Last week US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a widely-reported 43 minute "angry" phone call about an "embarrassing" and "insulting" announcement, during Vice President Joe Biden's recent visit to Israel, that in violation both international law and the "road map" agreements, Israel would be building 1600 new settlement units on occupied land.
Our source has obtained a transcript of the last few minutes of the conversation, during which Clinton and Netanyahu attempt to repair the damaged US/Israel relationship and prevent such embarrassments from ever occurring again.
NETANYAHU: Again, I can't apologize more profusely Mrs Clinton. My regrets are sincere. We have never announced a violation of international law during a US diplomatic visit before, and we never will again. In fact going forward we will leave at least a 48 hour separation window both before and after the visit. This was total, inexcusable incompetence on our part. An investigation has begun and I may have to fire someone.
CLINTON: That's certainly a start, and a step in the right direction.
NETANYAHU: It's more than a start. It's the solution. I will apologize again today, and again tomorrow. Sincerely. What else did you have in mind?
CLINTON: (pause) Well, Israel could keep its promise to slow down, if not stop, the expansion and creation of illegal settlements. That was supposed to be a prerequisite for full US cooperation, remember?
NETANYAHU: And we have slowed down dramatically. Our internal proposals for construction in east Jerusalem call for 16 thousand new apartments this year. So we have slowed down settlement construction by 90 percent. That's a huge sacrifice. The U.S. should be publicly thanking us.
CLINTON: That's all you're prepared to do? Apologize for the timing and ask for a thank you?
NETANYAHU: Well if you insist, there are other options for the US, entirely at your discretion and President Obama's of course. If you seriously object to the settlements themselves, I will send you cost projections and you can subtract that amount from the funds you've pledged to support Israel with this year. These run to tens of millions of dollars, out of billions in US support, but we could manage it. I'll have Mort send you the figures and make an announcement if you like.
CLINTON: Let me get back to you on that.
NETANYAHU: Or you can announce that to prove Israel doesn't mock the law, you'll stop blocking the Goldstone Report recommendations that say both Hamas and Israel war crimes must be adjudicated. I would understand that reaction.
You can personally announce it when you appear at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference next week in front of me, Tzipi Livni, and the many leaders of your Congress who are attending. The AIPAC audience will want to know. And who knows? Accountability might even be good for Israel. Sometimes only family or a lifetime friend can help you make a change.
CLINTON: (long pause) Hold a moment please Bibi. ... You know what? We've been on this call almost 43 minutes. I really have to get going. I'm so glad I got that off my chest.
NETANYAHU: You're a tough negotiator, Hillary. Just let me know what you want me to do. And again, sorry.
It is unclear how this conversation came to be recorded and transcribed. There is no known connection between this conversation and wiretapped conversations between Rep Jane Harman and suspected Israeli spies reported last year. And there is no evidence that the recording is being circulated at parties among Israeli cabinet and intelligence personnel.