WH, NSC denies Obama told Netanyahu to unilaterally cease action in Gaza
According to Israel’s Channel 1, Barack Obama ordered Benjamin Netanyahu to unilaterally cease all military action in Gaza. The administration, however, denies the conversation ever took place.
Transcript of the conversation translated from Hebrew as provided by the Times of Israel, is provided below:
Barack Obama: I demand that Israel agrees to an immediate, unilateral ceasefire and halt all offensive activities, in particular airstrikes.
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
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.
Shortly after the Times published that transcript, the White House said that if the conversation was leaked it would constitute a “severe violation of a private discussion,” according to BBC reporter Paul Danahar:
.@statedeptspox says if transcript of Obama talking to Netanyahu was leaked to Israeli TV is a "severe violation of a private discussion"
— Paul Danahar (@pdanahar) July 29, 2014
The White House, however, told The Daily Beast’s Eli Lake that the transcript is fake.
WH tells @EliLake the transcript is fake. NSC spox just told me the same thing: pic.twitter.com/uBOZW3n006
— Armin Rosen (@ArminRosen) July 29, 2014
The White House’s Ben Rhodes said the same thing:
This "transcript of POTUS-PM call" report is totally false
— Ben Rhodes -Archived (@rhodes44) July 29, 2014
The NSC also weighed in:
We have seen reports of an alleged POTUS-Netanyahu transcript; neither reports nor alleged transcript bear any resemblance to reality 1/2
— Obama NSC- Archived (@NSC44) July 29, 2014
Shocking and disappointing someone would sink to misrepresenting a pvt convo between POTUS and PM in fabrications to Israeli press 2/2
— Obama NSC- Archived (@NSC44) July 29, 2014
A number of people aren’t buying it, though:
@NSCPress @JeffreyGoldberg Leaking is something the White House is very good at you hypocrites !
— Just Norm (@1Kishka) July 29, 2014
https://twitter.com/cameronerickson/status/494203831853789184
Exactly.
Really not hard to believe as @Whitehouse has made clear his disdain for #Israel and stabs them in back army every opportunity! @NSCPress
— Joe (@JoeC1776) July 29, 2014
“@patallac22: @NSCPress Bullshit. 0bama supports terrorist and now it's confirmed. The #truth is out.”
— Gerald R. Geddes, muckraker #MAGA (@lesstaxingcpa) July 29, 2014
@lesstaxingcpa @patallac22 @NSCPress he is deeply involved with the Muslim Brotherhood. They R the terrorist of the world.
— Yolanda Goldberg (@sigstarget) July 29, 2014
https://twitter.com/TFinn82/status/494233190048202753
Who do you believe? Let us know in the comments below.
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