Netanyahu joins Western leaders in boycotting Sochi

[iandhr]

Source: Haaretz

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned down an invitation to attend the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia in February, the Hebrew Ma’ariv daily reported Monday morning.

U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German President Joachim Gauck are among the Western leaders who have already announced they will not be attending.


Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/1.565013

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I hardly ever agree with Bibi but credit where credit is due.

[dipsydoodle]

1. My general impression of the Olympics

is that those who watch and follow do so with respect to those taking part in events : not the audience present.

[Swede Atlanta]

2. He probably has an Iran-bashing session scheduled during that time.....

Seriously, I support his right to be forceful about protecting Israel from threats in the Muslim world. I understand he is not happy with the current tentative agreement with Iran on it's nuclear program.

But it is important on a "trust and verify" (I hate giving Ronald the asshole Reagan credit for the phrase) basis to give the current "deal" with Iran to progress. The consequences of the failure of Iran to comply are swift and immediate - reinstatement of all of the current sanctions. Let's give peace a chance.

Israel has had a long-standing peace with Egypt (despite the recent turmoil there) as well as a fairly recent peace accord with Jordan. Peace is possible.

Give it a chance. As for Sochi, appreciate his refusal to travel there but..........

[QuestForSense]

3. Well put. +1

[Jesus Malverde]

4. Good Call...nt

[Steviehh]

5. Boycotting Olympics...

Only big mistake Pres. J. Carter made. My hero, but he did politicize the Games.

A shame then and now.

[iandhr]

6. This is different.

Carter prevented the US team from going to the 1980 games in Moscow.

Here Obama, Cameron, Gauck and now Netanyahu are refusing Russia's invitation to attend the games to protest their anti gay law.

But the US, UK, Germany and Israel (if they have winter athletes will still attend the games)

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Given he didn't go to Mandela's funeral because he said it was too expensive

(after being embarrassed how much was spent on him attending Thatcher's funeral), he hardly left himself a choice. He's pretty much grounded himself for any foreign travel that isn't explicitly political.

[okaawhatever]

8. Me thinks Bibi was told to do this if he wanted support from the US, UK & Germany. He's been too

buddy-buddy with Putin lately and it's been a slap in the face to NATO powers. Bibi's playing both ends against the middle will come back to bite him in the azz.