Obama Tweets Pic of Phone Call with Netanyahu

President Obama talked to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today. In fact, he made sure to tweet a picture of himself talking to Netanyahu via phone, even though he refused repeatedly to meet with Netanyahu in person this week.

The picture was cover, though, for Obama’s anti-Israel position during the call itself. He told Netanyahu that while he opposed Iran’s nuclear development, he wouldn’t draw any red lines for Iran. According to the White House Press Office:

President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke today as part of their regular consultations, and to follow up on Secretary Clinton’s meeting with the Prime Minister.  The two leaders discussed a range of security issues, and the President reaffirmed his and our country’s unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security.  The two leaders underscored that they are in full agreement on the shared goal of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.  The Prime Minister welcomed President Obama’s commitment before the United Nations General Assembly to do what we must to achieve that goal.  The two leaders took note of the close cooperation and coordination between the Governments of the United States and Israel regarding the threat posed by Iran – its nuclear program, proliferation, and support for terrorism – and agreed to continue their regular consultations on this issue going forward.

So the call achieved nothing. The two leaders restated their positions; Obama refused to do anything that would actually dissuade the Iranians from going nuclear, and Bibi told him he needed to do so. One thing is very clear: if Israel is going to act, they will have to do so alone before the fact. And if Obama is re-elected, Israel will have little guarantee of American support.