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| Israel's PM wants 'immediate' peace talks | |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is ready to start peace negotiations with Palestinians "immediately". | |
| He was speaking after talks with US President Barack Obama at the White House - the first since their election. | |
| Mr Obama reaffirmed US support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and said the US would be "engaged" in the process. | |
| Without mentioning a Palestinian state, Mr Netanyahu said Israel was ready to live "side-by-side" with Palestinians. | |
| President Obama also said Israel had a clear obligation - under the so-called "roadmap" - to stop building Jewish settlements in the West Bank "in order for us to move forward". | |
| "That's a difficult issue, I recognise that, but it's an important one and it has to be addressed," the president said. | |
| The two leaders also discussed Iran during their talks, lasting more than two hours. | |
| Mr Obama said "it is not in Iran's interest" to develop nuclear arms, and that the US would keep options open. | |
| He stressed that "we should have some sense by the end of the year" on whether talks with Iran were bearing fruit. | |
| Mr Netanyahu will also have to contend with a new, popular American leader who made Palestinian statehood and peace in the Middle East one of his top foreign policy priorities BBC's Kim Ghattas Israeli PM faces tough talks in US | Mr Netanyahu will also have to contend with a new, popular American leader who made Palestinian statehood and peace in the Middle East one of his top foreign policy priorities BBC's Kim Ghattas Israeli PM faces tough talks in US |
| Israel believes that a nuclear-armed Iran was a threat to its existence. | Israel believes that a nuclear-armed Iran was a threat to its existence. |
| Amid reports from Israel that the authorities were moving ahead with plans to expand a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, Mr Obama said Israel had an obligation under the road-map peace plan agreed in 2003, that Jewish settlements had to be stopped. | Amid reports from Israel that the authorities were moving ahead with plans to expand a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, Mr Obama said Israel had an obligation under the road-map peace plan agreed in 2003, that Jewish settlements had to be stopped. |
| Tenders have been issued to build 20 housing units in Maskiot, a former Israeli military base that has been designated for housing settlers removed from Gaza in 2005. | Tenders have been issued to build 20 housing units in Maskiot, a former Israeli military base that has been designated for housing settlers removed from Gaza in 2005. |
| Israeli campaign group Peace Now says this is a clear message to Washington that the Israeli government intends to expand settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. | Israeli campaign group Peace Now says this is a clear message to Washington that the Israeli government intends to expand settlements, which are considered illegal under international law. |
| Differing approaches | Differing approaches |
| On Sunday, Ehud Barak told Israeli TV a Palestinian peace deal could be struck within three years. | On Sunday, Ehud Barak told Israeli TV a Palestinian peace deal could be struck within three years. |
| "The Arabs say 'two states,' [and] I don't see a reason why Netanyahu would not say that at the end of an accord... there will be two peoples living side by side in peace and mutual respect," he said. | "The Arabs say 'two states,' [and] I don't see a reason why Netanyahu would not say that at the end of an accord... there will be two peoples living side by side in peace and mutual respect," he said. |
| Mr Netanyahu has so far been unwilling to endorse a two-state solution, saying only he wants a "fresh approach". | Mr Netanyahu has so far been unwilling to endorse a two-state solution, saying only he wants a "fresh approach". |
| A two-state solution based on independent Palestinian statehood is a goal strongly backed by the US and key Arab nations. | A two-state solution based on independent Palestinian statehood is a goal strongly backed by the US and key Arab nations. |
| Although Israel's long-standing relationship with the US remains strong, analysts say Mr Netanyahu is likely to find himself under pressure from the US president. | Although Israel's long-standing relationship with the US remains strong, analysts say Mr Netanyahu is likely to find himself under pressure from the US president. |
| The two leaders are due to give a brief press conference after their morning meeting, before breaking for a private luncheon with their wives. | The two leaders are due to give a brief press conference after their morning meeting, before breaking for a private luncheon with their wives. |
| Following the White House summit, Mr Netanyahu will hold talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates and members of Congress. | Following the White House summit, Mr Netanyahu will hold talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates and members of Congress. |
| He returns to Israel on Tuesday evening. | He returns to Israel on Tuesday evening. |