MK Herzog: Deep hostility to Bibi in US

Labor Party Knesset member visiting US says Netanyahu slammed by top Democrats for leaving behind 'scorched earth'; PM's style insulted President Obama and his people, MK Herzog says

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 06.16.11 , 22:18

Senior Democratic Party officials closely associated with US President Barack Obama slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his conduct during his recent trip to Washington, Labor Party Knesset Member Isaac Herzog said Thursday.

Herzog, who is currently in the US, says that officials he spoke with told him that the PM left "scorched earth" behind him.

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"The prime minister's statement following the Obama speech distorted reality and ignored the president's words," Herzog said. "Netanyahu's lecture at the White House was good in political terms, yet the style insulted the president and his people."

Netanyahu arrived in Washington a day after Obama delivered his Mideast policy speech, where he urged Israel and the Palestinians to engage in talks on the basis of the 1967 borders, with agreed swaps. The prime minister made it clear that Israel will not be withdrawing to the 1967 lines.

'Defeatist approach'

Herzog, who met with Administration officials, politicians, State Department and Pentagon figures, and the heads of Washington research institutes, told Ynet: "I'm discovering here a very disturbing picture in respect to Israel-US ties. The situation at this time is such that Administration officials don't want to hear of Netanyahu and speak about him with genuine hostility."

Herzog also slammed Netanyahu over the PM's conduct vis-à-vis the Palestinian intention to seek statehood at the UN.

"Netanyahu's attempt to enlist a minority for Israel's cause constitutes a defeatist approach," he said, referring to Bibi's declared intention to prompt 30 US members to oppose the initiative.

"This doesn't serve Israel's interests," MK Herzog said. "Israel must openly recognize a Palestinian state and assert that the border issue will be determined via negotiations, which must start at this time already."