THE presidential limousine that was to have transported United States President Obama around Israel broke down Wednesday before his arrival in the country, forcing officials to find another car for the president’s transportation.
Organizers discovered the unspecified malfunction in the car shortly before the president’s arrival in Tel Aviv around noon local Tel Aviv time.
The president’s limousine, popularly known as “The Beast” reportedly malfunctioned after it was fueled with gasoline rather than diesel fuel.
Secret Service spokesman Edwin Donovan did not confirm the report about the fuel mix-up, saying that the protective service isn’t sure yet what went wrong.
“We experienced mechanical trouble with one of the cars,” Mr. Donovan said. “We don’t know the cause.”
He said the president was driven in another vehicle.
“That’s why we bring different multiple vehicles,” Mr. Donovan said.
Mr. Obama didn’t need the limo immediately upon his arrival, however.
He later flew on Marine One from Ben Gurion International Airport to Jerusalem, a 25-minute helicopter flight.
Before leaving the airport, the president inspected a missile battery of Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
This is the second incident involving President Obama’s limousine during the president’s foreign travels. In May of 2011, the car got stuck on a large speed-bump while leaving the premises of the United States embassy in Dublin, Ireland.
Officials said that Mr. Obama was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident.