Netanyahu heads to Washington in effort to mend U.S. ties
Prime Minister to present U.S. President with outline of new policy ideas on the peace process, with goal of moving from proximity talks to direct negotiations.
By Barak Ravid Tags: Israel news Middle East peace Barack Obama Benjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fly to Washington on Monday evening to meet with President Barack Obama for the fifth time since the two leaders took office.
A senior source in Jerusalem said that Netanyahu hoped the meeting would enable him to regain Obama's trust after months of tension regarding West Bank settlement construction. Netanyahu was planning to present Obama with a number of proposals for coordinating progress in the Middle East peace process, said the source.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama. |
| Photo by: AFP |
Netanyahu and Obama have not yet managed to establish close and intimate working relations since taking leadership of their respective countries. The level of trust between the two appears very low, making it difficult to yield significant progress in the peace process.
Obama is not convinced that Netanyahu is serious in his declared intentions regarding the process, and the Israeli premier is not confident that the current American administration is committed to maintaining the same relations with Israel as those held by its predecessors.
Netanyahu will present Obama with a few new ideas for the political process, and he hopes that the consolidation of a new policy outline will assist the two countries in overcoming the "hurdles" that will surface when the temporary settlement freeze ends in September.
The prime minister has spent the last few days before his trip meeting with senior Israeli ministers to sort out the new ideas.
Netanyahu is still debating whether to enter direct negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with an agenda focused solely on a permanent peace settlement or to base the talks on a temporary arrangement whereby a Palestinian state would be built in stages. He is also considering the possibility of opening negotiations with both options on the table.
Netanyahu convened senior ministers from his Likud party on Monday to brief them on what he wants to be conveyed to the media during his trip to the United States. He stressed that the central goal of his meeting with Obama was to jump-start the transition from proximity talks with the Palestinians to direct negotiations.
The White House also wants Netanyahu's visit to pass smoothly and to avoid the crises and confrontations that overshadowed the prime minister's last three trips to Washington.
The Americans will greet Netanyahu with a particularly warm welcome, which will include a join press conference alongside Obama and a lavish luncheon comprising both delegations.
First Lady Michelle Obama, has also made the unusual gesture of inviting Netanyahu's wife, Sara, for a personal visit to the White House while the two leaders are meeting.
Netanyahu will also meet Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during his visit.
On Wednesday, the prime minister will head to New York for meetings with Jewish leaders and will grant interviews to major American television stations. He will also deliver a policy speech Thursday to the Foreign Relations Council in New York.
Upon his return to Israel, Netanyahu will travel to Egypt to update President Hosni Mubarak on his visit to Washington.
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That is the question the american President wants an answer for. He is not going to get it, simply because Binyamin knows that his answer for this question would put the last nail into the coffin called Israel. "To end the occupation that started in 1967", that is what the world wants, including the US. Only Israel think that 'Greater Israel light' is still an option. At least that would guarantee the rightful return of the refugees and their offsprings. Maybe the Bi-National state is to prefer. Call it Israel or what ever you want.. One man, one vote, equal rights.
November elections will be a disaster for the Democrats. This meeting is more important for Obama and Netanyahu should have been tougher.
Obama will ground Bibi for his baaaad bad behaviours.
Protests and demonstrations against him are planned in Washington DC and across the entire country. Americans are finally waking up and seeing the light.
All Obama has to do is ask Clinton how trustworthy Bibi is
Be very-very carefull what you say and concerning Israel...this is the Apple of the Great I Am's People and Country. And He is very serious about this One Be very-very careful about the concerns of the Apple of The Great I Am's People l and Country. For He is serious about this One. A-Man.
bibi and his supporters only want to maintain rights they refuse to others. In other words they want something for nothing. In other words they are classic criminals.
No doubt that N has reason to wonder if the US will be as amenable as during the last administration. Emphatically not. The US seems to have noticed that a blanket assurance simply is a green light to make matters worse. Why hasn't N noticed that too?
and tell it like it is. Bibi must be welcomed,heard and FULLY supported by the President.Anything less will not do.
Beware of forked tongue bibi. He talks the talk but does not walk the walk.
treatment of Netanyahu last time and his failed attempt to fracture his coalition and bring a more liberal party to power in Israel, this sounds like a total capitulation on the part of Obama who is eyeing the November US elections and facing a devastating electoral defeat.. It's about time.
Gain Obama's trust. Can Bibi change his personality; unlikley
Why doesn't Mubarak come to visit Netanyahu ?? Is that Arab hospitality and Peace ?? He only visited Israel once, what a friend.
I'm sure that after the numerous perfectly-timed insults Israel has directed at Obama, BiBi will receive a very warm welcome...
Obama knows he will try to buy time. Obama has already given him time. It is time for a shake up. If a shake up does not happen, then that means that Bibi was successful in buying time. So far the only action taken by Obama in the mideast has been againsr Muslims. When he scolded Israel he allowed himself to be told off and sent packing. It would be good if he did not allow that to happen again.
that Bibi was bad for the country as PM in 99 and he is bad for thecountry now. His lack of leadership is incredible. Everything he does is half way. He doesnt want to go 100% right wing but he is not willing to make peace wither so he takes no real concrete steps to get it done. This government is bound to collapse by the end of the year.
1. OBAMA: Black on the outside, white on the inside. (due to the family that raised him).NETANYAHU: White on the outside, black on the inside (again, the family).// 2. OBAMA: Nice wife. NETANYAHU: Crazy wife.// 3. OBAMA: Straight and sincere. NETANYAHU: Deceptive and manipulative.// 4. OBAMA: Looks to the future with hope. NETANYAHU: Looks to the past with fear.// 5. OBAMA: A pragmatist. NETANYAHU: An ideologue.
Bibi can't move without a retinue of family and entrenched ideologs
"Obama's trust"? You have it backwards. It is Israel, Israelis and most Americans who do not trust Obama, not the other way around. Read your own polls.
For Muslims the two (US and Israel) are behind their present misery and stand against their emancipation. They may differ in few details but they are the clear enemies of Muslims. The startegy is set and the tone may change depending on the moment. Arabs and Muslims need to be watchful and do not trust the wset and their agents who are calling the shot in the region. It is a long fight before freedom is gained.
At best he is going to get a check. Trust is gone with israel.
I trust Abbas to run as fast as he can away from the peace table regardless of the offers Netanyahu brings. It is an easy call. After all, that is all Abbas ever does.
The only way progress will be achieved between Israel and Palestine is if President Obama shows leadership and conveys a very clear message to Netanyahu that his stalling tactics will simply not be tolerated. Do not Kowtow to Netanyahu and demand that Israel comply with International law and binding UNSC resolutions. Stand up to the extreme right and do not let yourself be intimidated!!
after stabbing Israel in the back repeatedly.
I keep forgetting what kind pre-eminent world super power Israel is. Silly me. The US with the world's largest economy, strongest military, and one of the most respected countries in the world has to regain the trust of Israel. It takes a special kind of audacity for people to think that Israel is a victim in waiting by Arab/Persians and at the same time think that major world powers have to listen to them or else...
Just a reality check.....
Obama is not stabbing Israel. He is just asking Israel to respect the international laws and leave the occupied Palestinain lands.
Hopefully his party will lose seats in November as I think he is to be feared. His father and step-father were both moslems and he has no idea what Jerusalem means to Jews even if they are not religious.
Why do you Israelis continue to insist that you're an independent nation, and also insist America owes you billions of dollars of handouts and blind support? You can't have your cake and eat it too. Grow up