Obama Walks Out on BiBi

How uncomfortable were things between President Barack Obama and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he visited Washington this week? “It was awful,” says one U.S. congressman who spoke with Netanyahu. An Israeli paper called it “a hazing in stages.” Apparently, frustrated by Netanyahu’s refusal to write down a promise of concessions, Obama walked out of their meeting (although he invited Netanyahu to stay at the White House). The Israeli was so distrustful that it refused to talk on White House phones, for fear of eavesdropping. Netanyahu left Washington Thursday night with no official photos, no presidential dinner, and no official statement from either side.