No Bibi for Bieber

Posted on Apr 13, 2011

Daniel Ogren / Some rights reserved

Biebs in the Holy Land: The 17-year-old singer, shown here with his recently revised iconic hairdo, may or may not have actually planned to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, depending on the source.

This is one of those moments when an actual news story sounds like the stuff of weird dreams (or nightmares, depending): Believe it or not, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly planning to meet with Canadian popster and amateur Mideast peace ambassador Justin Bieber during the 17-year-old tween magnet’s visit this week, but those rumored plans were scuttled due to political reasons, according to The Associated Press.

Meanwhile, Bieber was said to be hiding in his hotel from throngs of female fans and the Israeli paparazzi.  —KA

AP via Google News:

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 — or even discussions — about a meeting with the prime minister.

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