Washington – Israeli Official Downplays ‘Sarkozy Mic Gaffe’, McCain, Hikind Blast Obama; NY Rep. Asks For Apology

Washington – French President Nicolas Sarkozy branded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “a liar” in a private conversation with U.S. President Barack Obama that was accidentally broadcast to journalists during last week’s G20 summit in Cannes.

“I cannot bear Netanyahu, he’s a liar,” Sarkozy told Obama, unaware that the microphones in their meeting room had been switched on, enabling reporters in a separate location to listen in to a simultaneous translation.

“You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him even more often than you,” Obama replied, according to the French interpreter.

The technical gaffe is likely to cause great embarrassment to all three leaders as they look to work together to intensify international pressure on Iran over its nuclear ambitions.

The conversation was not initially reported by the small group of journalists who overheard it because it was considered private and off-the-record. But the comments have since emerged on French websites and can be confirmed by Reuters.

White House press secretary Jay Carney declined to comment on the conversation when asked by reporters traveling with Obama to an event in Philadelphia.

Obama’s apparent failure to defend Netanyahu is likely to be leapt on by his Republican foes, who are looking to unseat him in next year’s presidential election and have portrayed him as hostile to Israel, Washington’s closest ally in the region.

Pushing Netanyahu risks alienating Israel’s strong base of support among the U.S. public and in Congress.

Netanyahu’s office declined to comment, but one of his deputies, Vice Premier Silvan Shalom, played down the episode.

“Everyone talks about everyone. Sometimes even good friends say things about each other, certainly in such competitive professions,” Shalom, a former foreign minister and rival of Netanyahu in the rightist Likud party, told Israel’s Army Radio.

“So you have to consider the main things. Is Obama a friend of Israel? Is Sarkozy a friend of Israel? Is their policy a consistent policy of support for Israel? The answer to all of these questions is affirmative and, as far as I’m concerned, that is what’s important.”

Sen. John McCain also weighed in on Tuesday saying the comments are “indicative of the attitude and policies that this administration has had towards Israel.”

“I happen to be a great admirer of Prime Minister Netanyahu,” McCain said on Fox and Friends. “I’ve known him for years, and Israel is under more pressure and probably in more danger than they’ve been since the ’67 war and that kind of comment is not only not helpful, but indicative of some of the policies towards Israel that this administration has been part of.”

‬‪​In response, Rep. Michael Grimm (R-N.Y.) is calling on Obama to formally apologize for his remarks.

‬‪​“I find President Obama’s criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu highly offensive and call on him to issue a formal apology on behalf of the American people,” Grimm said in a statement Tuesday. “Whether the microphones are on or off, the message to our allies in Israel should always remain the same: ‘We stand with you.’”

Over Twitter, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said that Obama does not want to work with Israel so let’s elect someone who will.

Meanwhile, NY Assemblyman Dov Hikind released the following statement blasting Obama:

“I want to personally thank President Obama for again showing his true colors. Mr. Obama’s unbridled contempt for Prime Minister Netanyahu, though appalling, is really not terribly surprising. Nevertheless, his conduct was unbecoming of the President of the United States and Mr. Obama should be held accountable.

Where is Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, now in the wake of the President’s comments? What does she see now when she looks into the “heart and kishkas” of President Obama? I see what I have always seen – a smooth talker who publicly “supports Israel” while privately stabbing her in the back. It is unconscionable that Mr. Obama has the audacity to still call himself and his administration an ally of Israel.

From demanding a two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 suicidal borders, to bemoaning the fact that he must work with Prime Minister Netanyahu every day, Mr. Obama has once again shown animus toward Prime Minister Netanyahu and, therefore, toward Israel. This is clearly not the behavior of an ally or friend.

It is moments like these that make me even prouder that I endorsed Republican Congressman Bob Turner in the 9th Congressional District race despite my Democratic Party affiliation. Congressman Turner’s win sent a message to President Obama that Democrats will not follow him blindly into re-election. I hope to contribute toward denying Mr. Obama a second term in office.”