Romney: Obama snubbed Israeli prime minister

AP Photo/Charles Dharapak

(CBS News) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Moments after reiterating his criticism of the Obama administration for its handling of the diplomatic crisis unfolding in Libya and Egypt, Mitt Romney attacked the president on another foreign policy front, telling supporters at his campaign office in Florida that he couldn't "imagine ever saying, 'No,'" to a request for a meeting with the Israeli prime minister.

The comment came a day after the Israeli news media reported that President Obama could not find time in his schedule to meet with Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israeli prime minister travels to the United Nations in New York City later this month.

"I can't ever imagine, if the prime minister of Israel asked to meet with me, I can't imagine ever saying, 'No,'" Romney said while shaking hands with supporters. "They're our friends, they're our closest allies in the Middle East."

Trying to temper a potential controversy, Mr. Obama called Netanyahu Tuesday evening and the two spoke for over an hour, according to the White House.

White House looks to downplay U.S., Israel spat
Romney doubles down on criticism of White House's response to Egypt, Libya attacks

"President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu reaffirmed that they are united in their determination to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and agreed to continue their close consultations going forward," the White House said in a statement after the phone call.

The statement also disputed the assertion that the president had refused to meet with Netanyahu, saying that although a meeting in New York could not be arranged, there was "never a request for Prime Minister Netanyahu to meet with President Obama in Washington, nor was a request for a meeting ever denied."

Romney has frequently criticized the Obama administration's relations with Israel on the campaign trail, recently saying that the president has "thrown Israel under the bus."

[carolo43]

Maybe Romney has time to drop everything and change his entire schedule during a world crisis, but Obama does not. It has already been reported that Netanyahu did NOT even request a meeting with Obama. Romney has already ticked off a businessman in Iowa, insulted China, insulted Russia and insulted the Brits.

The problem with Netanyahu is that he wants the US to go over to Iran and bomb the heck out of them preventing his problems. We aren't doing that for the same reasons we didn't when Clinton was in office or Bush. Netanyahu would like to push Obama around and since he can not, is now sticking his nose into our elections He is the one causing friction thinking he can bully Obama to do his bidding.

[Aerostar700]

The REAL REASON Obama Won't Meet With the Israeli Prime Minister - ISRAEL JUST DISCOVERED THAT OBAMA RECENTLY DOUBLE CROSSED ISRAEL - STABBED HER IN THE BACK - The Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot published a startling report Monday detailing a message it says was conveyed by the Obama administration - via two European countries - to Iranian officials. The message: "If Israel decides to strike Iranian nuclear facilities, the U.S. will not support it and the Islamic Republic should refrain from retaliating on U.S. military installations in the Persian Gulf".

The report came from the well-connected diplomatic correspondent Shimon Schiffer The secret contacts with the Iranians combined with a public statement last week by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey that he won't be "complicit" in an Israeli attack is being interpreted in Israel as a message from the U.S. that the Jewish state is on its own in stopping Iran from obtaining a doomsday weapon with which to threaten the very existence of Israel.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/paper-details-obama-admins-alleged-secret-note-sent-to-iran-if-israel-attacks-we-wont-get-involved/

Today's snub of a US - Israel meeting falls right in line with Obama's earlier message to the Iranians. After the Israeli newspaper broke the story, Obama is desperate to keep it under wraps.

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[RollotheNorman]

Go tell it to the Neocons.

[GOPFailure]

More CONservative trash, WOW, real cred the Blaze! Wonder if we start SNOPES.com these GOP lies!

[RollotheNorman]

"Mitt Romney attacked the president on another foreign policy front, telling supporters at his campaign office in Florida that he couldn't "imagine ever saying, 'No,'" to a request for a meeting with the Israeli prime minister."

LOL, I could. We have this minor client state in the Mid East, that exists largely because of American suffrage and yet has a PM that presumes to publicly lecture and chide the POTUS. In disrespecting the POTUS, he disrespects us all. Moreover, Netanyahu seems to think the United States, which has a 2.1% of the population ethnic Jewish makeup, should do tricks every time he snaps his fingers. The tail is trying to wag the dog.

[GOPFailure]

We can't make ties to PM Netanyahu to the GOP WARMONGERS, can we..SMELLS like GOP fire starters to me...War Criminals? More to these upheavals in Mid East than meets the eyes,try GOP connections-mercenaries don't want to lose from cuts!

[carolo43]

A meeting with Mitt the twitt is like a meeting with Sarah Palin.

[ronjula-2012]

funny israels Benjamin Netanyahu was in Washington trying to see the President, and this suddenly happen, i'd be willing to bet this guy secret police was behind these attacks, which just so happened at th same time. Benjamin Netanyahu is a cobra, in sheeps clothing. beware of this man, he's not to be trusted.

[ronjula-2012]

israel? they are the ones who do not have any faith(judahs), they threw stones at Christ, and now they want the United States to back them in war. My question is why, they have everything they need to start and stop a war they intend to start, after all didn't they buy it from The U.S.? and they also have nuclear weapons. so why is it such a hurry to talk with The President

[wayneonly]

Some of the posts are very anti-Israel. Let me state this. America should support Israel as our staunches ally in the Middle East. And President Obama has countless times stated that HE and America supports Israel as all American citizens should. With that said, he (President Obama) is urging patience and restraint to the Israeli Prime Minister and the Israeli people. Romney is rattling the SABER for HIS own political gain. Now is NOT the time to GO TO WAR. Now is a time for trying to let the sanctions and the diplomatic negotiations work. War should be the LAST resort.

Were Romney President, he would probably meet with the Israeli Prime Minister and agree to go to war with Israel without congressional approval and against the will of the American people. Either thousands of American military would lose their lives and billions of dollars be spent, OR given Romney's propensity to flip-flop, he would betray Israel by not backing his promises. Either way, HIS foreign policies would have failed the American people AND our ally Israel. What he says one day is not what he follows the next day. Is this the kind of President we want?

[cubscout09]

Interesting that Netanyahu and Romney get millions of dollars in political support from Sheldon Adelson. Mere coincidence?

[Maerzie]

This proves that the debates, on October 3rd, 11th, 16th, and the 22nd will be more revealing than EVER! I can't wait! They will be hilarious because, apparently, Romney has no clue about his own limitations!

[Maerzie]

Hasn't Mitt learned YET that his amateur diddling, without any intelligence briefing, just makes him look more and more like a fool, showing more of his poor judgment?? You would THINK that all his idiotic gaffes, on his pre-emptive overseas trip, MIGHT have taught him or his advisers a "little"! Yet, the whole campaign kkeps up with its HATE, its lies, and its ignorant foolishness , like this! Or, can't he AFFORD an adviser??

[gouldbj]

Sorry Net and Yahoo we are not taking part in your paranoid war. If mitt gets his mitts on the USA you will get your way...otherwise get lost.