WASHINGTON — Amid an uproar Wednesday, the White House backed away from anonymous comments by Obama administration officials deriding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In comments reported by The Atlantic that further strained U.S.-Israeli relations, an unnamed senior Obama administration official — referring to Netanyahu by his nickname — said, “The thing about Bibi is he’s a chicken----.”
Another official told The Atlantic that Netanyahu has “got no guts.”
“Comments like that do not reflect the administration’s views,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. He called the U.S.-Israeli relationship “as strong as ever.”
The statements also included the second official saying Netanyahu was motivated by a desire to avoid political defeat.
The President sets the tone for his administration. He either condones the profanity and disrespect used by the most senior members of his administration or he does not.
“The good thing about Netanyahu is that he’s scared to launch wars; the bad thing about him is that he won’t do anything to reach an accommodation with the Palestinians or with the Sunni Arab states,” the official said.
They drew denunciations from lawmakers from both parties, who sided firmly with the Israeli PM and slammed the Obama administration.
“The President sets the tone for his administration,” said House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). “He either condones the profanity and disrespect used by the most senior members of his administration or he does not.”
“It is time for him to get his house in order and tell the people that can’t muster professionalism that it is time to move on.”
Jim Hollander/AP Anonymous comments from Obama adminisration officials have accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being a coward. Rep. Eliot Engel (D-Bronx), who normally backs the White House, said he was “shocked and disappointed” by the comments.
“I am getting tired of hearing about the leaks and denials,” Engel said. “This ought to be the last time we hear of such talk because it is getting to a point where nobody believes the denials anymore.”
Despite the White House walkback attempts, the unattributed statements were widely seen as reflecting deep administration frustration with the PM’s policies, especially Netanyahu’s insistence on new housing construction in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Israeli officials said they believed the potshots represented an attempt to counter expected Israeli criticism of a potential deal with Iran on its nuclear weapons program.
dfriedman@nydailynews.com
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