Netanyahu Has Had Better Days
Gilbert N. Kahn is a professor of Political Science at Kean University.
Prime Minister Netanyahu had a really bad day. It seems that his best friend in Washington and the Trump Administration “dissed” Bibi multiple times in one day. This came two days after an Israeli F-16 was shot down and crashed into Northern Israel after participating in a raid into Syria against Iranian and Syrian forces. Bibi probably had expected sweetness and light from the Trump White House but instead it appeared that he got ice and vinegar.
First, it was confirmed that U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson would not be including a stop in Israel on his whirlwind Middle East tour. As he makes the rounds of many of the countries surrounding Israel—Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Kuwait—like President Obama in 2007, Tillerson will not be stopping in Israel; despite the mounting tensions between Israel and Syria and Iran in the North as well as Hezbollah.
In addition, the White House today denied the Israeli announcement that it had been discussing Israeli annexation of the West Bank with the Netanyahu Government. Whether this was a diplomatic denial or an actual fact did not matter. Bibi was still left with egg on his face for having made a public statement about such a possible discussion have occurred with clearing it first with Washington.
To top the day office for Netanyahu, it was revealed this evening by Russian news services that Trump and Putin had spoken during the day about Israeli settlements and the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. This followed Putin’s own conversation with Netanyahu reportedly telling him to step it down after Saturday’s raid on Syria.
The only event missing from Netanyahu’s Monday was receipt of one of the numerous indictments he is surely expecting.
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