washington israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu decline offer meet u.s. president barack obama white house late month cancel trip washington white house say monday netanyahu decision nix u.s. visit mark late episode fraught relationship obama yet recover deep differences last year u.s.-led international nuclear deal iran israel arch foe white house say israeli government request netanyahu meet obama either march 18 19 two weeks ago offer march 18 encounter look forward host bilateral meet surprise first learn via media report prime minister rather accept invitation opt cancel visit white house spokesman ned price say email statement report able accommodate prime minister schedule false say white house announce obama plan havana march 21 22 historic visit aim move close toward normalize relations washington former cold war adversary immediate word netanyahu office cancellation also come two close ally struggle negotiate new 10-year multibillion-dollar defense aid agreement israel israel channel 10 tv cite unnamed israeli source say netanyahu decision scrap trip appear motivate reluctance perceive interfere u.s. presidential election campaign candidates seek meet washington netanyahu also saw little show trip give new defense memorandum understand far agree yet channel 10 say several israeli media quote israeli officials say appropriate time could find meet obama departure cuba netanyahu expect visit washington month see obama address annual conference lead u.s. pro-israel lobby aipac past sometimes speak group via satellite prime minister make speech u.s. congress last march criticize then-emerging iran nuclear deal deny meet obama visit widely regard diplomatic snub two leaders meet white house november seek mend tie recent months differences defense aid underscore continue tensions iran deal netanyahu aid suggest february israel unable reach accord obama could wait next president secure good term current u.s. defense aid israel worth billion annually expire 2018. two side seek extension obama leave office january 2017. u.s. vice president joe biden five-day trip middle east due visit israel late week hold talk netanyahu israel 's netanyahu decline offer meet obama white house