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Comments:  124
Netanyahu to tell Obama: Time 'running out' on Iran
By Barak Ravid and Aluf Benn
Tags: Haaretz TV, barack obama 

WASHINGTON - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will use his meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday to stress that "time is running out" for stopping Iran's nuclear program, so Obama must not spend more than a few months on his planned dialogue with Tehran unless real progress is achieved.

If progress is not achieved within a few months, the United States must move quickly to more aggressive measures against Iran, Netanyahu will say.

The prime minister's aides say he is encouraged by an interview in Newsweek Sunday in which Obama says he is not "naive" about Iran and is not taking "any options off the table." The purpose of the planned dialogue is to "offer Iran an opportunity to align itself with international norms," according to Obama.
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The president signaled that he has no intention of pursuing regime change in Iran, but stressed that Iran should be able "to maintain its Islamic character" while not being "a threat to its neighbors."

He said he understands why Israel views Iran as an "existential threat," and that because of this, Israelis' "calculation of costs and benefits are going to be more acute. They're right there in range, and I don't think it's my place to determine for the Israelis what their security needs are." Obama can "make an argument" that his approach "offers the prospect of security, not just for the United States but also for Israel, that is superior to some of the other alternatives."

Iran will be a key issue on Netanyahu's agenda for the meeting. While he does not oppose the planned dialogue, he wants more details on how it will be conducted. Israel says the dialogue must include clear conditions, including on Iran's nuclear activity during the talks, and a clear time limit. This view is shared by some senior American officials, including the special envoy on Iran, Dennis Ross. Israel says the time limit should be around three months.

National Security Council chairman Uzi Arad, who is accompanying Netanyahu, told reporters Sunday that "no issue is more important for Israel" than Iran, "and the U.S. administration is aware of this. There's a feeling of great urgency, and we're in a race against time."

The Americans understand the timeline very well, and "neither side will dictate to the other," Arad added.

On another key issue, Israeli-Palestinian talks, Netanyahu's aides say he does not intend to accede to America's request that he express support for a two-state solution, which is likely to lead to conflict.

"There may be differences of opinion" with Obama, Arad acknowledged, "but the practical approach of both parties will determine what happens."

Netanyahu will present a series of security demands that he views as essential to any final-status agreement, including demilitarization of the West Bank and Israeli control of its airspace. He will cite Hamas' control of Gaza as a major barrier to progress.

On the settlements, he will propose establishing a bilateral Israeli-American committee to reach understandings on reining in construction and evacuating outposts. He will also demand that such Israeli steps be matched by Palestinian progress on fighting terror.

The Palestinian Authority, the Arab states and Europe are all urging Obama to pressure Israel to stop settlement construction, and many senior administration officials and senior Democrats in Congress support this approach.

Netanyahu has said he will not build new settlements, but will permit "natural growth" in existing ones.

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  • Obama: I can't tell Israel not to fear Iran
  • Jordan to Obama: Press for final Mideast deal

    Related links:
  • A different look at the Obama-Netanyahu meeting
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      1.   And if Iran is attacked unprovoked - Does that mean... 03:29  |  Marc Leb 18/05/09
      2.   I thought that Israel was about protecting itself? 03:48  |  Ask Christians? 18/05/09
      3.   The vision of a dangerous nuclear Iran is interesting 04:22  |  fritz t. 18/05/09
      4.   Marc Leb 04:28  |  TonyL 18/05/09
      5.   Israelis must re-examine their positions 04:48  |  Mario Farinella 18/05/09
      6.   Time is running out for "settlements" and peace... 05:24  |  BBSNews 18/05/09
      7.   2 In total agreement with you 05:27  |  lydia 18/05/09
      8.   surprise! 05:41  |  lincoln 18/05/09
      9.   What if...? 06:15  |  Lasmarch 18/05/09
      10.   Yeah sure Lydia #5 06:16  |  Peter Williams 18/05/09
      11.   Obama/Bibi 06:21  |  M 18/05/09
      12.   Dennis Ross Wants Limits on Iran! A Pro Israeli Jew who 06:34  |  Monitor 18/05/09
      13.   #1, MARC LEB, no it means. 07:00  |  VIPER 18/05/09
      14.   The time is running out and the next war is already 07:11  |  Kris Lazar 18/05/09
      15.   2-State + Gaza = Intifatha 07:12  |  Akram Zekaria 18/05/09
      16.   "demilitarization of the west bank" ! 07:29  |  Akram Zekaria 18/05/09
      17.   Obama would lose his political "innocence" 07:40  |  Donatus 18/05/09
      18.   Netanyahu 07:48  |  Ilene 18/05/09
      19.   The Arab World should recognize Israel immediately, in good faith 07:52  |  EL 18/05/09
      20.   Time running out on Iran or on Israel???? 08:03  |  Westwell 18/05/09
      21.   Bibi, with unrealistic high hopes 08:15  |  Westwell 18/05/09
      22.   Do not ignore the ?lunacy? of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. 08:22  |  Jean Van Daem 18/05/09
      23.   to lincoln #8: the only reason obama is prez is because of the 08:37  |  obama = leader not+ 18/05/09
      24.   The problem with Iran 08:46  |  S 18/05/09
      25.   #4.ANS.as usual Jewish st.preemptive attack IS unprovoked! 08:59  |  moses 18/05/09
      26.   Iran 09:12  |  Ana 18/05/09
      27.   #18, Ilene 09:25  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/05/09
      28.   no "bilateral israeli-american committee" needed; just get out! 09:31  |  eric 18/05/09
      29.   Netanyahu will explain his position 09:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/05/09
      30.   #24, S, "the problem with Iran" 09:42  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/05/09
      31.   Clinical Analysis. 09:57  |  Iain 18/05/09
      32.   #12 Nobody at State is listening to Ross 09:58  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      33.   westwell "desperation hour for the israelis" 10:14  |  harzion 18/05/09
      34.   #24 You`re kidding, right, S? 10:18  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      35.   westwell no logic in your post 10:18  |  harzion 18/05/09
      36.   johnboy and vulgarity 10:26  |  harzion 18/05/09
      37.   johnboy your post on ross is libel 10:29  |  harzion 18/05/09
      38.   What is this nonsense? 10:36  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      39.   stop playing games... nuke Iran 10:43  |  I want to live 18/05/09
      40.   Netanyahu trying his hardest 10:46  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/05/09
      41.   The time is running out for Israel as a Jewish state...... 11:08  |  Swiss (Dino) 18/05/09
      42.   Obama to Netanyahu: Don`t change the subject! 11:20  |  O-Dog 18/05/09
      43.   #26 Cipora, I can think of another example.... 11:23  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      44.   #26 Julliana Cipora Kohn 11:24  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/05/09
      45.   Dear Cipora 27 : 11:40  |  Akram Zekaria 18/05/09
      46.   "International norms" 11:48  |  Rod 18/05/09
      47.   Kohn there are some 25000 jews in Iran--why are they still alive 11:50  |  Labhras 18/05/09
      48.   Luckily Israel will be led to peace 12:07  |  Matty Groves 18/05/09
      49.   Islamic character" while not being "a threat to its neighbors"??? 12:10  |  Dan 18/05/09
      50.   Iran is stalling too 12:14  |  Lisa Javner 18/05/09
      51.   why is being problem Muslim`s have their own bombs? 12:35  |  Turk.. 18/05/09
      52.   why is being problem Muslim`s have their own bombs? 12:40  |  Turk 18/05/09
      53.   TIME RUNNING OUT... 12:43  |  Ed 18/05/09
      54.   # 22 Jean van Daem 12:45  |  Bob 18/05/09
      55.   no "bilateral israeli-american committee" needed; just get out! 12:47  |  eric 18/05/09
      56.   Time has run out already. Its patience. 12:48  |  Stephen. 18/05/09
      57.   no way 12:53  |  matt 18/05/09
      58.   BBSnews 12:57  |  charles philip lehre 18/05/09
      59.   johnboy clearly you hint that jews who support israel 13:00  |  harzion 18/05/09
      60.   Netanyahu to tell Obama: 13:01  |  Ralph 18/05/09
      61.   bbsn 13:02  |  oz 18/05/09
      62.   # 7 lydia 13:12  |  oz 18/05/09
      63.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #27 now open the other eye 13:15  |  ibsen 18/05/09
      64.   Pres.Obama answer will be, on 2 States SOLUTION 2. 13:33  |  Amir 18/05/09
      65.   EXPERTS 13:40  |  OZ 18/05/09
      66.   The Triple A Meeting 14:39  |  Jeff Northridge 18/05/09
      67.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #27 now open the other eye 14:39  |  ibsen 18/05/09
      68.   Israel`s time is running out too 14:50  |  Lucee 18/05/09
      69.   OBAMA IS TOO SMART FOR BIBI 14:53  |  indrajaya 18/05/09
      70.   Time `running out` on Iran 15:05  |  Joshua 18/05/09
      71.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #27 now open the other eye 15:08  |  ibsen 18/05/09
      72.   IF RWingers believes that GOD is on their side, 15:11  |  John Dee 18/05/09
      73.   Johnboy # 29 Southwest Asia 15:25  |  Jeff Northridge 18/05/09
      74.   maybe 15:34  |  oz 18/05/09
      75.   Not only Israel 15:37  |  Italian Zionist 18/05/09
      76.   Northridge--the target has already been identified 15:39  |  Labhras 18/05/09
      77.   Netanyahu to Obama time "running out on Iran 15:40  |  DT 18/05/09
      78.   #31 dan 15:52  |  Cafeconcrema 18/05/09
      79.   Iran nuke-is greatest threat to mankind 15:52  |  Brod 18/05/09
      80.   Cipora Julianna Kohn #27 now open the other eye 16:09  |  ibsen 18/05/09
      81.   time running out for israel 16:15  |  andu 18/05/09
      82.   #33 Oh, it`s much more and much less than that, Jeff. 16:30  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      83.   #34 John Dee--you mean Israeli bombs--Iran has none 16:34  |  Labhras 18/05/09
      84.   Do you want to know what will go down with Obama and Netanyahu? 16:36  |  redbourn 18/05/09
      85.   Brod --what Iran Nukes---it is israel that has the Nukes 16:39  |  Labhras 18/05/09
      86.   TRANSLATION: 16:43  |  Mark Lincoln 18/05/09
      87.   Riligious doctrine 16:51  |  nihad 18/05/09
      88.   #35 Jeff, I think you`ll find that`s wrong: 2nd try 16:53  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      89.   ALL Muslims should unite against the dogs 16:54  |  Ray 18/05/09
      90.   iran 16:54  |  hosseni 18/05/09
      91.   #35 Spot the difference, Jeff: 2nd try 17:01  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      92.   Netanyahu to Obama on Iran 17:03  |  Rodger 18/05/09
      93.   Time is also running out on Israels existence...... 17:19  |  Swiss (Dino) 18/05/09
      94.   #26 Cipora doesn`t appear to know the rules 17:24  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      95.   For you # 57 17:24  |  Rahabyosof 18/05/09
      96.   Rodger 17:35  |  Persian Kitty 18/05/09
      97.   #26 Cipora finds "smiting" to be just so easy. 17:42  |  Johnboy 18/05/09
      98.   Deja vu 17:45  |  Palestinian American 18/05/09
      99.   labhras 17:47  |  oz 18/05/09
      100.   #59 Johnboy re Jeff---none so blind etc. 17:59  |  Labhras 18/05/09
      101.   For you #57 and #63 18:00  |  Rodger 18/05/09
      102.   Rahabyosof 18:22  |  Persian Kitty 18/05/09
      103.   "Clincal" approach to Iran not the answer 19:21  |  Witness 18/05/09
      104.   Time? 20:02  |  Pablo Luis 18/05/09
      105.   Oz excuse me--did not the usa use a nuclear weapon. 20:09  |  Labhras 18/05/09
      106.   lahras 20:43  |  oz 18/05/09
      107.   israel warmonger(belligerent state) 20:57  |  tries again 18/05/09
      108.   johnboy is puzzled by the iranian nukes 21:23  |  harzion 18/05/09
      109.   johnboy on ross 21:29  |  harzion 18/05/09
      110.   No more support to war-mongering Israel 21:30  |  ruiz 18/05/09
      111.   johnboy on ross and his judaism 21:38  |  harzion 18/05/09
      112.   the abusive persian kitty 21:43  |  samuel the seer 18/05/09
      113.   persian kitty "waking up to reality not country music" 21:45  |  samuel the seer 18/05/09
      114.   Ruling the world 22:04  |  ruiz 18/05/09
      115.   link for BSNews who insists that Hamas recognizes Israel 22:30  |  Stephen in New York 18/05/09
      116.   Lydia you are a moron 23:04  |  nukeobastardobama 18/05/09
      117.   speachless 23:06  |  c. schmidt 18/05/09
      118.   #75, Mark Lincoln, nonsense 23:09  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/05/09
      119.   #82, Dino, Israel will exist forever 23:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/05/09
      120.   ibsen, both of my eyes are open 23:24  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/05/09
      121.   #89 Ya` just have to keep trying, Labhras 05:38  |  Johnboy 19/05/09
      122.   #98 Harzion tries it on 16:20  |  Johnboy 19/05/09
      123.   #96 And Harzion tries it on yet again 16:26  |  Johnboy 19/05/09
      124.   The Frog Who Aspired to Become as Big as the Ox. 05:33  |  Eshkol Hakofer 20/05/09
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