As if U.S.-Israeli relations weren’t strained enough, reports have surfaced that the Obama administration may be taking steps to subvert Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled visit next month to address Congress.

This prompted TribLive political reporter Salena Zito to respond:

These are incredibly childish plans & beneath the presidency .@AP White House Tries to Counter Netanyahu Visit http://t.co/fKSMu6eDlK

— SalenaZito (@SalenaZitoTrib) February 20, 2015

The president has already indicated he won’t meet with the Israeli leader when he’s in Washington. From that, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and Democratic members of Congress — including the Congressional Black Caucus — dutifully took their cue and announced they won’t attend Netanyahu’s address.

Apparently, that’s not enough of a snub for a famously vindictive White House.

The Associated Press reported that the administration is considering options short of the president delivering a speech to Congress rebutting the prime minister’s remarks. The AP story said:

Among them: a presidential interview with a prominent journalist known for coverage of the rift between Obama and Netanyahu, multiple Sunday show television appearances by senior national security aides and a pointed snub of America’s leading pro-Israel lobby, which is holding its annual meeting while Netanyahu is in Washington, according to the officials.

And that’s just what’s under consideration. The administration is already making sure that Obama, Biden and Kerry aren’t the only senior officials notably absent. The AP reported:

The White House is now doubling down on a cold-shoulder strategy, including dispatching Cabinet members out of the country and sending a lower-ranking official than normal to represent the administration at the annual policy conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the officials said.

Folks on Twitter thought the whole affair had the ring of grade school playground antics:

@SalenaZitoTrib It’s not that you’re wrong, not even a little. It’s that after six years we’re nearly inured to it. @AP

— Stephen Green (@VodkaPundit) February 20, 2015

@WisdomLingersSH @VodkaPundit @SalenaZitoTrib could understand Obama WH’s arrogance if they were actually remotely competent at governing

— Gray Connolly (@GrayConnolly) February 21, 2015

@SalenaZitoTrib @AP Beneath the presidency yes, beneath Obama No liberal motto has always been whtever it takes, the end justifies the means

— Leann (@LeannbeB) February 21, 2015

One Twitter user hilariously suggested that the White House take its adolescent behavior to its next logical step:

.@SalenaZitoTrib @EdMorrissey @AP Maybe they can have Biden pull the fire alarm when Bibi is talking?

— 625 Days Left! (@dap260) February 20, 2015

I always thought throwing cherry bombs into the boys’ bathroom toilets was a great plan — when I was 8 years old.

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Michael Dorstewitz

Mike has been with BizPac Review almost from the beginning. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeBPR.

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