Obama, Netanyahu seek common ground following Iran deal

WASHINGTONIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as he met U.S. President Barack Obama in a bid to mend ties strained by acrimony over Iran and Middle East diplomacy.

The White House also said Netanyahu’s visit is a demonstration of the deep and enduring bonds between the USA and Israel as well as their unprecedented security cooperation. During the Monday meeting, Obama referred to the Iran deal as a “narrow issue” that is part of a broader relationship.

Obama didn’t meet the prime minister when he traveled to Washington to address lawmakers, citing the proximity to Israeli elections that resulted in Netanyahu staying in power. “We are going to be looking to make sure we find common ground there”, he said. “We think this is a threat to you as well”, Netanyahu told NBC News, a day after the nations reached the historic agreement earlier this year.

Echoing Obama’s assessment of the situation in the Middle East, Netanyahu said both the United States and Israel “are obviously tested, today, in the instability and insecurity” besetting the region.

Netanyahu too issued a statement distancing himself from Baratz’ posts, calling them “totally unacceptable”. “A lot of work to do, with too little time“, Obama said, after expressing his condolences to the Prime Minister over the death of former Israeli President Yitzhak Navon.

“With the savagery of ISIS, with the aggression in terror by Iran’s proxies, and by Iran itself… the combination of turbulence has now displaced millions of people, has butchered hundreds of thousands, and we don’t know what will transpire”, Netanyahu said.

The settlements are considered illegal under global law and have been a major impediment to a peace agreement with the Palestinians. The current deal between Israel and the USA, which provides $3 billion annually to Israel, is set to expire in 2017.

Media advisor Ran Baratz is an outspoken right-winger, who over the past year, prior to his nomination, called Obama’s response to Netanyahu’s Congress speech an example of “modern anti-Semitism” and dismissed Kerry as laughable.

While White House officials have been playing down expectations of completing their negotiations on the size of the new 10-year military aid package during this week’s visit, Obama made clear there was no question it would be renewed.

The two leaders also are expected to discuss the fresh wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence that began two months ago at a Jerusalem holy site and spread across Israel and into the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Earnest said there was a “pretty stark divide” right now between Israelis and Palestinians that needs to be bridged, adding that Netanyahu’s comments on his hopes for peace were “encouraging, but what matters is the follow through”.