Amid Elbow-Rubbing in Davos, a Potential for Awkward Encounters – Netanyahu and Zarif By Felicia Schwartz and Carol E. Lee

Posted By on January 22nd, 2016

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2016/01/21/amid-elbow-rubbing-in-davos-a-potential-for-awkward-encounters/

DAVOS — Here in this luxe Swiss ski town, dozens of world leaders are taking advantage of one another’s presence at the massive, multi-day economic summit to get together and talk shop.

But the annual conference also draws some leaders who’d prefer not to. On Thursday morning, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were spotted one floor apart at the InterContinental hotel.

Mr. Zarif was eating breakfast in the hotel restaurant, just a floor above where Mr. Netanyahu and Vice President Joe Biden met. Mr. Zarif left the restaurant about 20 minutes before Messrs. Biden and Netanyahu’s meeting started. Mr. Biden’s national security adviser was also two tables away from Mr. Zarif.

Mr. Netanyahu has been a fierce and vocal opponent of the Iranian nuclear deal and U.S. engagement with Tehran. He’s warned that the accord will strengthen and embolden Iran’s leaders, who he has said will funnel money to Israel’s regional foes such as Hezbollah and Hamas as well as Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad and shiite militias.

To make things more awkward, Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Zarif are actually both staying at the Intercontinental, according to accounts from Israeli reporters traveling with Mr. Netanyahu. As thousands gather here for the annual conference, hotel rooms are scarce and expensive. Some delegations, such as that of Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, are staying an hour outside the resort.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.

Reuters

Mr. Netanyahu last year lobbied members of U.S. Congress to try to scuttle the Iran nuclear deal, but ultimately it went through and formally took effect last weekend, unfreezing billions of dollars of Iranian assets and triggering sanctions relief. His opposition and campaign to kill the deal has heightened tensions between Israel and its close ally, the U.S.

They’re now trying to move past that low point.

Ahead of Mr. Netanyahu’s meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry Thursday in Davos, both leaders tried to play down strained relations, affected by Iran deal implementation as well U.S. criticism of Israel’s policy in the West Bank.

When asked what his concerns were with the nuclear deal’s implementation before the meeting, Mr. Netanyahu said he was most concerned about “having time to talk to my friend, John Kerry.”

While in Davos, Mr. Kerry has had formal meetings with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the U.N.’s special Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura and Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi. He’s also joined Vice President Biden’s meetings with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Additionally, he had an informal get together on Wednesday with Mr. Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister.

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