Israel: U.S. Did Not ‘Summon’ Oren

By JTA July 20, 2009

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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