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Obama and Netanyahu to hold talks Obama and PM Netanyahu hold talks
(about 10 hours later)
US President Barack Obama is due to meet Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House as Washington struggles to revive Middle East peace talks. US President Barack Obama has met Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House as Washington struggles to revive Middle East peace talks.
The talks come amid heightened tension between the Obama administration and Israeli and Palestinian leaders over Jewish settlements in the West Bank.The talks come amid heightened tension between the Obama administration and Israeli and Palestinian leaders over Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Aides to Mr Netanyahu said the two leaders would also discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions. Mr Netanyahu told a forum of US Jewish leaders he was ready for an agreement.
Mr Netanyahu is in Washington to address a forum of Jewish leaders.
The Israeli prime minister's meeting with Mr Obama on Monday was announced only after he had arrived in the US.The Israeli prime minister's meeting with Mr Obama on Monday was announced only after he had arrived in the US.
The White House had previously declined to confirm the meeting, but Israeli officials denied that the absence of an invitation would be a snub to Mr Netanyahu.The White House had previously declined to confirm the meeting, but Israeli officials denied that the absence of an invitation would be a snub to Mr Netanyahu.
Mr Netanyahu told the Jewish leaders' forum: "I say today to [Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud] Abbas ... let us seize the moment to reach a historic agreement. Let us begin talks immediately."
He said his goal was a "permanent peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians - and soon".
US setbacksUS setbacks
Mr Obama's administration has made Israeli-Palestinian peace talks the cornerstone of its Middle East policy.Mr Obama's administration has made Israeli-Palestinian peace talks the cornerstone of its Middle East policy.
However, its peace efforts have recently suffered two setbacks.However, its peace efforts have recently suffered two setbacks.
The Palestinians say a settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank is a precondition for a renewal of talks, and Washington has been backing their stance.The Palestinians say a settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank is a precondition for a renewal of talks, and Washington has been backing their stance.
But US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton angered Arab leaders last week when she praised Mr Netanyahu's offer of a limited easing of settlement building as "unprecedented".But US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton angered Arab leaders last week when she praised Mr Netanyahu's offer of a limited easing of settlement building as "unprecedented".
The second blow came when moderate Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced he would not seek re-election because of the impasse in peace negotiations.The second blow came when moderate Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced he would not seek re-election because of the impasse in peace negotiations.
He accused the US of backtracking by refusing to persuade Israel to freeze Jewish settlement building.He accused the US of backtracking by refusing to persuade Israel to freeze Jewish settlement building.
Mr Netanyahu, in his speech in Washington, said that "no Israeli government has been so willing to restrain settlement activities as part of our efforts to relaunch peace talks."
Mr Obama was originally scheduled to address the Jewish Federations of North America's annual General Assembly, which Mr Netanyahu is attending.Mr Obama was originally scheduled to address the Jewish Federations of North America's annual General Assembly, which Mr Netanyahu is attending.
But he pulled out to attend a memorial service at Fort Hood military base following the massacre there. His chief of staff Rahm Emanuel will address the meeting instead.But he pulled out to attend a memorial service at Fort Hood military base following the massacre there. His chief of staff Rahm Emanuel will address the meeting instead.