Netanyahu Meets with Obama on Iran, Hamas, and Peace Process

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Prime Minister Netanyahu met with President Barack Obama in Washington Wednesday. Their meeting was focused on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, Iran and regional threats such as ISIS.

Obama and Netanyahu addressed the press before their meeting. President Obama focused on the peace process and stated that leaders from both the Israeli and Palestinian side must “find ways to change the status quo so that both Israel citizens are safe in their own homes, and schoolchildren in their schools, from the possibility of rocket fire but also that we don’t have the tragedy of Palestinian children being killed as well.”

Netanyahu stated the he remains “committed to the vision of peace of two states for two peoples, based on mutual recognition and rock solid security arrangements “ adding that the process has changed with failed talks earlier this year stating “we should make use of the new opportunities in the Middle East, think outside of the box, and see how we can include the Arab countries to advance this very hopeful agenda.”

He spoke of altering relations between Arab stated and Israel and stated, “There is something that is changing in the Middle East. Out of the new situation there is a commonality of interests between Israel and the leading Arab states, and I think that that we should work very hard together to seize upon the common interests and build positive progress to advance a more secure, prosperous and peaceful Middle East.”

Obama stated he was proud that the United States was able to contribute significantly to the Iron Dome system “that protected the lives of Israelis at a time when rockets were pouring into Israel on a regular basis” during Operation Protective Edge.

He stated on Netanyahu that he knows “the prime minister’s utmost priority is making sure that his country is safe during these difficult times, and we’re glad that the United States can be a partner in that process.”

Netanyahu made clear Israel’s top priority is the threat nuclear Iran poses to Israel and to the region. He stated to Obama, “Iran seeks a deal that would lift the tough sanctions that you worked so hard to put in place and leave it as a threshold nuclear power. And I firmly hope under your leadership that would not happen.”

Photo credit: Photo by Kobi Gideon / GPO (Creative Commons)

AmirTsarfatiAmir Tsarfati, a Jewish Christian, is the founder and president of Behold Israel, a news site to correct the scarcity in trustworthy reportage on issues and events impacting Israel, and to resolve the uncertainty about who or what to believe.

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