According to a Channel 2 News report on Sunday 14 Iyar, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu following his election success refused a requested visit by US Secretary of State John Kerry. Channel 2 reported that Kerry wanted to come shortly after elections, but Mr. Netanyahu suggested that he wait until the new coalition government is formed.

There has been no official statement to the media from the Prime Minister’s Office following the story, which comes amid rising tensions between Jerusalem and Washington DC as second-term US President Barak Obama seems to have placed Israel lower on his priority list that his predecessors.

In the meantime, Mr. Netanyahu and his ministers continue to speak out and warn against Obama’s agreement with Iran regarding Tehran’s nuclear program, adding to the friction between Israel and the US president.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)