Shamir’s Office Lobbying to Avoid a Snub by Bush

JERUSALEM —  Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir’s office, fearing a diplomatic snub from President Bush, today urged the American leader to invite the Israeli leader to Washington during his U.S. visit.

The lack of an invitation from Bush, less than a week before Shamir flies to the United States for private meetings, was front-page news in Israeli newspapers.

“Bush still balking at inviting Shamir,” the Jerusalem Post said in a lead article that attributed the delay to U.S. irritation at Israel’s position on Middle East peace talks.

Shamir is to leave Monday for the United States to speak to Jewish organizations.

“We have not yet received word from the White House about a possible meeting with Mr. Bush. If invited, of course, Mr. Shamir will go to Washington,” said Avi Pazner, Shamir’s spokesman.

Pazner described Bush’s latest comment on the possible meeting as “non-committal” but the Israeli media said Shamir’s staff appeared surprised by the cool tone.

“I’d like to feel that a meeting would be held and that it would be constructive, that we’d have something positive to talk about,” Bush said at a news conference Tuesday.