Face to Face Obama – Netanyahu

The Israeli Prime Minister: No to Two States

Washington

The first meeting between the U.S. President and the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the White House, was a test of high diplomacy. This face-to-face comparison-clash between Obama and Netanyahu’s two different wills shows the challenge in overcoming the snags on the question of the Palestinian state and the Iranian nuclear projects. Netanyahu arrived yesterday morning in Washington, carrying a suitcase that he defined as “a new approach” to the Palestinian problem. “It will be the mission of my life,” said the Prime Minister to the newspaper Maariv.

The U.S. President Barack Obama renewed his appeal for the creation of a Palestinian state, confirming to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. is committed to a “two state” solution. Obama turned to Netanyahu, talking about the necessity to capitalize on the “historic opportunity” of restarting the peace negotiations in the Middle East. Obama and Netanyahu met today for the first time at the White House, in a conversation that lasted over two hours. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today at the White House that Tel Aviv desires that the Palestinian self-govern. Netanyahu said that it is possible to see a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side.

The U.S. President Barack Obama said that he desired to see a positive response from Iran regarding its nuclear program before the end of the year. “I don’t want to set an artificial deadline,” said Obama, in a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The reference is to the request or a true “ultimatum” given to the Israeli government. Obama also stated he has not excluded the adoption of “some maneuvers” against Iran and has not excluded the possible use of sanctions.