Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that the US government is treating him like Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein. In a meeting yesterday (Tuesday) with World Jewish Congress leaders, Netanyahu said: "The Americans believe there is a Saddam of the East - the one in Iraq, and a Saddam of the West - me!".
Benjamin Netanyahu met yesterday with World Jewish Congress leader Edgar Bronfman, Congress Secretary-General Israel Singer, and his Director-General in Israel, Avi Becker. Also present at the meeting were New York City Comptroller Alan Hevesi, and his assistant, Steve Newman. Also participating was Bobby Brown, the Prime Minister’s advisor on Diaspora Affairs.
Netanyahu accused the US administration of naivete, inasmuch as its leaders claim that Israel’s policy is making it difficult for them to form a western coalition against Saddam. He told the Jewish leaders: "You can do something about it", but his audience did not respond. Some expressed astonishment at Netanyahu’s remarks which, they said, reflected an atmosphere of despair.
The Prime Minister moreover said, at the meeting, that when he appeared last week before a congress of Jewish communities in Indianapolis, notes had been passed out asking participants not to applaud him. When asked who, in his opinion, was behind this initiative, Netanyahu said: "The Reform Jews".