On Tuesday, Israeli media reported the text of an alleged phone conversation on July 27th between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The text was said to have come from a “senior US official”.Obama National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said on Twitter that the excerpt of the 35-minute phone call was a “totally false” report.
Israel’s Prime Minister’s office also denied reports, saying that the Israeli media misrepresented the conversation.
The US President allegedly made several demands upon Israel, and it was reported he had spoken in a “rude and hostile” manner.
President Obama demanded that Israel declare a unilateral ceasefire and immediately stop its offensive into Gaza. The US President then completely dismissed Netanyahu’s remark that Hamas had already broken five previous ceasefires it had agreed to thus far during Operation Protective Edge. The President continued, telling Israel’s Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu that the Muslim Brotherhood supporting regimes in Qatar and Turkey would negotiate with Hamas as intermediaries. Netanyahu again checked Obama, telling him that the two states were the biggest supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood terror group Hamas, which was immediately dismissed by Obama. The President lectured the leader of the Jewish state that “Israel is not in the position” to choose who will mediate its ceasefire terms. Obama ended the conversation by demanding Israel stop its military operations at once.
A reporter from Israel’s Channel 1 News said the talk between the two executive leaders consisted of Netanyahu thanking the US for its continuing support – but President Obama “refused to listen”, consistently interrupted the Israeli Prime Minister, and rejected all contrary arguments in their phone conversation.
The English translation of Israel’s Channel 1 Hebrew transcript of the phone conversation between the two world leaders has been provided by the Times of Israel:
“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 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.”
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