Netanyahu stands firm AGAINST demands from Obama

[briann]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/5346415/Netanyahu-stands-firm-against-demands-from-Obama.html

Netanyahu stands firm against demands from Obama

Israel stood firm against demands from Barack Obama on Monday to cease the construction of Jewish settlements and embrace the "two-state solution" to achieving peace in the Middle East.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, in his first meeting with Barack Hussein Obama, made it clear that while he welcomed Obama's commitment to the region, he was more concerned about dealing with the threat of Iran than peace talks.

Obama was unable to secure any commitments on ceasing the construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank or embracing the "two-state solution" to achieving peace in the Middle East.
 
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      Barack Obama faces tense meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu

Sitting side by side in the White House, the two leaders hailed the friendship between their two countries but remained far apart on how to proceed towards a resolution of the 60-year conflict between Israel and the "Palestinians."

Obama said the "Palestinians" had to take steps to guarantee Israel's security – but took a tough line on the construction of settlements on Arab land.

"Israel is going to have to take difficult steps as well," he said. "There is a clear understanding we have to make progress on settlements. Settlements have to stop."

He called on Mr. Netanyahu, who leads a hawkish, Right-wing coalition, to seize a "historic opportunity" to work earnestly for peace.

"It is in the interests of Israel, the US and the international community to achieve a two-state solution. We have seen progress stalled on this front. I suggested to the prime minister he has a historic opportunity to get serious movement on this issue during his tenure," he said.

There was a conspicuous lack of praise for his 59-year-old Israeli visitor, whom he said had the "benefit of having served" previously as prime minister and for having "both youth and wisdom".

The meeting overran to two hours, suggesting that the two sides had struggled to find a way of presenting a unified face to the watching world.

Though Mr. Netanyahu made clear he wanted to hold peace talks with the Palestinians, he refused to utter the words "two-state solution", the consensus approach towards peace agreed by previous Israeli governments and US administrations.

Obama is expected to announce his own revamped version of the "road map" next month, after he has met Mahmoud Abbas, the "Palestinian" president, and Hosni Mubarak, the Egyptian president.

"The terminology will take care of itself," said Mr. Netanyahu. "The important thing is to resume negotiations with the Palestinians as soon as possible. The issue is less one of terminology than of substance."

He said that if a peace deal delivered a "terror base next door" to Israel than it would be worthless, and insisted that Hamas, the militant group that controlled Gaza, had to recognise Israel before he was ready to make concessions.

The prime minister dwelt at length on the threat posed to Israel by Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons.

His goal is to persuade the Americans that Tehran must be reined in before peacemaking with the "Palestinians" can progress.


EDIT: Point well taken TBOT. Edited again for readability.

[Angry Panther]

Obama wants to wait until the end of the year before putting the military option on the table. That gives the Iranians the time they need to advance and improve making their Nuclear bombs. It will also make it much more difficult to take out any targets. With Foreign Policy like that were all going to be dead. Israel has to go it alone on this one, I hope Netanyahu makes the right decision and takes out Iran's nuke factories.

Just for the record who was it that warned the world about this threat in the first place; JTF and Chaim Ben Pesach. While we were all being "shocked & awed", Chaim kept saying "Iran is the threat". Taking out Iran five or ten years ago would have been simple, I hope they can do it today.

[takebackourtemple]

Remember that we have a Muslim Nazi in the white house and he is not our president because he was born in Kenya.

[Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks]

I'll believe that Wenis Netanyoyo is serious about standing up to Osama when the planes actually strike.