Rep. Mike Rogers, the Michigan Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, says that his much-discussed meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem late last month did, in fact, devolve into an sharp confrontation between Netanyahu and the American ambassador to Israel, the former National Security Council official (and former Obama campaign Jewish liaison), Dan Shapiro.
Rogers told a Michigan radio interviewer earlier this week that he had not previously witnessed such a high-level confrontation, and he described Israeli leaders as being at “wits’ end” over what they see as President Obama’s unwillingness to provide them with his “red lines” in the effort to stop Iran’s nuclear program. He also said that neither the Israelis nor the Iranians believe that Obama would use force to stop the nuclear program. (UPDATE: Rogers said as well he believes the Israelis will “probably” bomb Iran if they don’t get clearer red lines from the U.S.)
Rogers description of the meeting directly contradicts repeated Administration assertions that there is “no daylight” on the Iran issue with the Israeli government. Shortly after the meeting took place, Israeli press reports appeared suggesting that Netanyahu and Shapiro had engaged in an argument, but Shapiro soon dismissed those reports, calling them “silly” and saying, “The published account of that meeting did not reflect what actually occurred in the meeting. The conversations were entirely friendly and professional.”
Rogers, speaking to WJR radio host Frank Beckmann, painted a very different picture. He said the meeting, originally scheduled to be a discussion of intelligence and technical issues between himself and the prime minister, spun out of control when Netanyahu began lambasting Shapiro over the Administration’s Iran policy. When Beckmann asked Rogers to describe the tenor of the meeting, he said: “Very tense. Some very sharp… exchanges and it was very, very clear the Israelis had lost their patience with the (Obama) Administration.” He went on, “There was no doubt. You could not walk out of that meeting and think that they had not lost their patience with this Administration.”
When asked by Beckmann at what he believes the Israelis willl say “enough is enough,” Rogers answered: “Certainly when you walk out of that meeting you get the feeling that they are finally at wits’ end, and that’s what concerned me about the meeting.”
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5 Responses
I thought, after Mr. Shapiro put on a yarlmuka, walked in to the Mirrer Yeshiva, faked some learning for the camera, shook some hands, everything was going to be peachy keen?! I thought 0bama’s support for Israel was “unshakeable”? Lol! He’s just “following orders” from Hussain, the great lover of Jews & Israel!
American Jews voting for Obama in November will have to give a lot of din v’cheshbon for it. Obama, never a friend of Jews and Israel, now openly abandoned Israel. May Hashem protect Israel and punish her enemies!
When will American Jews realize that Ayatollah Obummer and his henchmen are not true, real, or lasting friends of Israel. All they do is use the State of Israel to benefit their own political gains. As an Israeli American I applaude Bibi for his stance with regard to the American government’s attempt to twist the arm of Israel to suit themselves.
There comes a time when everyone has to say ad kan and no more. Whether on a personal level, political level or a national level. American administrations have always pushed Israel to be accommodating but have also been supportive publicly and privately. This is the first administration which publicly disrespected the Israeli representatives inparticularly and the nation as a whole. This adminisration has shown a lack of support and the least amount of support from all previous administrations.
Let us never forget how this president in his very earliest months in his new position went to visit Egypt and apologized to his Muslim and Arab friends for all former administrations poor treatment of them! POOR TREATMENT. When did that happen? For that matter is he an American or not? What right did he have to even criticize former administrations outside his own country??????
There is no doubt here that Israel can neither rely on the Obama administration nor trust him!
Just remember the old expression “G-d helps those who help themselves”. Israel must never ever depend on someone other then Hashem and the IDF. Remember that “great” democrat Roosevelt who threw the Jews under the bus by his many actions in refusing to bomb the camps and refusing entry to our refugees.