Couldn’t possibly be our fault. Couldn’t possibly be a simple failure to succeed in coordinating schedules.

President Barack Obama’s (D) National Security Council Spokesman Ned Price insists

We were surprised to first learn via media reports that the Prime Minister, rather than accept our invitation, opted to cancel his visit[.]

The meeting was going to coincide with a meeting of the American-Israel Political Action Committee. Never mind that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was reluctant for the meeting to occur then because the appearance of our Presidential candidates at the AIPAC meeting could create the impression of Israeli interference in our elections.

It stretches credulity for Obama or his NSC to act as though they don’t understand that. That claim is especially not credible given that the Israeli ambassador already had told the White House—Obama—that it was unlikely that Netanyahu would make the trip.