Market WatchThe publishing of an alleged transcript between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu raised eyebrows and provoked debate on Tuesday, at a time when relations between the U.S. and Israel are said to hit a low over the latter’s deadly ground invasion of Gaza. Read Wall Street Journal article (subscription required) on why tensions are climbing.
It’s not unusual for either side to publish what’s called a “readout” — basically, a diplomatic summary of the conversation — and the readout from the White House side of a Sunday call between the two leaders wasn’t effusive. “Building on Secretary Kerry’s efforts, the President made clear the strategic imperative of instituting an immediate, unconditional humanitarian ceasefire that ends hostilities now and leads to a permanent cessation of hostilities based on the November 2012 ceasefire agreement. The President reaffirmed the United States’ support for Egypt’s initiative, as well as regional and international coordination to end hostilities,” the White House call said.
Yes, but what did they really say? Israel’s Channel One has published a transcript, in Hebrew, and The Times of Israel has translated it into English.
Barack Obama: I demand that Israel agrees to an immediate, unilateral ceasefire and halt all offensive activities, in particular airstrikes.
Benjamin Netanyahu: And what will Israel receive in exchange for a ceasefire?
BO: I believe that Hamas will cease its rocket fire — silence will be met with silence.
BN: Hamas broke all five previous ceasefires. It’s a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel.
BO: I repeat and expect Israel to stop all its military activities unilaterally. The pictures of destruction in Gaza distance the world from Israel’s position.
BN: Kerry’s proposal was completely unrealistic and gives Hamas military and diplomatic advantages.
BO: Within a week of the end of Israel’s military activities, Qatar and Turkey will begin negotiations with Hamas based on the 2012 understandings, including Israel’s commitment to removing the siege and restrictions on Gaza.
BN: Qatar and Turkey are the biggest supporters of Hamas. It’s impossible to rely on them to be fair mediators.
BO: I trust Qatar and Turkey. Israel is not in the position that it can choose its mediators.
BN: I protest because Hamas can continue to launch rockets and use tunnels for terror attacks –
BO: (interrupting Netanyahu) The ball’s in Israel’s court, and it must end all its military activities.
Now, that can’t be taken as verbatim, though as expressions of opinions, the transcript seems on the mark.
The first notable element is the transcript itself — which got official reaction, and denial, from both sides.
“BN: Hamas broke all five previous ceasefires. It’s a terrorist organization dedicated to the destruction of Israel.”
You mean that same Hamas that was created and funded by you?
Be that as it may, every time those cease fires are broken, odds are MUCH higher that it was Mossad, NOT Hamas, that fired those rockets.