Security environment in the Middle East deteriorated: Obama

In the White House, the perception is that Netanyahu has derided Obama recently as not being pro-Israel, particularly during the intense debates over the merits of the Iran nuclear deal.

Today, documents revealed that Israel has given preliminary approval for a settlement project in the West Bank, an area that Palestinians are demanding as part of a future state. He added: “The security of Israel is one of my top foreign policy priorities, and that has expressed itself not only in words, but in deeds”.

Obama and Netanyahu are known to have testy personal ties, not least because of the right-wing Israeli premier’s courting of Republicans – the US president’s opponents – including in a speech to Congress in March not coordinated with the White House.

US President Barack Obama on Monday said the security environment in the Middle East has deteriorated as he discussed about developing a strategy to blunt the activities of terror outfits like IS and Hezbollah in the region with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

016-c-22-(Mark Smith, AP White House correspondent)-“clashes in Jerusalem”-AP White House Correspondent Mark Smith reports the president and Benjamin Netanyahu are hoping to put bitter divisions over the Iran nuclear deal behind them”.

The USA president said he meant to discuss in the meeting with the Prime minister the implementation of the agreement on the Iranian nuclear deal, stressing that the deep disagreement with him on this subject was a secret for no one.

The Israeli side now hopes they can begin working on a memorandum of understanding that will increase USA military aid to Israel. “Israel has shouldered a tremendous defense burden over the years, and we’ve done it with the generous assistance of the United States of America”, the Israeli leader said.

It’s the first time both world leaders have met in more than a year.

Iran “likely” already has broken the terms of the agreement by conducting ballistic missile tests last month, according to CNN.

It has been more than a year since the two leaders came face-to-face, and their talks at the White House are taking place amid a spike in violence by Palestinians against Israeli civilians and amid fears of a new uprising, or intifada, in the Palestinian territories.

Netanyahu pledged his support for a two-state solution based on a “Palestinian state that recognizes the Jewish state”.

Monday’s meeting comes amid a fresh burst of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.

Other protesters like Veterans for Peace member Michael Marceau called for an end to US military aid to Israel, saying the money would be better spent on returning American military service personnel.

And Obama confirms that that he isn’t committed to Palestine but rather Israel.

Then there is the awkward issue of the appointment by Netanyahu of a new chief spokesperson, who has belittled Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry in posts on Facebook.