Washington — The U.S. State Department did not summon Israel’s ambassador for a special meeting on building in Jerusalem, Israeli officials said.
The officials told JTA that Michael Oren’s meeting last week was a routine “getting to know you” meeting for the new ambassador. They also said that the U.S. officials did raise U.S. objections to a project now under way in eastern Jerusalem.
News reports have described Oren as having been “summoned” to the meeting to discuss the building in the Palestinian Sheik Jarrah neighborhood.
On Monday, Oren formally presented his credentials to President Obama.
“Ambassador Oren thanked President Obama for his friendship and support for the State of Israel, and expressed optimism that the strong ties between Israel and the United States can be further strengthened,” an Israeli Embassy statement said.
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Of course what would you accept from any US President but to make a pro forma expresion of blanket support for Israel! Mr Obama now hardly mentions his original demand that Israel hal any more Arab land grab. With Netayanhu and Ehud Barak in charge of Israel more land grab will continue and so will free flow of US Dolars and arms.All paid by sleepy US voters. The US Congress has been rightly called an Israeli occupied site!
It is wonderful to see Mr Obama making a 360 degree turn around on his original demand that Israel must stop more settlement building. He should in fact increase US Aid to help those brave Jews who are srealing more Arab lands. US Congress will back any sucb move.