Israel Matzav: Netanyahu's strange meeting with Obama

Netanyahu's strange meeting with Obama

President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu met on Monday night in what has to be one of the more bizarre meetings between an American President and an Israeli Prime Minister of recent memory. Obama did not agree to the meeting until Sunday night, even though he knew that Netanyahu would be in Washington for the UJA General Assembly. But that was just the start of the strangeness.

A White House statement after the one-hour, 40-minute session framed the meeting in only general terms, saying the two leaders discussed "how to move forward on Middle East peace" and also spoke about Iran and security issues.

A spokesman for Netanyahu declined to comment on the talks and a briefing the prime minister intended to hold on Tuesday for reporters who accompanied him to Washington was canceled.

The meeting was also attended by National Security Adviser Retired Gen. Jim Jones, White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, special US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell and Director for Near Eastern Affairs at the National Security Council Dan Shapiro.

On the Israeli side, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, National Security Council head Uzi Arad, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren and Prime Minister's Office adviser Yitzhak Molcho joined Netanyahu.

Let's start with this: What the heck was Rahm Emanuel doing there in a room full of diplomats? If you've ever sat in a business meeting with Israelis and Americans, the answer is obvious: He was available to translate for Obama so that the Israelis could not speak among themselves in Hebrew and keep their discussions private from Obama.

Why no statement? Well, there actually was a statement on Tuesday morning as Netanyahu was leaving Washington: He said that the meeting with Obama was 'warm.' Rahm Emanuel has confirmed that and has claimed that the 'peace process' was discussed. So I ask again: Why no statement? And why were the reporters kept out of the oval office - not even a photo op? And why did Netanyahu arrive after dark? So he could steal into the White House? So that the 'Palestinians' wouldn't find out?

My guess is that neither the White House nor the Prime Minister's office is telling the truth about this meeting. This meeting wasn't about the 'peace process.' This meeting was about Iran. Both Netanyahu and Obama want the media to think that they were discussing the 'peace process.' They weren't.

It's November 10. Obama gave Iran until the end of September to reach a deal with the West over its nuclear program, and he then extended the deadline to the end of the year. That's 51 days from now. Netanyahu is not going to sit tight and see that deadline extended again. And he needs the answer to one simple question from Obama: Are you with us or against us? Did Netanyahu get the answer he sought? We'll find out in early January.

Israel Matzav: Netanyahu's strange meeting with Obama