(Bloomberg) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in Washington ahead of a meeting with President Barack Obama as aides minimized speculation that their differences over Middle East peacekeeping would cause conflict.
Netanyahu will spell out his reservations to Palestinian statehood during talks at the White House and also focus on how they can cooperate to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, the prime minister’s national security adviser, Uzi Arad, told reporters today in Washington.
“We are confident that a sense of pragmatism and the desire for progress will drive the discussion and what will decide the issue are the practicalities of the matter and not the rhetoric,” Arad said about peace efforts with the Palestinians.
Obama, 47, is calling for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while Netanyahu remains skeptical. The White House meeting will be the first time that Netanyahu and Obama have met since both of them took office this year.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters last week that tomorrow’s meeting won’t be “as contentious” as some expect.
On the flight from Israel, Netanyahu declined to say anything about what might develop when he meets Obama, though he and his wife Sara walked around the entire cabin to shake hands with reporters, aides and security agents.
Arad spoke at a hastily organized press briefing conducted at Blair House, the U.S. guest house for visiting heads of state, after officials initially refused to answer questions about what Netanyahu, 59, expects when he meets Obama.
“Iran is making progress all the time towards nuclear capability and the aim of both countries to block Iran from achieving that capability will definitely figure at the heart of the talks,” Arad said. “There is a sense of urgency on our side. The prime minister will emphatically emphasize the element of urgency.”
No comments:
Post a Comment