">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Israel PM in US for talks on Mideast peace
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Israel PM in US for talks on Mideast peace
AFP - Monday, May 18
WASHINGTON (AFP) - - Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the US on Sunday ahead of his maiden meeting with President Barack Obama amid divisions over Middle East peacemaking and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
ADVERTISEMENT
The hawkish premier, who wants a "fresh" approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, will unveil in the White House meeting on Monday his long-awaited policy for regional peace focused on countering Iran, aides said.
Contents are still secret but one Netanyahu aide told AFP that differences between Israel and the United States are "more on the outside."
Disagreements have surfaced on several key issues since Netanyahu's right-leaning government was sworn in at the end of March but the two leaders are likely to use the summit to reaffirm the strong ties between the close allies, aide Zalman Shoval said.
They were planned to give a brief press conference after their meeting which will precede intimate lunch together with their wives.
One major cause of friction has been Netanyahu's refusal thusfar to publicly endorse the creation of a Palestinian state, a bedrock principle of US-backed peace efforts in the region.
Obama himself admitted in March that Netanyahu's election and hawkish coalition did not make peacemaking any "easier" and his administration has fired off several sharp public messages towards Israel.
Netanyahu has assigned top priority to halting Iran's nuclear bid.
Obama, however, has pledged to act vigorously to end the decades-old Middle East conflict and sees its resolution as a key component in a comprehensive regional policy for resolving the crisis with the Islamic republic.
Netanyahu is expected to 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.
The tone of the Obama administration has raised fears in Israel that Washington may sacrifice the interests of its staunchest ally in its attempt to end the Iranian estrangement.
Despite the friction, Netanyahu hopes to convince Obama of the viability of his new plan which will effectively replace the latest Israeli-Palestinian peace talks launched in Annapolis, near Washington in 2007.
"If we bring forward a new plan, the Americans will not reject it if they feel it can help their policy," a senior Israeli official said.
Israeli and US officials have played down the chances of an open clash following the key summit.
"There will be no surprises at the meeting. There is a strong, natural alliance between the two states and I see no reason for this to change now," a senior Israeli official told AFP en route to Washington.
The 59-year-old premier this month called for a "fresh" approach to the 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.
Netanyahu has also said he wishes to renew negotiations with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas in the coming weeks.
Yet that may not be enough for Obama.
"The Obama administration has said it is after a comprehensive peace in the Middle East. A resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by a two-state solution is an important component of the peace," a senior US official said.
"But there are other important issues that a comprehensive peace would have to address," he told AFP, alluding to Iran's nuclear program.
Obama's decision to break away from his predecessor George W. Bush's tough approach to Iran by engaging the Islamist republic in talks to defuse the nuclear standoff has raised concern in Israel.
The Jewish state says the negotiations must be limited in time and accompanied by economic and diplomatic sanctions.
Like Obama, Netanyahu is seeking to form a regional coalition with moderate states such as Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey to counter Iran's growing regional influence.
He appealed alongside Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at their meeting on Monday in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm al-Sheikh for tight cooperation against "radical forces".
"In the Arab world there is agreement with our views of the Iranian danger," Netanyahu added after he met Jordan's King Abdullah II in Amman on Thursday.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: Obama's Presidency
Obama to host Israel's NetanyahuAFP - Monday, May 18
Anti-abortion outcry as Obama heads to Catholic universityAFP - Monday, May 18
Israel PM in US for talks on Mideast peaceAFP - Monday, May 18
Obama taps Republican governor as China envoyAFP - Sunday, May 17
Related Articles: World
EU budget chief looks set to be Lithuania's new presidentAFP - Monday, May 18
Darfur rebel chief surrenders to war crimes courtAFP - Monday, May 18
Israel PM in US for talks on Mideast peaceAFP - Monday, May 18
Volkswagen, Porsche talks suspended amid spatAFP - Monday, May 18
Fourth spacewalk under way to repair HubbleAFP - Monday, May 18
Enlarge Photo
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in the US on Sunday ahead of his maiden meeting with President Barack Obama, seen here on May 15, amid divisions over Middle East peacemaking and Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Related Full Coverage
Obama's Presidency
What change will Obama bring? Will it affect the rest of us globally?
All Full Coverage
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Popular cereal is a drug, US food watchdog says
Tough 4th spacewalk underway to repair Hubble
Coral Triangle could die by century's end: WWF
British store admits it boobed in bra row
Australian zoo evacuated after orangutan escape
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Monday, 18 May 2009 Canadian pianist in record-breaking concert
Iraqi Special Forces on the hunt for al Qaeda
| International
|
Zimbabwe's MDC asks AU, SADC to sort out deadlock
| International
|
Darfur rebels say Sudan army base seized
| International
|
Pain, progress, pride on day against homophobia
India's Congress prepares for government
Japan confirms '80 domestic swine flu cases'
Obama Credits "Honest, Thoughtful Dialogue" At Notre Dame Graduation
White House Budget Chief Says Economic "Freefall" Seems To Be Over
Treasury Aide To Help With Upcoming Supreme Court Confirmation Process
Congressional Republicans Weigh In On CIA, Pelosi Feud
Kidnapped California 3-Year-Old Reunited With Family
New York Officials Stage Mock Explosion; Largest Emergency Drill Since 9/11
Biden Reportedly Reveals Location Of "Secret" Vice Presidential Bunker
19 Arrested On Eve Of Obama's Planned Notre Dame Commencement Address
Wheel Falls Off Plane As It Lands In Buffalo
Boy's Body Found Buried In Albuquerque Playground Sandbox
"The Producers" wins rave reviews on German debut
Clouds on horizon for American Idol juggernaut?
| Entertainment
|
New Tom Hanks thriller fails to crack Code
| Entertainment
|
Congressional Republicans Weigh In On CIA, Pelosi Feud
Hamas, Fatah talks on unity gov't
Volkswagen, Porsche talks suspended amid spat
Sri Lanka fights Tiger remnants
| International
|
Myanmar's Suu Kyi faces trial, critics outraged
| International
|
Israel's Netanyahu to press Obama on nuclear Iran
| International
|
Afghan President's brother says survives ambush
| International
|
Japan opposition head revives election chances
| International
|
India's Congress cements power as markets surge
| International
|
China sex theme park comes to abrupt end
| International
|
After 60 years, Germans learn to love themselves
| International
|
Israel PM in US for talks on Mideast peace
Asia's dark pics make a splash at Cannes
AT&T to offer cloud-based storage as a service
| Technology
|
Swine flu spreads in Japan ahead of WHO meet
Japan confirms 93 swine flu cases
China retain badminton's Sudirman Cup
S.Korea bonds rise on weak shares; auctions eyed
Korea Hot Stocks
Seoul shares open down;N.Korea-related issues fall
NZ services sector weakens further in April-survey
Spain's Amenabar brings Cannes toga-clad philosophy flick
Billy Elliot adds more theater prizes ahead of Tonys
| Entertainment
|
Frenzied welcome home for Norwegian Eurovision winner
Fox contest seeks animated ideas
| Entertainment
|
Gays, lesbians in worldwide call for end to homophobia
New Terminator no fun without Schwarzenegger
| Entertainment
|
Box-office heaven for 'Angels and Demons'
Lars von Trier film Antichrist shocks Cannes
| Entertainment
|
Uruguay writer Mario Benedetti dies
| Entertainment
|
Astronauts to embark on last Hubble spacewalk
UK's Brown urges cleanup of scandal-hit politics
| International
|
Pakistan army battles Taliban; PM wins support
| International
|
Health ministers tackle pandemic flu, Japan in focus
| International
|
Turk president should stand trial: court
| International
|
Islamist rebels seize another Somali town
| International
|
Seoul vows support for NKorea estate
Tiger supremo's son killed: Sri Lanka military
EU cancels substantial aid to Fiji
Protests as nuclear fuel ship docks in Japan
Tight security for trial of Myanmar's Suu Kyi
Obama hosts Netanyahu as Mideast strains ties
Samsung bets on LCD TVs despite downturn
| Technology
|
Nokia unveils its cheapest 3G phone
| Technology
|
South Korea tries recharging road to power vehicles
| Technology
|
Antarctic team boosts medical care with 3D ultrasound
| Technology
|
South Korea says factory park in North in turmoil
Taiwan dollar slips on outflows, importers
Mussolini's mistress, love-child seen in Cannes
Handshakes, high fives return as US flu fears wane
Star-light Cannes feels pinch, early films shine
| Entertainment
|
Director defiant after Antichrist jeered
| Entertainment
|
Idol without Simon could prove turnoff: poll
| Entertainment
|
Woody Allen wins $5 million in lawsuit over his image
| Entertainment
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights