Barack Obama, Benjamin Netanyahu hail strong US-Israel bonds after row

“This is going to be an opportunity for the prime minister and myself to engage in a wide-ranging discussion on a few of the most pressing security issues that both our countries face”, Obama said before the meeting.

Obama himself stressed the importance of Israel’s security, noting that he has “repeatedly” said that protecting Israel was one of his top foreign policy priorities. Instead, Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said the focus will instead be on keeping peace talks possible for a future administration and looking for the kinds of measures that might rebuild a few trust, reduce tensions and “leave open the promise of a two-state solution”.

Though the Iran nuclear deal has been the biggest public point of contention between the leaders, only Obama raised the issue.

“I want to be very clear that we condemn in the strongest terms Palestinian violence against innocent Israeli citizens and I want to repeat once again that it is my strong belief that Israel has not just the right but an obligation to protect itself”, the president said.

Officials said Obama would instead press Netanyahu on what could be done to avoid confrontations between Israelis and Palestinians in the absence of a peace deal. U.S.-sponsored peace talks between Israel & the Palestinians collapsed in 2014. “For decades, America has stood by Israel, its most reliable ally in the Middle East. American leadership in strengthening the Middle East peace process is invaluable in creating a genuine and lasting peace”. The meeting at the White House lasted two and a half hours and showed every sign of being amicable.

President Barack Obama told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that while their differences are well-known, the USA and Israel have many shared interests and goals that they must work together to advance.

Netanyahu’s aide’s described the meeting as “good”.

In the meantime Palestinian terror attacks, which include stabbings, shootings and using vehicles as weapons to kill, continue daily on civilians in the Jewish State.

Though Obama and Netanyahu sought to play down their disagreements, no one expected that the two leaders, after years of testy relations, would have much success in overcoming their poor personal chemistry. Baratz has called Obama anti-Semitic and has also criticized US Secretary of State John Kerry.

Hoffman says the high point of that skirmish was Mr. Netanyahu addressing a joint session of Congress in March trying to sway lawmakers to reject Mr. Obama’s Iran nuclear deal.

Earlier this month, Obama administration officials revealed that is is unlikely, from their perspective, that a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians will be reached before President Obama leaves office.

A close associate said on Monday that Netanyahu planned to present a package of “gestures” to the Palestinians in the areas of employment, communication, water and construction.