(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Washington March 08 (QNA) - The White House said it was "surprised" to learn through press reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declined an invitation to meet US President Barack Obama later this month in Washington.
An aide to Obama said that Netanyahu's office had requested a sit-down between the two leaders on March 17 or 18 and that the White House responded two weeks ago offering March 18 as a meeting date. That's just ahead of Obama's planned trip to Cuba according to the (CNN).
We were looking forward to hosting the bilateral meeting and we were surprised to first learn via media reports that the Prime Minister rather than accept our invitation opted to cancel his visit" National Security Council Spokesman Ned Price said .
Obama and Netanyahu have had an icy relationship that reached its nadir one year ago when Netanyahu traveled to Washington to lobby against Obama's nuclear deal with Iran including addressing the Republican-controlled House of Representatives. (QNA)