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Last update - 12:08 19/05/2009
Obama-Netanyahu meeting
ANALYSIS / Israel gives Obama until end of year on Iran
By Aluf Benn
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

Barack Obama's first innovation in the White House is visible even before one enters the Oval Office: a large wooden slide on the lawn for the president's daughters. In the office, Obama put two statues, of former president Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King. This is his message - a commitment to liberty, human rights, equality and opportunity. But also to the use of power, when there is no other choice.

Obama speaks much more than his predecessor, George W. Bush. He smiles less. When Benjamin Netanyahu spoke, Obama watched him closely. They both prepared note cards before the meeting. Obama's contained long, typed lines; Netanyahu's had short lines in felt-tip pen.

Their meeting proceeded according to expectations. The president displayed reserved friendship, covering over the deep differences between the two leaders' positions. As expected, Netanyahu described the meeting as "very good and friendly," while Obama praised the prime minster publicly for his political skills and awareness of history, saying he believed Netanyahu would make "strategic decisions for Israel's security" during his term.
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What about content? The meeting focused on Iran, the Palestinians and the link between them. Netanyahu said they reached complete understanding on the goal regarding Iran - "to prevent Iran from developing a military nuclear capability." Obama promised him that if the diplomatic effort fails to get results by the end of the year, the U.S. will reevaluate the situation and perhaps impose tougher sanctions. He also said that all options are on the table.

Netanyahu said that Israel has the right to defend itself. He did not spare Obama a description of Jewish suffering throughout history and spoke of his commitment to preserving Israel and the Jewish nation.

Netanyahu said he hopes "Obama will succeed" in his talks with Iran, but this is a diplomatic phrase. It is doubtful that he believes the Iranians will suddenly become nice and give up their nuclear program just because Obama talks with them.

In practice, this means that Netanyahu agreed to give Obama until the end of the year. Then, if Iran's nuclear program is still proceeding, Israel will consider "other options."

Netanyahu spoke about preventing Iran from getting "military nuclear capability," leaving open the possibility of it retaining a civilian nuclear capability. That opens a crack to a possible deal between the U.S. and Tehran.

The differences on the Palestinian issue remain. Obama wants a Palestinian state, Netanyahu refuses to say "two states." He prefers to speak about how to prevent the Palestinians from establishing a second Gaza in the West Bank, requiring them to recognize Israel as a Jewish state, and security arrangements. Obama said the settlements must stop, Netanyahu replied by demanding Palestinian "reciprocity."

Obama intends to launch a new American peace plan in his speech in Cairo on June 4. It will no doubt contain all the elements Netanyahu is uncomfortable with - two states, halting settlement construction and removing outposts.

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      1.   Good luck! 06:02  |  habib 19/05/09
      2.   Iran getting more Time! 06:20  |  Astasheiks 19/05/09
      3.   Ambiguous at Best 06:40  |  Mark of Lewiston 19/05/09
      4.   Netanyahu gives the US until the end of the year. What a joke! 07:00  |  Apartheid 19/05/09
      5.   Really 07:24  |  Joseph 19/05/09
      6.   Here`s what I conclude 08:07  |  Fortuna Benmayor 19/05/09
      7.   Any indication of pre-emptive attack timeframe on Iran dangerous 08:09  |  Mark Leaman 19/05/09
      8.   Man, that`s arrogance for you 08:12  |  Johnboy 19/05/09
      9.   Israel didn`t give Obama anything. Israel hoped for 3 months only 08:25  |  JustMe 19/05/09
      10.   1. How much time has Obama given Israel to comply 08:39  |  lydia 19/05/09
      11.   IS THIS A THREAT? 08:49  |  indrajaya 19/05/09
      12.   anatomically incorrect 08:54  |  david 19/05/09
      13.   netanyahu would give the palestinians a state 10:16  |  harzion 19/05/09
      14.   Israel gives Obama until end of year on Iran 10:29  |  Axel 19/05/09
      15.   Barack H. Obama 10:32  |  Albrecht Klein 19/05/09
      16.   Tail wagging the dog? 10:34  |  Dan 19/05/09
      17.   reciprocity? 10:41  |  Frebnedzo 19/05/09
      18.   Israel and the US Administration. 10:45  |  Stephen. 19/05/09
      19.   Netanyahu 10:54  |  Marav 19/05/09
      20.   for Indrajaya #4 10:55  |  Danalogue 19/05/09
      21.   Obama tells Israel.. 11:26  |  ynse kalsbeek 19/05/09
      22.   Obama should put the squeeze on Netanyahu 11:36  |  Craig 19/05/09
      23.   Bibi has not been watching Obama`s MO 12:53  |  SD 19/05/09
      24.   welldone Bibi 13:32  |  aaron 19/05/09
      25.   Israel gives 13:57  |  dani.a 19/05/09
      26.   Who is Israel to set deadlines for the U.S.? 14:06  |  Giora Me`ir 19/05/09
      27.   The true description of arrogance 14:16  |  Sakua One 19/05/09
      28.   #20 aaron read this.Does not sound like leadership 14:33  |  Labhras 19/05/09
      29.   18 14:35  |  zionist forever 19/05/09
      30.   Obama smiled and listened patiently to Netanyahu`s whining and 15:01  |  Apartheid 19/05/09
      31.   deck chairs on Titanic 15:10  |  Truth 19/05/09
      32.   Israel gives what?????? 15:12  |  albert 19/05/09
      33.   Israel has to except inevitability of nuclear Iran 15:28  |  Socialist 19/05/09
      34.   It is all becoming very apparent ... 15:30  |  Coldstream 19/05/09
      35.   No. 11, indrajaya 15:39  |  W 19/05/09
      36.   Naive BHO cliches in lieu of foreign policy? 16:09  |  guess what`s coming 19/05/09
      37.   Do not threaten. We feed you 16:09  |  Freitag 19/05/09
      38.   american congress 16:14  |  bri 19/05/09
      39.   TRUTH YOU DESCRIBE THE BEGINNING OF WW!!! 16:19  |  Petra 19/05/09
      40.   the irish republicans tortured the island and gained nothing 16:55  |  dodgy priest 19/05/09
      41.   Israel must attack Iran 17:25  |  Mandelarab 19/05/09
      42.   Hardman/dodgy priest- they had 1922 reason for it. 17:45  |  Labhras 19/05/09
      43.   Haaretz, A question 17:56  |  Joan 19/05/09
      44.   dodgy priest re Poor Irish 17:59  |  Joan 19/05/09
      45.   "The flea on the leaf on the river" 18:46  |  Witness 19/05/09
      46.   zionist forever # 29 best solution for all dont buy f35s 19:02  |  American in NY 19/05/09
      47.   Israel gives Obama until end of year on Iran ?? 19:45  |  ruben siedner 19/05/09
      48.   #21 ynse kalsbeek. Great analysis. I agree. 20:02  |  Lou Medel 19/05/09
      49.   fuk u izrael 20:11  |  joe b 19/05/09
      50.   CONDITIONS 20:24  |  Ed 19/05/09
      51.   Who cares? 20:32  |  Pablo Luis 19/05/09
      52.   What do you do with these people 20:49  |  Fran 19/05/09
      53.   Israel gives Obama until end of year on Iran 00:38  |  Joey 20/05/09
      54.   Meaning What? 01:05  |  Persian Kitty 20/05/09
      55.   Aluf Benn thinks Israel gave President Obama 7 months. 01:16  |  Nezam el Jenini 20/05/09
      56.   Iran 01:26  |  Squarf 20/05/09
      57.   petra`s bet 02:37  |  Truth 20/05/09
      58.   Squarf and his christian doomsday rhetoric 03:11  |  Mandelarab 20/05/09
      59.   ww 03:29  |  ehud 20/05/09
      60.   Israel gives USA orders 03:44  |  Mark Lincoln 20/05/09
      61.   Nice to ISrael thinking it`s boss 10:23  |  Welshman 20/05/09
      62.   In That case Persian Kitty@54 Let`s make a marriage of Convenienc 02:40  |  Whiskey/Bravo 21/05/09
      63.   Israel gives Obama a year on Iran 21:00  |  John Weiss 24/05/09
      64.   Spineless Obama 03:26  |  Drew 15/07/09
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