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Comments:  202
Netanyahu unlikely to back Palestinian state in Obama meet
By Barak Ravid, Natasha Mozgovaya and Mazal Mualem
Tags: Iran, Israel News 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to state support for the establishment of a Palestinian state when he meets with U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House on Monday, an aide to the prime minister said.

However, in a bid to soften edgy relations with Washington, Netanyahu will propose that joint teams draft a new road map for the Palestinian peace process and a new strategy on Iran.

At the meeting with Obama, Netanyahu intends to emphasize his intention to resume the peace talks with the Palestinians soon, but with the participation of the moderate Arab states. Establishing diplomatic relations between Israel and the moderate Arab states could significantly advance the peace process with the Palestinians, he will say.
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Obama is expected to support this concept, but will ask Netanyahu to start out with a gesture toward the Palestinians and to halt all construction in the West Bank settlements. Obama will also ask Netanyahu to declare Israel's support for the "two states for two peoples" principle.

A senior Jerusalem source said Saturday that the visit was intended to present only preliminary positions. "At the next stage the teams will try to reduce the differences between the sides and examine ways of advancing the peace process and strategic matters," the source said.

Netanyahu's aides said the preparation talks before the meeting were effective and no conflict was expected at the dialogue with Obama.

President Shimon Peres spoke to Netanyahu a few times last week and impressed on him the importance of avoiding an overt confrontation with Obama at any cost. This could have disastrous implications on Israel's national security, Peres said.

Netanyahu will ask Obama to tighten the coordination between the two administrations in defense and state affairs, and to set up communication channels and joint work teams on the Iranian and Palestinian issues, a source in the prime minister's bureau said.

Contrary to Netanyahu's aide, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Saturday that the prime minister was ready to declare his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

"I believe Netanyahu is ready for a process whose end is two states for two peoples," Barak, who is also chairman of the Labor party, told Channel 2 shortly before Netanyahu left for Washington. "Even Netanyahu understands that the ultimate end of the process is two peoples living side by side in peace and security," he said.

However, an aide of the prime minister's said Netanyahu is unlikely to display flexibility on the "two states for two nations" principle. He will tell Obama that any agreement would oblige the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish nation-state.

Netanyahu is expected to tell the American president that he objects to halting construction in the settlements completely, but is willing to take steps to dismantle the illegal outposts, an aide said.

He will tell Obama that the outposts are a legal matter which Barak has been negotiating with the settlers, in order to reach an agreement.

Netanyahu will also tell Obama that without dealing with Iran it would be difficult to advance the peace process with the Palestinians. He will ask Obama to coordinate the American-Iranian dialogue with Israel, and stress the importance of acting firmly against Iran should this dialogue fail.

Ahead of Netanyahu's trip, meanwhile, senior Obama administration officials said in a press briefing Saturday that Middle East peace agreements were in U.S. national interests. They also noted that Obama and Netanyahu would discuss the issue of West Bank settlement building.

"The meeting on Monday is a continuation of a very close relationship between the U.S. and Israel - very close friendship and cooperation on many issues," said one official. "This is [the president's] first opportunity to take the next step to deepen and expand this cooperation. And I'm quite sure it will be the first of many such conversations."

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      1.   Israel is stalling as usual 04:06  |  Ron 17/05/09
      2.   No peace agreement soon, just further turmoil for region... 04:28  |  Smadar 17/05/09
      3.   Israeli Religious Fantasies! 04:56  |  Le Corbeau 17/05/09
      4.   Now that`s a safe bet! 05:01  |  Mark Lincoln 17/05/09
      5.   #1 Ron - No sense in rushing 05:26  |  *BEN JABO 17/05/09
      6.   Obama will see right through that stall tactic 05:31  |  Harold 17/05/09
      7.   MEETING OF T HE MINDS 05:36  |  Ed 17/05/09
      8.   Netanyahu must remain strong 05:45  |  Rabbi Yakov Lazaros 17/05/09
      9.   why should he? 06:10  |  vik 17/05/09
      10.   Where are these "Moderate Arab states" 06:15  |  Baruch Gold 17/05/09
      11.   to #1 RON 06:17  |  jeff 17/05/09
      12.   Shopping list gets longer 06:26  |  Alan 17/05/09
      13.   #5 Ben Jabo 06:31  |  Smadar 17/05/09
      14.   Smadar #2 06:32  |  MR 17/05/09
      15.   Smadar 06:41  |  erica 17/05/09
      16.   Outlaw statehood in Israels future? Almost certainly... 06:45  |  Natallie Durson 17/05/09
      17.   why should Israel be the 1st to create a palestinian state? 06:53  |  Observer 17/05/09
      18.   A bridge too far... 06:53  |  BBSNews 17/05/09
      19.   No Excuses, get on with it 07:10  |  DR 17/05/09
      20.   FYI: Illegal Outpost = Settlements 07:14  |  Tupac 17/05/09
      21.   12, MR, what do you expect 07:16  |  Jim 17/05/09
      22.   What`s the rush? 07:22  |  dudu 17/05/09
      23.   4 BEN: Come out of 1948, 76, etc AND Join us in 2009 07:26  |  Tupac 17/05/09
      24.   12 and 13: Do your maps show "West Bank" or "Judea and Samaria" 07:32  |  Tupac 17/05/09
      25.   #8 Lazaros. Why aran`t you living in Israel? 07:39  |  Maureen Ann 17/05/09
      26.   Improper to be seen being told by Obama ... 07:40  |  Samuel Prime 17/05/09
      27.   Natallie Durson 07:55  |  vik 17/05/09
      28.   Five will get you ten Obama wins 08:07  |  Colin Wright 17/05/09
      29.   SECOND TRY: What type of state will Bibi offer to the Pals? 09:03  |  Reuben Aaron 17/05/09
      30.   If anyone needs face saving that`s not Obama. 09:07  |  S 17/05/09
      31.   Is it negotiations or a kangaroo court 09:09  |  Aboriginal Hebe 17/05/09
      32.   #20, Maureen Anne of Bathurst Australia 09:14  |  NetNut 17/05/09
      33.   Occupied territories 09:17  |  Chris 17/05/09
      34.   Iran is not a threat to Israel. 09:21  |  Spook 17/05/09
      35.   Smadar - Saudi Plan - No territorial exchanges 09:35  |  Reid 17/05/09
      36.   a new roadmap 09:37  |  rm 17/05/09
      37.   Pressure 09:45  |  Paul 17/05/09
      38.   Obama will have the full support of his electorate...... 09:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/05/09
      39.   "two state for two people" principle 10:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/09
      40.   #25, S 10:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/09
      41.   #25, S 10:05  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/09
      42.   I agree Ron 1. Israels creeping figments on the ground must stop 10:19  |  Ivar 17/05/09
      43.   Primarily,what is in U.S. interests is energy independence from 10:20  |  Susanna/Shoshana 17/05/09
      44.   # 27 aboriginal 10:26  |  Axel 17/05/09
      45.   # 14 erica 10:29  |  Axel 17/05/09
      46.   Aboriginal Hebe in his personal Massada 10:33  |  Reuben Aaron 17/05/09
      47.   Bibi is going to blackmail Obama with Iran 10:36  |  JustMe 17/05/09
      48.   CORBEAU."FANTASIES"? Israelis can watch Hamas TV 10:48  |  PETER SM 17/05/09
      49.   #24 Obama has prepared well 10:49  |  Keith T. 17/05/09
      50.   Bottom truth ! 10:51  |  Akram Zekaria 17/05/09
      51.   if obama falls for this; he`ll have lost his resolve AND his edge 10:52  |  eric 17/05/09
      52.   netanyahu will back a palestinian state 10:54  |  samuel the seer 17/05/09
      53.   A presumptuous donkey. 10:56  |  Enrico 17/05/09
      54.   netanyahu understands a great deal more 10:58  |  samuel the seer 17/05/09
      55.   the ultimate question 11:00  |  samuel the seer 17/05/09
      56.   Obama and Netanyahu can ill afford to end their meeting without a 11:06  |  Sarah 17/05/09
      57.   Durson and the Sheriff of the World 11:08  |  Israeli citizen 17/05/09
      58.   2 state for no people 11:11  |  dave 17/05/09
      59.   keith t "obama is impressive" 11:11  |  samuel the seer 17/05/09
      60.   the world has built up obama into something he is not 11:14  |  gad 17/05/09
      61.   # 4 if what`s said in this article is true mark, i`d prefer bush 11:18  |  eric 17/05/09
      62.   surely africa should be the first priority for obama 11:36  |  gad 17/05/09
      63.   #.10 Baruch Gold. 11:58  |  Stephen. 17/05/09
      64.   Cipora #37 12:10  |  S 17/05/09
      65.   I believe the headline to be misleading. 12:16  |  Stephen. 17/05/09
      66.   Why should he? 12:19  |  KUTW 17/05/09
      67.   #30 What does America occupy, Chris? 12:19  |  Johnboy 17/05/09
      68.   What the pals want a two-state solution for 12:23  |  KUTW 17/05/09
      69.   netanyahu 12:43  |  alan 17/05/09
      70.   #55, S 12:53  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/09
      71.   In Israe,l they fear the plague of "Peace". 12:54  |  Labhras 17/05/09
      72.   40~ Keith : No matter how well Obama is prepared.. 12:58  |  Akram Zekaria 17/05/09
      73.   More 2-faced double standards from Pal supporters 13:10  |  Joe Sittizen 17/05/09
      74.   nervouse 13:15  |  oz 17/05/09
      75.   True Colors 13:21  |  Cool B 17/05/09
      76.   #62 Cipora - That sounds nice. 13:27  |  S 17/05/09
      77.   johny boy 13:28  |  danish 17/05/09
      78.   Obama should ask the pals 13:35  |  KUTW 17/05/09
      79.   what will obama say next 13:38  |  oz 17/05/09
      80.   Are the Arab states interested in a two-states solution? 13:39  |  KUTW 17/05/09
      81.   67. Cool B true colors 13:45  |  KUTW 17/05/09
      82.   palestinian authority and hamas unlikely to back the jewish state 13:47  |  dave 17/05/09
      83.   hah 13:53  |  dave 17/05/09
      84.   haaretz i suggest some research 13:54  |  dodgy priest 17/05/09
      85.   johnboy america occupies iraq.they occupy afghanistan 13:56  |  harzion 17/05/09
      86.   johnboy aussie troops travel to muslim nations 13:57  |  harzion 17/05/09
      87.   Obama who?!!! 13:58  |  Abecassis 17/05/09
      88.   johnboy and definitions 13:59  |  harzion 17/05/09
      89.   why did the palestinians refuse to accept 14:02  |  gad 17/05/09
      90.   saeb erekat today says he wants a two state solution 14:03  |  gad 17/05/09
      91.   TUPAC You want 2009?No 2 state solution acceptable to Hamas govt 14:05  |  PETER SM 17/05/09
      92.   COOL B"never wanted peace"?Start with 48,Arab rejection,67 14:13  |  PETER SM 17/05/09
      93.   "Hamas, recognition of Israel is not on the agenda" 14:14  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/09
      94.   To S On Obama and diamonds@27 14:16  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      95.   # 30 chris 14:16  |  Axel 17/05/09
      96.   ah, yes, hamas has power on the agenda 14:17  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/09
      97.   # 72 danish 14:22  |  Axel 17/05/09
      98.   Alan # 11 Yeah, Isn`t That A Stitch 14:23  |  Jeff Northridge 17/05/09
      99.   Dave-77 : The Arabs are nutters ! 14:29  |  Akram Zekaria 17/05/09
      100.   Samuel Prime faulty logic, Pal. 14:31  |  petra 17/05/09
      101.   A Mons. Le Cobeau 14:39  |  Le Renard 17/05/09
      102.   A few word to all.. 14:41  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      103.   #71, S 14:46  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 17/05/09
      104.   To gab #84 And Erekat`s prouncements 15:02  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      105.   The only question is how will Obama respond 15:03  |  Michael N 17/05/09
      106.   # 91 axel 15:27  |  danish 17/05/09
      107.   Chris # 30 Guantanamo Is Not Occupied 15:31  |  Jeff Northridge 17/05/09
      108.   # 95 Northridge 15:33  |  oz 17/05/09
      109.   There is no business like Arab Politic. 15:41  |  Akram Zekaria 17/05/09
      110.   # 105 danish 15:53  |  Axel 17/05/09
      111.   Cipora on the diamond allegory#69 16:14  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      112.   God has a plan 16:37  |  American lady 17/05/09
      113.   Jeff Northridge #107 `Guantanamo` 16:37  |  Roo 17/05/09
      114.   A vous Le Renard#101 Oui c`est vrai 16:41  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      115.   #112 No, Roo, Jeff is quite correct. 17:09  |  Johnboy 17/05/09
      116.   #85 harzion, give it a rest 17:20  |  Johnboy 17/05/09
      117.   The Pope is still stalling 17:29  |  LIsa Javner 17/05/09
      118.   Steady on American lady@112 You will be accused of: 17:36  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      119.   axel wants to fight the taliban 17:38  |  harzion 17/05/09
      120.   johnboy qatar pakistan and saudi 17:46  |  harzion 17/05/09
      121.   Johnboy and harzion on occupied countries@116 17:47  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      122.   Re #3 17:54  |  RME 17/05/09
      123.   UNLIKE LIVNI AND OLMERT 18:00  |  indrajaya 17/05/09
      124.   petra (#100) relax you`re too agitated 18:01  |  Samuel Prime 17/05/09
      125.   peace process 18:31  |  Marciah Malkah 17/05/09
      126.   #44 Axel. Aboriginal is right 18:39  |  Spook 17/05/09
      127.   #46 Ruben Aaron: spoken like a true blue Jew 18:59  |  Aboriginal Hebe 17/05/09
      128.   What is legal? how is it made so? 19:24  |  NetNut 17/05/09
      129.   # 125, MARSIAH MALKAH 19:28  |  indrajaya 17/05/09
      130.   President Obama and Prime Minister Natanyahu 19:31  |  j.hyman 17/05/09
      131.   NEGOTIATIONS 19:34  |  j 17/05/09
      132.   Johnboy 19:55  |  Roo 17/05/09
      133.   Give it up Roo,for once@131 You never like to be contradicted eve 20:10  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      134.   One simple question is all that requires 20:20  |  TonyL 17/05/09
      135.   # 126 20:46  |  Axel 17/05/09
      136.   Another post by Stephen@65 With Hopes running High 20:46  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      137.   American Lady on God`s Plan 20:48  |  Mark B. 17/05/09
      138.   # 120 harzion 20:49  |  Axel 17/05/09
      139.   Whiskey/Bravo brain engage keyboard 20:50  |  Roo 17/05/09
      140.   to Aboriginal Hebe@31 Gee whiz How did I miss Your Post!!! 20:56  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      141.   axel#110 21:26  |  DANISH 17/05/09
      142.   To Aboriginal Hebe@127 ,...Ruben Aaaron The Jew With No Clue. 21:40  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      143.   #123The best side is these guys alwaysspeak their minds 21:49  |  Joe F. Moer 17/05/09
      144.   PEACE MAKERS 21:50  |  EHUD 17/05/09
      145.   ROO @ 132 Your spelling is atrocious 21:54  |  Joe F. Moer 17/05/09
      146.   obama 21:59  |  oz 17/05/09
      147.   Whiskey/Bravo #133 brain engage keyboard 22:17  |  Roo 17/05/09
      148.   Hello Ehud, a 2 state solution,with Pal state dominated by Hamas 23:03  |  Sarah 17/05/09
      149.   Rubbish!!!! 23:13  |  Pablo Luis 17/05/09
      150.   To Mark Lincoln, et al 23:14  |  Victor 17/05/09
      151.   Israel will continue to stall 23:17  |  Sam 17/05/09
      152.   # 119 harzion 23:18  |  Axel 17/05/09
      153.   Joe F. Moer. #138 Sure I can Joe 23:25  |  Roo 17/05/09
      154.   roo "i accept the legality of guantanomo but 23:29  |  harzion 17/05/09
      155.   axel "you have just defended the genocide" 23:31  |  harzion 17/05/09
      156.   Now whee is my post to:Aboriginal Hebe? Haaretz?? 23:39  |  Whiskey/Bravo 17/05/09
      157.   Roo # 132 It`s Not All That Bad Today 23:43  |  Jeff Northridge 17/05/09
      158.   Roo, there were independent courts and rulings 23:49  |  NetNut 17/05/09
      159.   Susanna/Shoshana -- Dictatorships and dictionaries 23:52  |  Stephen Connor 17/05/09
      160.   #135 23:59  |  Spook 17/05/09
      161.   To Roo the Professor@ 140 You know chum,I hardly think JB Would 00:05  |  Whiskey/Bravo 18/05/09
      162.   #25 Maureen Ann 00:23  |  leoblue 18/05/09
      163.   #132 Here`s how it is, Roo 01:00  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      164.   #121, #122 The difference between "occupied" and... 01:09  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      165.   dudu 01:24  |  Emily 18/05/09
      166.   Iran is the issue-keep a distance from the rest 02:31  |  American 18/05/09
      167.   #38 Swiss (Dino) 04:21  |  John Allen 18/05/09
      168.   Kant see the light (Roo-diculous, #132) 04:32  |  Morris Valentine 18/05/09
      169.   Not quite, Axel (#135) 04:42  |  Morris Valentine 18/05/09
      170.   Stay rigid so winds of change snaps your back sooner. 07:11  |  Proud of Obama 18/05/09
      171.   #138 Joe F. Moer - What`s wrong with Roo`s spelling of Kant? 08:17  |  S 18/05/09
      172.   Israel stall - two-edged loss 08:49  |  Samuel 18/05/09
      173.   emily 09:04  |  NetNut 18/05/09
      174.   Proud, licking your chops already? 09:18  |  spook 18/05/09
      175.   try a C and a U 09:20  |  Spellcheck 18/05/09
      176.   Its not Ira-stupid 09:30  |  NetNut 18/05/09
      177.   # 146 morris valentine 11:26  |  Axel 18/05/09
      178.   Morris Minor #145 12:32  |  Roo 18/05/09
      179.   Morris Minor #145 13:19  |  Roo 18/05/09
      180.   Morris Minor #145 13:53  |  Roo 18/05/09
      181.   S # 30 Friendship on American terms crystal clear to all 14:09  |  American in NY 18/05/09
      182.   Morris Valentine & S 14:10  |  American in NY 18/05/09
      183.   Morris Minor #145 14:37  |  Roo 18/05/09
      184.   Roo The Philosopher@140(3RD TRY) You think JB Would Have Any ?? 15:05  |  Whiskey/Bravo 18/05/09
      185.   Morris Minor #145 15:07  |  Roo 18/05/09
      186.   Morris Minor #145 16:14  |  Roo 18/05/09
      187.   Wow Desperate Roo..Three Posts in a Row,Wow!.. 17:53  |  Whiskey/Bravo 18/05/09
      188.   #13 Smadar - Talking about changing isn`t doing 17:56  |  *BEN JABO 18/05/09
      189.   Whiskey/Bravo 17:57  |  Roo 18/05/09
      190.   BSnews - You still don`t get it 17:59  |  *BEN JABO 18/05/09
      191.   #23 Tupac - I`m glad you mentioned the blockade 18:08  |  &BEN JABO 18/05/09
      192.   #24 Tupac - Since you mentioned maps 18:15  |  *BEN JABO 18/05/09
      193.   Johnboy - Yes, give it a rest 18:18  |  *BEN JABO 18/05/09
      194.   #23-2 Tupca, just one more little thing 19:26  |  *BEN JABO 18/05/09
      195.   Let`s not waste our time 19:32  |  *BEN JABO 18/05/09
      196.   Roo Spitting Hairs@160 ..Metaphysics/Metaphsyian goes. 19:46  |  Whiskey/Bravo 18/05/09
      197.   Roo Sisyphus Pushing the "boulder"@161 AND MORE VERBAL DIARRHOEA 20:29  |  Whiskey/Bravo 18/05/09
      198.   And Roo Still offers Nothing But "verbal diarrhoea" @162 20:42  |  Whiskey/Bravo 18/05/09
      199.   Whiskey/Bravo 22:11  |  Roo 18/05/09
      200.   To Axel (#150): Watch your language ;-) 07:33  |  Morris Valentine 19/05/09
      201.   To Roo-peater (#156, 158, 159 ... etc) 07:48  |  Morris Valentine 19/05/09
      202.   To AiNY (#155) 08:08  |  Morris Valentine 19/05/09
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