Israel to receive less USA military aid than Netanyahu requested White House

Obama spoke in the Oval Office during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet on Monday for the first time since the Israeli leader lost his battle against the Iran nuclear deal, with Washington seeking his re-commitment to a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

The visit – Netanyahu’s first since he angered the White House by speaking in March to the Republican-led Congress about his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal – comes amid an onslaught of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, which the leaders are expected to discuss.

“I believe that this meeting is important in order to clarify the continuation of American aid to Israel in the coming decade”, Netanyahu said at the start of his cabinet meeting on Sunday in Israel.

Those areas include the potential of bolstering the military assistance pact that has provided $3 billion in annual aid, due to expire in 2017.

“Both sides would like this to be a “make-nice” session”, said Ilan Goldenberg, director of the Middle East security program at the Center for a New American Security.

The President did acknowledge his public clashes with Netanyahu over the Iran nuclear deal – which the Israeli leader has branded a historic mistake – but emphasized where they agree on the strategically crucial concern.

“I think this is the Israeli policy for the last few years”.

There was no mention either of the recent Israeli appointment of a controversial new prime ministerial spokesman who has ruffled feathers even before starting his new position.

Mr. Netanyahu said he had been unaware of Mr. Baratz’s postings online, and disputed the State Department’s characterization of his conversation with Mr. Kerry.

He said Obama and Netanyahu will instead discuss ways to continue the “longstanding cooperation” on Iran, which includes sharing technical knowledge and monitoring techniques.

Aides said Obama wants Israel to take measures on such issues as withdrawal from the West Bank, Palestinian control over Jerusalem and a Jewish housing freeze that could prepare for an eventual Palestinian state.

American officials sought to downplay the effect the language would have on Netanyahu’s visit and said it was the prerogative of the Israeli government to determine who serves in official posts.

The Israeli Haaretz newspaper quoted Robert Malley, Mr. Obama’s senior adviser on the Middle East, as saying: “The main thing the President would want to hear from Netanyahu is that, without peace talks, how does he want to move forward to prevent a one-state solution, stabilize the situation on the ground and to signal he is committed to the two-state solution”. Obama slammed Netanyahu for using “divisive rhetoric” during his re-election bid earlier this year.