Netanyahu and Obama hail security ties in final meeting
The US president and Israeli PM bid each other farewell, affirming their two countries strong ties after a newly agreed security deal
US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu bid each other farewell with a strident affirmation of security ties between their countries.
The leaders were all smiles as they sat down in New York for what the White House said was likely to be their last meeting before Mr Obama’s presidency ends in January.
Mr Obama made only a passing reference to his opposition to the uptick in Israeli settlement construction in occupied lands as reporters were allowed in briefly for the start of the meeting.
“We do have concerns around settlement activity,” Mr Obama said, adding that the US wanted to help Israel pursue peace.
In private, Mr Obama was more pointed, senior administration officials said, and raised “profound US concerns” that settlement-building was eroding prospects for peace.
Mr Netanyahu challenged that notion, said one official, adding that the two leaders had not “papered over” their differences.
Mr Netanyahu’s ardent opposition to Mr Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran – perhaps the biggest irritant in the relationship – did not arise during the meeting, said the officials.
The move by both leaders not to air their differences in public reflected their common understanding that if a breakthrough on Middle East peace is to occur, it will not be while Mr Obama is still president.
Following previous failed attempts to broker peace, the Obama administration has opted against a new major diplomatic push.
That means the focus shifts in the US to Mr Obama’s potential successors: Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump.
Both would face similar obstacles to Mr Obama if they sought to pick up where he left off, although Mr Trump has insisted his administration would be anything but business as usual.
Meanwhile, both Russia and France have signalled an interest in taking on a larger role in mediating between Israelis and Palestinians.
Still, Mr Obama has not ruled out the possibility that, in his final months in office, he will seek to influence the future debate by laying out what he sees as the contours of any viable deal.
That could come in the form of a major speech or a US-backed UN Security Council resolution – both moves that would increase pressure on Israel and that Mr Netanyahu would be expected to oppose.
White House officials said Mr Obama was not actively planning such a move but would consider it if it appeared likely to influence the situation positively.
In public, Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu spent most of their time touting a 10-year military assistance deal their countries struck this month worth 38 billion dollars (£29 billion), the largest tranche of military aid the US has ever given another country.
The White House is hoping the unprecedented aid will curb the perception among Israel’s supporters that Mr Obama has been insufficiently supportive of Israel’s security
“It is a very dangerous and difficult time in the Middle East and we want to make sure that Israel has the full capabilities it needs in order to keep the Israeli people safe,” Mr Obama said.
Mr Netanyahu added: “Your influential voice will be heard for many decades, and I know you’ll continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself and its right to thrive as a Jewish state.”
Ties between the two leaders never fully recovered after Mr Netanyahu showed up on Capitol Hill to lobby Congress against Mr Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran.
The Obama administration, meanwhile, has been dismayed by periodic comments by the Israeli leader suggesting he was less than serious about the two-state solution that has been the basis of all serious peace efforts for decades.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
