Four days late, U.S. releases photo of Netanyahu-Obama meet

You claim allies don't behave in the fashion of do what I say or the funds will be cut off. On the contrary. When an "ally" starts pursuing its own national interests and works against yours, that is the ONLY way to treat them.

Dear Col-- There's new things happening here in the USA that you might not be aware of--a new administration with diffeent approaches to solving this problem. The flap over a photograph is ridiculous. There was no need for buiness between the PM and the President during that week; and Netanyahu was coming to America for a conference speaking engagement. Israeli were like babies wanting the appointment then a picture. Dear Colenel, if the relationship doesn't change, America will change it because of the ground swell of action against Israel in America, and the old poitical grip that American Jewish community had on national politics is not what it used to be. There are changes in the air, and people are concerned about a meeting and photos.

Netanyahu was not eating.

Show me one thing 'worked' with the palestinians and I will tell you are right ! The palestinians are in tattered have no where to go except in silly dreams. unilateral declaration of a state is the latest of their illusions. a phase that will pass ! If that is what you are talking about yossi ; you didn't make yourself clear in your post 25 ! My advice, don't get very excited these days. No one knows wether he is coming or going these days. Obama is one of them. And the man who is really lost is abbas. I feel sorry for the old chap; his only mistake he came too.. too late !

As any cinema buff will recognize, the photo echoes Citzen Kane, when Mr. and Mrs. Kane are sitting at long ends of the same table. The cropping creates the effect, when the size of the table alone is insufficient.

Diplomats have been trying to solve the middle east problem diplomatically the same way for for 60 years. Did you ever hear that to keep doing something the same way and expecting different results is insane? The fact is the middle east problem is a LEGAL problem. The United Nations took property from Palestinian Arabs in order to create a safe haven for persecuted Jews and they never paid just compensation to the Palestinian Arabs for their losses. It`s no wonder that Arabs harbor resentment. I don`t want to hear that Arabs left voluntarily. I leave my property voluntarily all the time. In doing so my property rights are not relinquished or abandoned. You know what you get when you take someone`s property for no money? 60 years of war. The UN needs to set up a Middle East Compensation Commission where people, Jews too, who lost property due to Israel`s creation by the UN can come, present claims and get justly compensated in exchange for a release of claims.

The answer is simple, because Peace-Palestine will intensify the war between the Palestinians themselves as it did in Gaza. Declaring a Palestinian State will be the last of Palestine. It will be the curse that no Arab Country wants. Based on an illusion that can never sustain itself. A burden that no Arab country is ready to share. The world keep talking about 'viable' solution; about a country that has no 'viable' resources or 'viable' people ! If the world can't see that Palestine is only a childish illusion, the way it is described by the Palestinians both people & leaders; the world must be blind ! Declaring such a country will ends in an un-redressed regrets. Israel will survive & the others will lament !

Those who hate Israel are known; they will only declare themselves. They did more harm to the Palestinians; encouraging them on their illusions than any of the rest. No power can force Israel to do anything against its SECURITY. And its SECURITY is all that Israel always wanted. This will be the last expected 'intifatha' which is always in the cards. Its time has come ! So be it. The 'last intifatha' will be the last of Palestine for the simple reason because Palestine is an illusion ! Like all illusions its end in itself. Some countries might recognize a Palestinian State, but they will have no power to fight for it or the need to fight for it. Egypt & Jordan are included ! A chaos will be created (as always). The gape between Israel & the Palestinians will be widened. It will run for some time. But it will not be the dawn of Palestine. It will be just an illusion burst !

Now we know The USA accepts the illegetimate government of Iran,forgives the Taliban for murdering USA citizens ,and wanting to murder more as many as possible ,hugs North Korea,and bows down to the oil thugs of Saudi Arababia ,Yemen and Kuwait .To hell with the democratic ideals of the Founding fathers , Abraham Lincon and Martin Luther King are out ,Ahmadinajad in ,no 39 you are living in the wrong country and are out of touch with the millions of Americans who are fighting in Iraq ,and Afganistan to uphold democratic principles and freedom . Israel is a country ,that respects and admires democracy and that is why milliuons of Christian Americans love and admire Israel ,Obama and you are out of touch .

Israelis need a taste of their own medicine to come out of their moral slumber Israel started out as a pretty unpleasant terrorist state, with the Stern Gang and Begin bombing British Soldiers and treating Palestinians appealingly.

You are right, Joshua. I see exactly what you see. the only burden here is Israel, on us, the US tax payers. Israel is no real ally. Grow up

Notice, no beer and peanuts at the Oval office diner table. But is this long anticipated photo-app picture... still a teachable moment. Or is this simply two old chums kibitzing over cookies and hot milk. Hard to say... cause commentators would be speculating the 'world powers' have re-aligned... if only there were a mere vision of bagels and a cream-cheese shmear.

you are wrong. his policies are inconsistent and ill thought out. the u.s. deficit and weak dollar will cause inflation. how long do you think china will continue to buy u.s. debt? his inability to make a decision on afghanistan is criticised even in the very liberal "independent" of the uk. his most recent decision to hold civil trials for master terrorists is absolutely terrible. in general, he lacks the intuition needed for leadership.

i wonder if there's a significance to THIS photo being chosen for release? i got an inkling that it does...

Those who wrote these lines are childish: "Commentators have suggested that the Obama administration had wished to "humiliate" Netanyahu by not issuing an official photograph of the talks, in order to highlight dissatisfaction over the premier's unwillingness to make further concessions on West Bank settlement construction." This is the way that the giant United States, play with her allies? Enough of twisting arms to get what we want. This is our democratic teaching?

The fact that Sadam launched scuds at Israel proves to me that the Jewish state was correct to do its best to topple this leader, and that means asking friends for help. If the US felt it was not in our interests to invade Iraq, then they wouldn't have. Israel can squawk all it wants about Iran, but America will do what it sees best after weighing the risks.

"The wingnuts are totally clueless as to the dynamics of what it going on. No Israeli PM has been subjected to this type of treatment before, and it will get far worse." People who aren't complete idiots saw Obama back off of his position regarding the settlements. Speaking of totally clueless... BTW, how do you feel about the U.S. Senate's position?

Your post leaves the impression that the US considers the settlements legitimate. The US has never once considered them legitimate. Not even Bush at his most perverted thought that. He saw them as a fact on the ground that had to be dealt with. Even Bush talked about a viable and contiguous Palestinian state and the US has never recognized, not even under Bush, the annexations. If you want to keep some of the 67 conquest, trade for it 1:1 arable land and water. Make a real offer backed by maps of the land Israel is willing to trade from its pre-67 control. Of course, if you don't want 2-states for 2-peoples, prepare to welcome 5 million Palestinians as Israeli voters. The Roadmap is really quite clear. Freeze means no expansion in any manner, shape or form. None whatsoever.

Jason Israel blind sighted Bush when it kept whinnying that Iraq was threatening its existence and the rest is history. Now Israel is whinnying about Iran but hopefully Obama is smarter and will see the true agenda of Israel and that is to get some sucker to do its dirty work.... Israel is no friend

What has one thing got to do with the other? Until Iraq and Afghanistan are no longer an issue for Americans then can we tell Israel that continuing settlements will lead to further bloodshed and not to real peace?

What signal do you think that sends? We view this scene through the back of a dominating empty chair. Who do you suppose was Obama hoping to have sitting in that chair at the head of the table, dictating terms of surrender to Bibi?

How much money gets Israel from american workers,who are loosing jobs and houses? Are they using it for illegal settlements?

"Note the way this photo is cropped, the composition created has Bibi and Obama at the extreme left and right sides of the frame, exaggerating the gap between them," - Born in the USA Yes, that is quite an invalid representation. The photo should be cropped to show only Netanyahu as Obama has already wimped his way out of the real picture.

Freeze means zero construction, no new or bigger bathrooms or bedrooms or expansion of any kind whatsoever. And it means zero new buildings, incl East Jerusalem. I and the Palestinians would love to have them complete the responsibilities they have. The problem is that the IDF and Israeli politicians won't let them have more troops yet or expand the territory where they operate. The IDF actually creates safe havens for Palestinian criminals where Palestinian security is not allowed to follow. If the IDF allowed the PA Security to expand and gave them the freedom to operate everywhere the IDF operates, it would be a miracle. As is, it prevents to PA from doing what it promised. In Gaza, Israeli politicians oppose what will work, reconciliation. But insist that the PA do without troops and equipment what the IDF so far is incapable of. Catch 22 as Bush & Likud intended. The Palestinians don't trust you or us after more than a decade of duplicity. They have little reason to.

Your opportunities of grouping everyone who doesn't agree with you under your "wingnut" label grow thinner and thinner. Now you're looking for solace with Sullivan; the Israel-hater who regularly writes "jews are Christ-killer" pieces elsewhere. You have no idea what went on in the White House and your wishful thinking is the only thing about which "time's up".As for Goldstone in the Security Council; dream on. And, as for Abbas declaring independence; would that be from Hamas? Would it be for Gaza and the West Bank?

akram Abbas plan is working.

Obama looks directly at Netanyahu who averts his gaze and bows subserviently. Obama is clearly the Alpha male.

Now Obama is this the way to trat an ally and friend? The truth is Obama does not like Israel ,and sees the relationship as a burden .-Joshua I have news for you Joshua, Israel is not a friend and if you judge an ally by it being there with you in your fights, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Gulf war II show that Israel is not an ally. It never has been. We have had Muslim friends and allies in those conflicts. It is not a matter of whether Obama likes Israel or not. Obama is doing what is in Americas interests, not Israels. That is what he should do as an American President. And, yes Israel is a burden to America. It has cost 200 billion so far and still rising. Israel is a financial and political liability to America. Its 40 year occupation of the Palestinians, land expropriations, and removal of Palestinians from those lands make Israel a moral embarrassment and liability as well.

All, Obama is a pretty good President. We were on the brink of a Great Depression Sept 08, now we are in a serious recession but recovery is beginning. Obama is concerned about health care and energy. If he can get these two reforms passed, he will probably make his mark as a pretty good President. His foreign policy is another story. He is succeeding in getting out of Iraq leaving a relatively stable government. A win. He is dithering on applying the lessons of the surge to Afghanistan. We'll see. However, his Arab/Israeli approach is terrible. He listened to Gen Jones (throw Israel under the bus) approach hoping that Netanyahu would fall. This didn't work. He thought he would favor the Muslim world by declaring the freeze of 'settlement activity' to cover EJ would be a prelude to final status negotiations. This backfired. The Pals made it a pre-condition preventing negotiations. The Arabs rejected normalization gestures. Someone will blink.

Mark of Lewiston, What was Israel's promise in the Road Map? "Israel also freezes all settlement activity, consistent with the Mitchell report." Does this include EJ? Does this say 'no building whatsoever, including expanding a bathroom'? It doesn't say. This is a pretty vague requirement. The Palestinian promise "Palestinians declare an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism and undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest, disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning violent attacks on Israelis anywhere." Clearly, the Hamas occupied part of Palestine has not fulfilled this promise. Import of missiles capable of hitting Tel Aviv doesn't sound like it meets this promise. Hamas has repeated that it will never declare an end to violence against Israelis. Yes, I know Mark. How unfair it is to hold Palestinians to their promise too. Why not start negotiations without pre-conditions as was done under Olmert?

when the adopted child get ioo spoiled,the adoptive mother doesn't hesitate to give him the red eye

Note the way this photo is cropped, the composition created has Bibi and Obama at the extreme left and right sides of the frame, exaggerating the gap between them, quite the skilled visual metaphor. And the Bolsheviks in the white house wonder why Israelis have a low opinion of Obama? Count on three more years of getting screwed by this administration, Bibi needs to stay strong and pray for "Change" in 2012.

Obama/Netanyahu, Meeting for lunch. Netanyahu,"What's for lunch today ?" Obama,"curds & turds" ! Netanyahu,"I don't eat curds "!

every time a decision has to be made he runs out of town. Unemployment, ME crisis, Afghanistan, Iran, 911 terrorists, 789 billion deficit for October, whatever.......he runs. He's been doing this since January. You can bet he will be there for his Nobel, but not climate change conference. Health Insurance cos are now helping set up offshore hospitals in Costa Rica and other places. Obama is the worst President ever, worse then Carter.

Take a grip of yourself. Allies dont behave in this fashion, "either do what I say or the funds will be cut off". It does not work that way. First & foremost, Israel will not tolerate being blackmailed by the US. It will backfire, remember.

"Why is Israel incapable of keeping a promise to the United States?" - MoL It is not incapable, it never intended to keep them. "Why would the United States think it important for Israel to keep a public promise made?" - ibid It doesn't and never has. "Why might the people of Palestine consider this an issue for them?" - ibid Because any promises are not kept, and thus they must only accept an actual settlement halt. "This really is more important than who has a pimple showing and who might be dying her hair." - ibid No it isn't. There is no intent by Israel of allowing an Independent state of Palestine and America has no intent to make it. So all that matters if who's dying their hair, not who's lying.

...there are thousands of us working our little fingers off notifying every political honcho worth their weight in salt, time's up. The wingnuts are totally clueless as to the dynamics of what it going on. No Israeli PM has been subjected to this type of treatment before, and it will get far worse. A "leader: can only lie so much. Bibi cannot make peace with Syria, he's lying, the very second he commits in public that he will comply with UN resolutions and vacate the stolen Golan, his government will dissolve into a big rightwing puddle of violent screaming goo. No one believes Bibi, and no one wants to be seen with Avi, and Barak is hiding out from the Hague. Israel is adrift. A perfect time for Abbas to declare independence.

FOR obama's presidential campaign in 2012 ? i think hilary clinton will have better chance to run the democratic party because she has understood that it's not by pressuring israel that peace will come !ariel sharon who desengage from gaza during bush tenure had reach the conclusion that we should go from gaza what was the result of that ? decision have to be taken in jerusalem not in washingthon !actualy the interest of the us is not our in this story

is Pres and they re[resent the relationship between US's most loyal friend. It brings tears to ones eyes when Obama publicaly greets foreign tyrants day in and day out and insults the country that is its biggest friend...Did BIBI ask for demolition of Atlanta and return to the Cherokees their homelands? Guess what folks; the Israelis are the Cherokees, and want their homeland.

but the photograph couldn't have been much more tightly cropped and netanyahu remain in the picture. Doesn't exactly show him in a good light Obama there all smiles and Netanyahu all hunched up his hands grasping each other, looking like he is on the loo. If I was netanyahu I think I'd rather not have had the picture published.

bibi cannot deliver, he will be booted out the next by his settler buddies. maybe it is time for obama to give bibi the choice of annexation or declaration of unilateral independence from the pals. there could be blood shed from settlers taking matters into their own hands. i doubt that israel will want to reoccupy because they will be responsible for the welfare of the pals. of course the jewish settlers would be welcomed as citizens of palestine and would be an asset for a prosperous palestine. acceptance will take a while just like it took many years for the plo to be allowed to open offices in most western countries.

...as it does here in the 'States?

In fact, the table looks more a means of putting a barrier between the two leaders, the tea cups look to be plain as well... looks to have been at least two other places set at the table. Who else may have been at the "low profile" meeting? A "non meeting," a non afternoon tea as well by the looks of the table... perhaps the oval office was short on Kosher (food) for Mr Netanyahu.

That's really getting tough, Barack. Give 'em 'ell!

Obama mmets Netanyahu who enters the white house through a side door ,leaves through a back door and no photographs allowed . Now Obama is this the way to trat an ally and friend? The truth is Obama does not like Israel ,and sees the relationship as a burden .

Enough with the cookies already. Time for some action. Either Israel takes action now or funds will be witheld and the US will vote against it in the Security Council. They are currently talking at cross purposes and going in circles, just as netanyhu wants it since he is calling the shots.

... is it all because Abbas failed to bring Hamas on board (Cairo etc..) he is trying to put the blame on Bibi & the settlements ! Typical !

Time is relative. And if you are in any way related to Obama you will know that 4 days late is early for Obama, unless there is a liberal/socialist agenda.

Abbas is a goner! What next?

Netanyahu has met with Obama at least two or three times, already. I would speculate Obama has met more with Netanyahu than any other "head of state"(with the exception of France and Britian.) Bibi has Barack in a continuous loop..that goes no where.

A word used so frequently in Haaretz; except rarely backed up by and more proof than "commentators said". Must be hard not to be in the room but still think you know what happened and then go off and describe it. Takes talent.

Writing about US Israeli relations as if its about who's dating who and who is popular at the dance is nuts. It would be more productive to just say what happened and then start looking into the whys. Why is Israel incapable of keeping a promise to the United States? Why would the United States think it important for Israel to keep a public promise made? Why might the people of Palestine consider this an issue for them? This really is more important than who has a pimple showing and who might be dying her hair.

It is real easy to tell others what to do. It is another thing to show others how its done. Lets see Obama make an impact in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and hold Iran to account for its nuclear weapons program. After Obama has made some headway in at least one of these places, then the US can say "FOLLOW ME!" Until then, the US has no moral authority to put the screws to its friend Israel.

The relationship is going to change dramatically - Netanyahu will not get away wuth his humiliations and bragging

How petty to say that not having a phot-op was some kind of intentional slight....How about this, the US just suffered a terrorist murder of 13 and the President was more concerned with that than with Netanyahu.