The “six” Netanyahu was referring to are the half-dozen powers negotiating with Iran to curb its nuclear program and halt its march toward an ability to build a nuclear weapon – and of course includes the US. Thus in Netanyahu’s view the US was one five powers that were ready to sign a “really bad” deal with Iran.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/2013/1118/Miffed-at-Obama-over-Iran-Netanyahu-cozies-up-to-France-s-Hollande-video

[Drunken Irishman]

1. Fuck Bibi and fuck Hollande.

[Cali_Democrat]

6. ^^THIS^^

[Jesus Malverde]

2. Livni: Netanyahu should remember US, not France, is main ally

Justice minister blasts PM for welcoming French president Hollande warmly while sparring with administration in Washington.

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni criticized Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday for welcoming French President François Hollande so warmly while sparring with the administration in Washington.

Speaking to her faction in the Knesset, Livni said Israel appreciated Paris’s determined stand in negotiations with Tehran but hinted this cannot be allowed to be interpreted as coming at the expense of the United States.

“France’s stance came from their knowledge that a nuclear Iran is dangerous not only to Israel but to France and the world,” she said. “But we cannot forget that our strategic alliance is with the US, and even when there are disagreements, Israel must maintain that alliance.”

Livni noted that having the US as its primary ally has enabled Israel to maintain its military superiority in the region. She said advancing diplomatic talks with the Palestinians would also contribute to Israel’s security.

http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Livni-Netanyahu-should-remember-US-not-France-is-main-ally-332209

[bluestate10]

3. I am disappointed with Hollande. He came to office with so much promise.

To get bamboozled by Bibi will be a new low for Hollande.

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Kerry rebuffs Netanyahu: Nothing the U.S. is doing on Iran will put Israel at risk

U.S. Secretary of State postpones visit to Israel to avert brush with Netanyahu during P5+1 talks with Iran in Geneva, sources say.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will not come to Israel Friday, despite statements made to this effect by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the government meeting Sunday.

A senior Israeli official said Kerry told Israel Monday that he is postponing his visit, saying that he will only arrive after the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. The reason behind the postponement was unclear.

Senior American officials said that despite what Netanyahu had said, the date of Kerry's visit had yet to be finalized. Senior Israeli officials told Haaretz that they believed the reason behind the decision was his desire to focus on the negotiations with Iran, which will resume in Geneva on Wednesday, and to avoid getting into another confrontation with Netayahu during the talks.

At a press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu Monday, Kerry said he had great respect for Netanyahu and his concerns regarding a potential deal between world powers and Iran concerning the latter's nuclear program. But Kerry maintained that instead of making Israel less safe, an accord with Iran would actually reduce the country's risk.

"I have great respect for his concerns about his country," Kerry said. "The prime minister should express his concerns and he has every right in the world to publicly state his position and defend what he believes is his interest."

He stressed that the United States is deeply committed to Israel's security and sought to reassure Netanyahu, ordinary Israelis and pro-Israel members of Congress who are opposed to the proposed agreement.

"Nothing that we are doing here, in my judgment, will put Israel at any additional risk," Kerry said. "In fact, let me make this clear, we believe it reduces risk."

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.558873

[Jesus Malverde]

5. Earlier: Conciliatory Netanyahu announces Friday visit by Kerry

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will be arriving in Israel on Friday to discuss the international talks on Iran’s nuclear program and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced at the weekly cabinet meeting yesterday. Kerry’s visit to Israel will coincide with the next round of talks in Geneva between Iran and six world powers, which will resume Wednesday. Kerry will be on standby to fly to Geneva to sign an agreement with Iran if a deal is reached while he is in Israel, said Israeli government officials.

Kerry is expected to meet with Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, the officials said, amid high levels of U.S.-Israel tension over whether to move forward with the Iran deal, which Netanyahu opposes.

Yesterday, though, the prime minister made conciliatory comments.

“John Kerry is an old friend of mine as well as a friend of Israel,” Netanyahu told the cabinet. “He is making an effort to move forward on peace between us and the Palestinians, and I will also discuss the Iranian issue with him. I would like to make it clear that there can be differences of opinion even between the best of friends – certainly on matters related to our future and our fate.”

Netanyahu said he held out hope for a better deal that would reduce the risk of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

“It is the obligation of the Israeli government to defend the interests that are crucial to us, and that is what we are doing in the face of an agreement that is a bad deal,” he said. “I hope we will succeed this week in convincing our friends to reach a better deal. Iran is under financial pressure, and increasing and intensifying this pressure could lead to the better result of a peaceable diplomatic solution.”

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.558663

[Jesus Malverde]

7. Olmert mocks Netanyahu, backs Obama over Iran nuclear talks

Former PM says Israel's "rhetoric of war and confrontation" was unwise, gov't erred ignoring Rouhani's talk of peace.

Former prime minister Ehud Olmert derided his successor, Binyamin Netanyahu, for butting heads with President Barack Obama over the Iranian nuclear standoff.

According to Israel Radio, Olmert told college students in New Hampshire that the Israeli government's "rhetoric of war and confrontation" was unwise, and that it erred in ignoring "the Iranian president's talk of peace with Western countries."

Olmert said he wholeheartedly supported Obama's efforts to test Iran's seriousness in reaching a resolution regarding its nuclear program.

"If Iran is serious, why not end this whole affair with an agreement instead of by force?" Olmert said. "Perhaps we will reach the conclusion that nothing else worked, but we owe it to ourselves to check."

http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Olmert-mocks-Netanyahu-backs-Obama-over-Iran-nuclear-talks-331991

[scheming daemons]

8. if Bibi is miffed at us, we are doing something right