PM convenes ministers amidst crisis with US By JPOST.COM STAFF 20:57 ADL slams Obama administration: We cannot remember an instance when such harsh language was directed at a friend and ally of the United States. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu http://www.trcb.com/en-Us60Sat, 26 May 2012 04:57:40 ESTCopyright 2012 IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis, TRCB.com All Right Reservedhttp://www.trcb.com/news/israel/general/pm-convenes-ministers-amidst-crisis-with-us-adl-slams-obama-24165.htm<p>PM convenes ministers amidst crisis with US<br /> By JPOST.COM STAFF<br /> 20:57<br /> </p> <p>ADL slams Obama administration: We cannot remember an instance when such <br /> harsh language was directed at a friend and ally of the United States.</p> <p>Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened his top ministers for a meeting <br /> Saturday evening to discuss the fallout of an announcement on construction <br /> in Jerusalem made during the visit of US Vice President Joe Biden.</p> <p>During Biden's visit, the Interior Ministry announced that 1,600 housing <br /> units will be built in Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood.</p> <p>Biden initially condemned the move but on Thursday said that after Netanyahu <br /> apologized to him the crisis was behind them.</p> <p>Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, however, called Netanyahu on <br /> Friday and scolded him over the incident.</p> <p>Saturday evening, the Anti-Defamation League took the administration to task <br /> saying in a statement it was "shocked and stunned" by Washington's "public <br /> dressing down" of Israel.</p> <p>The ADL said a daily briefing by Assistant Secretary of State P.J. Crowley <br /> was especially harsh when Crowley said Israel "undermined trust and <br /> confidence in the peace process, and in America's interests" when it <br /> announced the housing in Ramat Shlomo.</p> <p>"We cannot remember an instance when such harsh language was directed at a <br /> friend and ally of the United States. One can only wonder how far the U.S. <br /> is prepared to go in distancing itself from Israel in order to placate the <br /> Palestinians in the hope they see it is in their interest to return to the <br /> negotiating table," ADL National Director Abraham L. Foxman said.</p> <p>"It is especially troubling that this harsh statement came after Israeli <br /> Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly and privately explained to Vice <br /> President Biden the bureaucratic nature in making the announcement of <br /> proposed new building in Jerusalem, and Biden accepted the prime minister's <br /> apology for it. Therefore, to raise the issue again in this way is a gross <br /> overreaction to a point of policy difference among friends.</p> <p>"The Administration should have confidence and trust in Israel whose <br /> tireless pursuit for peace is repeatedly rebuffed by the Palestinians and <br /> whose interests remain in line with the United States," Foxman said.</p>Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:24:34 ESThttp://www.trcb.com/news/israel/general/pm-convenes-ministers-amidst-crisis-with-us-adl-slams-obama-24165.htmTRCB.comNews Israel / General