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The path to Washington passes through Jerusalem

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has morphed from persona non grata at the White House into the leader with the most influence over the US president.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands after Trump's address at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem May 23, 2017. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RC130092F1B0

It was Nov. 3, 2011. President Barack Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy were talking on the margins of the G-20 summit in Cannes. A technical glitch caused their microphones to broadcast their private conversation to the reporters in a nearby hall. “I cannot bear Netanyahu. He’s a liar,” Sarkozy told Obama, unaware that reporters were listening to their conversation. “You’re fed up with him, but I have to deal with him even more often than you,” Obama replied.

On July 16, after President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit in Helsinki, the two leaders appeared before journalists impatiently waiting to hear what had taken place at the meeting. It appeared that the main topic the leaders of the two superpowers agreed on was Benjamin Netanyahu. They stood there, at the conclusion of a summit of global importance, and talked about the prime minister of Israel. Trump emphasized how much Putin admires Netanyahu, while Putin praised Trump’s support of Netanyahu and Trump’s deep commitment to Israeli security.

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