Israel says US did not ‘summon’ envoy
THE US State Department has denied summoning Israeli ambassador Dr Michael Oren for a special meeting on building in Jerusalem, Israeli officials said.
WASHINGTON — The US State Department did not summon Israel’s ambassador for a special meeting on building in Jerusalem, Israeli officials said.
The officials said that Dr Michael Oren’s meeting last week was a routine “getting to know you” meeting for the new ambassador. They also said that the US officials did raise US objections to a project now under way in eastern Jerusalem.
News reports have described Oren as having been “summoned” to the meeting to discuss the building in the Palestinian Sheik Jarrah neighborhood.
On Monday, Oren formally presented his credentials to President Obama.
“Ambassador Oren thanked President Obama for his friendship and support for the State of Israel, and expressed optimism that the strong ties between Israel and the United States can be further strengthened,” an Israeli Embassy statement said.
JTA
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