U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Monday for the first time in 13 months.
The relationship between the President and the Israeli leader has experienced much strain, especially over the U.S.-backed nuclear deal with Iran and differences of opinion on how to resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Mr. Netanyahu had even delivered a speech to Congress to block the execution of the nuclear deal, viewing it as a threat to Israel.
“I want to make it clear that we have not given up our hope for peace,” Netanyahu told reporters before his meeting with President Obama, according to Reuters.
President Obama told reporters, according to U.S. News, that he wants to discuss with Mr. Netanyahu how tensions can be lowered between Israelis and Palestinians, in the light of recent violent clashes.
Both leaders plan on spending a significant portion of their meeting discussing the renewal of a security agreement that could possibly lead to increased United States military assistance to Israel, a matter that Mr. Netanyahu had refused to discuss after the nuclear agreement. This meeting is seen as an important first step in negotiations regarding such assistance.
Mr. Netanyahu confirmed his vision for a two-state solution. He, however, contended that Israel must be recognized as the homeland of the Jewish people, a request that has long since been denied by Palestinians. He did not make other specifications for how a two-state solution could be reached.
