JERUSALEM -Justin Beiber's trip to Israel is off to a rocky start ââ¬â tentative plans to meet the prime minister have fallen through under contentious circumstances, and the teen heartthrob says he has holed himself up in his hotel to escape the country's notoriously aggressive paparazzi.
Bieber, adored by young fans worldwide for hits like Baby, arrived in Israel on Monday and was planning to spend the week sightseeing ahead of an outdoor concert in Tel Aviv on Thursday.
The 17-year-old Canadian artist has set off a wave of excitement, with young females camped outside his hotel and photographers aggressively following him at every stop.
Even 61-year-old Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have been caught up in the hype. Officials in his office said the Israeli leader had hoped to meet the singer, but hinted that Mideast politics had scuttled the visit.
A spokesman for Netanyahu said Bieber's representatives had initiated the meeting, and the prime minister thought it would be a good idea. He said Netanyahu hoped to bring children from Israel's embattled south, which has absorbed dozens of Palestinian rocket attacks in recent weeks, and give them a happy experience.
Unfortunately it has not proved feasible, said the official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. He refused to elaborate, but Israel's Channel 2 TV said Bieber had told Netanyahu's office he did not want to make the visit political.
The Yediot Ahronot tabloid headlined its coverage Bibi vs. Bieber, using the prime minister's nickname. Furious Bieber, wrote the Maariv daily.
Ronit Arbel, an Israeli spokeswoman for Bieber, denied the reports. She said there were never any plans ââ¬â or even discussions ââ¬â about a meeting with the prime minister.
But in a Twitter post ââ¬â one of many offered by the singer in recent days ââ¬â Bieber acknowledged the difficulties of Israeli photographers and the country's diplomatic minefield.
Rest of article: http://www.aolnews.com/story/israeli-pms-meeting-with-bieber-called/1754075/
Bieber, adored by young fans worldwide for hits like Baby, arrived in Israel on Monday and was planning to spend the week sightseeing ahead of an outdoor concert in Tel Aviv on Thursday.
The 17-year-old Canadian artist has set off a wave of excitement, with young females camped outside his hotel and photographers aggressively following him at every stop.
Even 61-year-old Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have been caught up in the hype. Officials in his office said the Israeli leader had hoped to meet the singer, but hinted that Mideast politics had scuttled the visit.
A spokesman for Netanyahu said Bieber's representatives had initiated the meeting, and the prime minister thought it would be a good idea. He said Netanyahu hoped to bring children from Israel's embattled south, which has absorbed dozens of Palestinian rocket attacks in recent weeks, and give them a happy experience.
Unfortunately it has not proved feasible, said the official, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. He refused to elaborate, but Israel's Channel 2 TV said Bieber had told Netanyahu's office he did not want to make the visit political.
The Yediot Ahronot tabloid headlined its coverage Bibi vs. Bieber, using the prime minister's nickname. Furious Bieber, wrote the Maariv daily.
Ronit Arbel, an Israeli spokeswoman for Bieber, denied the reports. She said there were never any plans ââ¬â or even discussions ââ¬â about a meeting with the prime minister.
But in a Twitter post ââ¬â one of many offered by the singer in recent days ââ¬â Bieber acknowledged the difficulties of Israeli photographers and the country's diplomatic minefield.
Rest of article: http://www.aolnews.com/story/israeli-pms-meeting-with-bieber-called/1754075/
