Bieber Sparks Diplomatic Uproar in Israel

Sides differ as to why Netanyahu meeting was canceled
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 13, 2011 6:47 AM CDT
Justin Bieber Sparks Diplomatic Uproar in Israel After Benjamin Netanyahu Meeting Canceled
Singer Justin Bieber performs at Mediolanum Forum on April 9, 2011 in Milan, Italy.   (Getty Images)

Bieber fever strikes again, this time leading to a breakdown in talks between the Bieb and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. An excited Justin Bieber arrived in Israel Monday, only to quickly find his emotional journey to the Holy Land ruined ... by paparazzi. ("Take pictures of me eating but not in a place of prayer, ridiculous," he tweeted.) Things went downhill from there, coming to a head yesterday when it was revealed that his meeting with Netanyahu had been called off, the New York Times reports.

Haaretz, citing local media, claimed that the prime minister called the meeting off because mean Bieber refused to meet with kids living in communities near Gaza that have been under rocket fire recently. But a Bieber rep insists the meeting was called off for purely logistical reasons; both sides seem to agree that the meeting had never actually been finalized. In fact, Bieber's rep says, "Justin welcomes the chance to meet with kids facing difficult circumstances, regardless of their background, and in fact, he had already invited children" from that particular area to his concert in Israel tomorrow. (More Justin Bieber stories.)

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