Haaretz: President Obama warns Israeli PM Netanyahu: Don't surprise me with Iran strike

[ClarkUSA]

U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding that Israel not surprise the U.S. with an Israeli military operation against Iran. The message was conveyed by a senior American official who met in Israel with Netanyahu, ministers and other senior officials... The message from the American envoy to the prime minister reveals U.S. concern that Israel could lose patience and act against Iran. It is important to the Americans that they not be caught off guard and find themselves facing facts on the ground at the last minute.

Obama did not wait for his White House meeting with Netanyahu, scheduled for next Monday, to deliver his message, but rather sent it ahead of time with his envoy.

It may be assumed that Obama is disturbed by the positions Netanyahu expressed before his election vis-a-vis Tehran - for example, Netanyahu's statement that "If elected I pledge that Iran will not attain nuclear arms, and that includes whatever is necessary for this statement to be carried out." After taking office, on Holocaust Memorial Day Netanyahu said: "We will not allow Holocaust-deniers to carry out another holocaust."

Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak do not oppose American dialogue with Tehran, but they believe it should be conducted within a limited window of time, making it clear to Iran that if it does not stop its nuclear program, severe sanctions will be imposed and other alternatives will be considered.

[Clio the Leo]

1. go get 'em BOSS! NT

[Jennicut]

2. Netanyahu is a nut. I pray Obama is as hard on him as possible.

[belpejic]

3. I met Bibi once

He gave a talk and then mingled. He's actually a really nice, intelligent, and somewhat forward looking guy. He's very comfortable in America; he has two degrees from MIT. He just happens to have tied his wagon to the right wing lunatic fringe of Israeli politics. I like Obama's approach with him. We have the leverage, and we should use it. But we should never forget that Israel has a legitimate right to exist in peace. I just wish that Bibi wasn't one of the nuts.

[rvablue]

4. K&R!! n/t