Friday, November 13, 2009

Four days late, U.S. releases photo of Netanyahu-Obama private meeting in oval office private dining room



(HAaretz).The White House finally released on Thursday a photograph of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's meeting Monday with U.S. President Barack Obama, after speculation that the lack of a photo opportunity was an intentional slight by the administration.

Commentators have suggested that the White House wished to "humiliate" Netanyahu by not issuing an official photograph of the talks, in order to highlight dissatisfaction over the premier's unwillingness to make further concessions on West Bank settlement construction.

The photograph shows the two leaders in conversation leaning over a table endowed with cookies, in the Oval Office private dining room.