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Israel-Palestine-Jordan | |||||
Netanyahu heads to Washington | |||||
2009-05-17 | |||||
At the meeting with Obama, Netanyahu intends to emphasize his intention to resume the peace talks with the Palestinians soon, but with the participation of the moderate Arab states. Establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the moderate Arab states could significantly advance the peace process with the Palestinians, he will say. Obama is expected to support this concept, but will ask Netanyahu to start out with a gesture toward the Palestinians and to halt all construction in the West Bank settlements. Obama will also ask Netanyahu to declare Israel's support for the "two state for two people's" principle. A senior Jerusalem source said Saturday that the visit was intended to present only preliminary positions. "At the next stage the teams will try to reduce the differences between the sides and examine ways of advancing the peace process and strategic matters," the source said. Netanyahu's aides said the preparation talks before the meeting were effective and no conflict was expected at the dialogue with Obama. President Shimon Peres spoke to Netanyahu a few times last week and impressed on him the importance of avoiding an overt confrontation with Obama at any cost. This could have disastrous implications on Israel's national security, Peres said.
Contrary to Netanyahu's aide, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Saturday that the prime minister was ready to declare his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "I believe Netanyahu is ready for a process whose end is two states for two peoples," Barak, who is also chairman of the Labor party, told Channel 2 shortly before Netanyahu left for Washington. "Even Netanyahu understands that the ultimate end of the process is two peoples living side by side in peace and security," he said.
Netanyahu will also tell Obama that without dealing with Iran it would be difficult to advance the peace process with the Palestinians. He will ask Obama to coordinate the American-Iranian dialogue with Israel, and stress the importance of acting firmly against Iran should this dialogue fail. Ahead of Netanyahu's trip, meanwhile, senior Obama administration officials said in a press briefing Saturday that Middle East peace agreements were in U.S. national interests. They also noted that Obama and Netanyahu would discuss the issue of West Bank settlement building. "The meeting on Monday is a continuation of a very close relationship between the U.S. and Israel - very close friendship and cooperation on many issues," said one official. "This is [the president's] first opportunity to take the next step to deepen and expand this cooperation. And I'm quite sure it will be the first of many such conversations." | |||||
Posted by:Steve White |
#8 wow, bgrebel!I see a non-selling book deal in your future. Better get hard working on that! No time to comment on websites, ya know? |
Posted by: Frank G 2009-05-17 20:38 |
#7 "Netanyahu and Lieberman are Fixed that for ya', bg. "Within the year Israel will bomb Iran" Do you really think it will take that long? As for "attempt[ing] to (You'll notice I'm not holding my breath....) |
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-05-17 20:26 |
#6 Netanyahu and Lieberman are nuts. Obama is right to attempt to reign them in- one thing is for sure, the Israeli government is not bluffing about any of its intentions. Within the year Israel will bomb Iran- the theocracy there will respond by attacking US military bases in Iraq. The Shite population will rise up against US forces enmasse in southern Basra. Iranian-terrorist cells in the mainland US will attack soft targets in response- then the White House will be pulled into a major geopolitical conflict..... the US will then, at great cost, wipe Tehran off the map. Unfortunately- I believe this scenario will prove likely inevitable. |
Posted by: bgrebel 2009-05-17 19:28 |
#5 WTOP (the leading news/weather/traffic radio station in DC) reported joyfully all day yesterday that Bibi was arriving with a two-state declaration in his suitcase. Already signed and notarized by him, with the keys to Jerusalem in a ceremonial case. And another ceremonial case for Syria with a very fine pair of binoculars. IOW, the media was preparing its battlespace to set Netanyahu up for abject failure. |
Posted by: Seafarious 2009-05-17 10:32 |
#4 Bambi may unfortunately be the POTUS (or, in his case, pout-us) right now, but nothing he's done so far remotely resembles America or regular Americans' goals or desires. >:-( |
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-05-17 09:24 |
#3 Obama is NOT America in goals and desires |
Posted by: Frank G 2009-05-17 08:33 |
#2 That would be America's adversary's Perfora rectis. |
Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-05-17 05:46 |
#1 "the pattern already is that one does better as Obama's adversary than friend" That would be America's adversary's |
Posted by: Rupert Chirong3456 2009-05-17 01:48 |