Then, as bad feeling bubbled between the allies, the Israeli Haaretz newspaper quoted an unnamed Israeli official as saying Netanyahu had even offered to come to Washington for talks.
The Israeli leader angered Obama aides, who have seen Republicans accuse the president of throwing Israel “under the bus,” when he publicly criticized Washington’s refusal to set “red lines” for action on Iran’s nuclear program.
“The world tells Israel: Wait, there’s still time. And I say: wait for what? Wait until when?” Netanyahu said in English on Tuesday, in comments clearly aimed directly at the White House.
“Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don’t have a moral right to place a red light before Israel,” he said.
Publicly, the White House said the lack of talks in New York was purely a matter of scheduling.
“They’re simply not in the city at the same time,” National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor said.
Obama arrives on Monday, September 24 and leaves the next day while Netanyahu is not due in New York until later in the week, Vietor said, adding that the Israeli leader would meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
The dispute came amid fervent speculation that Netanyahu could order a unilateral strike on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program – an action Washington believes would be premature.
The White House says there is still time for diplomacy and sanctions to change Iranian behaviour, though it warns Obama is ultimately prepared to use force to stop the Islamic Republic getting a nuclear weapon.
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