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Obama, Netanyahu hold private one-on-one talks
AFP - Tuesday, May 19
WASHINGTON (AFP) - - US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held private White House talks Monday, seeking to forge a personal bond despite differences over Middle East peace and Iran.
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Netanyahu drew up to the doors of the West Wing of the White House in a limousine bearing the Israeli and US flags, ahead of one-on-one talks with Obama, an expanded meeting with aides and a private luncheon.
The leaders were scheduled to spend a whole hour alone together in the Oval Office in a bid to forge a closer relationship in their first meeting since both came to power, before calling their national security aides into the room.
The talks were expected to focus on the Israeli-Palestinian peace track, efforts to stall Iran's nuclear drive and Syria.
Netanyahu was also set to have a working dinner with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton later Friday, and to hold talks with national security advisor James Jones.
The White House meeting marks Obama's most testing diplomatic challenge yet after he made clear that he will vigorously push for a peace deal based on a Palestinian state and will seek to defuse Iran's nuclear drive with diplomacy.
Netanyahu, at the head of a hawkish Israeli governing coalition, was set to unveil his own long-awaited policy for regional peace focused on countering Iran, and has yet to publicly back Obama's call for a Palestinian state.
The Israeli prime minister's national security advisor Uzi Arad told reporters that the Iranian issue was set to top the leaders' talks.
"There might be some differences in approach, but we are confident that the sense of pragmatism and the desire for progress will drive the discussions," Arad said.
Obama himself admitted in March that Netanyahu's election did not make peacemaking any "easier."
Netanyahu is expected to further irk his hosts and the Palestinians by telling Obama that Israel will keep building in existing settlements in the occupied West Bank, a key obstacle in the stuttering peace process.
US Vice President Joe Biden signaled the administration's "tough love" strategy towards Israel at the powerful US-Israel lobby at its annual conference.
"Israel has to work towards a two-state solution," Biden said. "you're not going to like my saying this, but (do) not build more settlements."
But both US and Israeli officials sought to play down the chances of a clash at the key summit and analysts point out that neither side has an interest in provoking an early argument.
Netanyahu this month called for a Middle East peace process based on a three-pronged approach including talks, security cooperation and development of the Palestinian economy.
He advocates bolstering the West Bank economy before negotiating a full peace deal, arguing the Palestinians are not ready for independence and that any Israeli concessions will only strengthen radical groups such as Hamas.
But Netanyahu has also said he wishes to renew negotiations with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the coming weeks.
Washington is also said to be preparing a new peace plan, building on a Saudi-backed Arab initiative, perhaps for unveiling in Obama's address to the Muslim world in Egypt on June 4.
The 59-year-old Israeli premier, who held the same office for a turbulent term at the height of the Oslo peace process between 1996 and 1999, assigns top priority to halting the "existential threat" of Iran's nuclear ambitions and sees little chance of progress in peace with Palestinians.
Israel says that any US-led negotiations with Iran must have a time limit and be accompanied by international economic and diplomatic sanctions.
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A handout picture released by the Israeli Government Press Office shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) meeting US President Barak Obama in the White House. Obama and Netanyahu held private White House talks Monday, seeking to forge a personal bond despite differences over Middle East peace and Iran.
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