US roses, if they come, will go to Jerusalem hospitals, office says.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday denied a report that a gift of 10,000 roses from the United States to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu would be rebuffed, due to concerns that US President Barack Obama would be offended.Last week, there were reports that Florida-based radio host and author Janet Porter was so incensed by what she thought was Obama’s inappropriate behavior toward Netanyahu during the prime minister’s visit to Washington last month, that she called upon her listeners to give Netanyahu yellow roses to symbolize friendship, with each bouquet costing a symbolic price of $19.48.The response was overwhelming, and Porter contracted with BeitShemesh-based florist Richard Kovler to deliver the huge amount offlowers after Pessah. But when Kovler contacted the PMO, he reportedbeing put off by officials there.In response to media inquiries, the Prime Minister’s Office issued aresponse, saying it “has not received any formal notificationconcerning the delivery of flowers from well-wishers for the primeminister and if such a shipment of flowers is indeed sent the PMO wouldbe pleased to receive them, of course in accordance with requiredsecurity procedures.“In such a situation, the Prime Minister’s Office would donate the flowers to hospitals in Jerusalem.”