The last time Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House, in March, it was shortly after Israel symbolically bitch-slapped Joe Biden, and the Obama administration handled their meeting more coolly than an excessively air-conditioned LIRR train: no photos of the meeting, no readout, no briefing. But the White House felt a backlash for reacting so harshly to Israel, and is still in the process of convincing everyone that it hasn’t turned on the longtime American ally. So when Netanyahu stopped by the White House again today, things went drastically, conspicuously different.
For this visit, not only were photographers allowed to record the event for posterity, they and reporters were allowed to take pictures of the two leaders engaging in a hearty and prolonged handshake in the Oval Office where both men took questions from the small “pool” of reporters.
Okay, okay, we get it, Obama and Netanyahu are friends again. We’re surprised they didn’t have Obama stare at the car until it was out of sight, and then force a single tear of sadness down his cheek. Jeez. Michelle doesn’t even get it this good.
Bibi and Barack, Take Five: Direct Peace Talks ‘In the Coming Weeks’? [Political Punch/ABC News]
