Monday, May 18, 2009

Obama stresses 2-state solution after meeting with Netanyahu

May. 18, 2009
Herb Keinon and Jpost staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

During his first meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, US President Barack Obama stressed his commitment to a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli Palestinian conflict, first reports said.

Obama told Netanyahu he believed in the vision of two states living side by side in peace and would work to this end. The president also said he aimed, if possible, to reach this goal before the end of his term. On Iran, Obama said he would not impose a deadline on the American outreach to Iran. This position was in line with previous statements by the US administration

Netanyahu said the Palestinians should rule themselves, but did not mention a Palestinian state.

The much-anticipated meeting between Netanyahu and Obama extended for approximately a half-hour more than it was scheduled to last.

While Iran and the Palestinian track dominated the talks, diplomatic officials said that what was even more crucial to establish in the first meeting between the two new leaders was trust and confidence in one another.

The White House has cleared a considerable amount of Obama's Monday schedule for the talks, which will run through lunch and continue on into the afternoon (EST).

The two leaders were to discuss a range of issues, but according to one adviser to the prime minister, the main thrust of Netanyahu's comments were going to concern Iran and its consistent progress toward developing nuclear arms.

"The way things are planned, the focus of Netanyahu's words will be the Iranian nuclear issue," Uzi Arad, the premier's national security adviser, said on Sunday.

"This is clear not only because this is an existential issue as far as the security of Israel is concerned, but because Iran is progressing all the time toward nuclear military capability."

Netanyahu landed in Washington early Sunday morning and held preparatory talks throughout the day for his first meeting as prime minister with Obama.
This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1242212406429&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull

Comment: So ends the first meting and the information is what was meant for the public. More importantly what was said "behind the cameras" is what is critical. We have heard over here that Obama says the settlements must stop-not clearly defined for us as this early evening. Not bad-each side can claim they got something but mind you tomorrow the Arabs will be yelling and the Lefties in america will attack Obama-stay tuned!

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