Obama, Netanyahu discuss Mideast peace, Iran
Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Photographer: White House Photo
Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu
11:00GMT—6:00AM/EST
Washington, 10 November (WashingtonTV)—US President Barack Obama held closed door talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late on Monday, amid signs of friction to revive the Mideast peace process.
A White House statement after the one-hour, 40-minute session said the two leaders discussed “how to move forward on Middle East peace” and also spoke about Iran and security issues, reports Reuters.
Obama also reaffirmed Washington’s “strong commitment to Israel’s security”, reports AFP.
Contrary to normal practice with a visiting Israeli prime minister, reporters were not allowed in the Oval Office.
The meeting was announced late on Sunday only after Netanyahu had arrived in Washington, however, both sides denied that the last-minute invitation reflected US frustration with the prime minister.
Ahead of the meeting, Netanyahu publicly urged Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to negotiate immediately and drop a demand to halt Jewish settlement construction first.
“Let us seize the moment to reach a historic agreement. Let us begin talks immediately,” he told a conference of North American Jewish leaders in Washington.
The Obama administration has eased pressure on Israel over settlements, calling for restraint in construction, where it had earlier pushed for a complete freeze.
Sources: Reuters, Agence France-Presse
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