Obama plays down rift with Israeli PM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been whipping up support among members of a powerful pro-Israel lobby in America, ahead of his controversial address in Congress .

Speculation has it, Netanyahu will attack the Obama administration for alleged weakness in dealing with Iran and its nuclear programme.

“Never has so much been written about a speech that hasn’t been given,” joked the Israeli leader to members of AIPAC

Although refusing to see the Israeli prime minister on this current visit, President Barack Obama has tried played down the apparent public rift. In a televised interview he explained:

“The only reason that we didn’t meet with him this time as a general policy is we don’t meet with somebody two weeks before an election. I’ve met with Prime Minister Netanyahu more than any other world leader and given the strong relationship between the United States and Israel, I would expect that to continue.”