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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Netanyahu ready for Obama talks | Netanyahu ready for Obama talks |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Mr Netanyahu and Mr Obama had a tense White House meeting in May | Mr Netanyahu and Mr Obama had a tense White House meeting in May |
| US President Barack Obama is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. | US President Barack Obama is due to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington. |
| They are expected to discuss a range of issues, including Iran's nuclear programme and efforts to start direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. | |
| The meeting comes a day after Israel confirmed it would allow more consumer goods to enter the Gaza Strip. | The meeting comes a day after Israel confirmed it would allow more consumer goods to enter the Gaza Strip. |
| But it said items including weapons and materials that could have a military use would be barred or limited. | But it said items including weapons and materials that could have a military use would be barred or limited. |
| Hamas, which has been controlling Gaza since 2007, dismissed the concessions as of no use and said the blockade should be fully lifted. | Hamas, which has been controlling Gaza since 2007, dismissed the concessions as of no use and said the blockade should be fully lifted. |
| Before Benjamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama get down to discussing details of how to restart direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, they will want to show the world that their own personal relationship and, more importantly, that of the US and Israel is rock-solid. | Before Benjamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama get down to discussing details of how to restart direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, they will want to show the world that their own personal relationship and, more importantly, that of the US and Israel is rock-solid. |
| Mr Netanyahu says he has listened and has since bent over backwards to accommodate Palestinian demands - making positive gestures like the freezing of new settlement building in the occupied West Bank. | Mr Netanyahu says he has listened and has since bent over backwards to accommodate Palestinian demands - making positive gestures like the freezing of new settlement building in the occupied West Bank. |
| Palestinian leaders say the Israeli moves are hollow. Officials emphasise the fact that existing, not new, construction continues apace. | Palestinian leaders say the Israeli moves are hollow. Officials emphasise the fact that existing, not new, construction continues apace. |
| Analysts say we should not expect too much. Mr Netanyahu does not have much more room for manoeuvre. Members of his right-wing coalition are already demanding a complete resumption of all building in the settlements in September - on the occupied West Bank and in East Jerusalem. | Analysts say we should not expect too much. Mr Netanyahu does not have much more room for manoeuvre. Members of his right-wing coalition are already demanding a complete resumption of all building in the settlements in September - on the occupied West Bank and in East Jerusalem. |
| Analysis: Little room to manoeuvre | Analysis: Little room to manoeuvre |
| Israel says its blockade of the Palestinian territory is needed to prevent the supply of weapons to Hamas. | Israel says its blockade of the Palestinian territory is needed to prevent the supply of weapons to Hamas. |
| Israel came under international pressure to ease its four-year blockade of Gaza after nine Turkish activists were killed in a 31 May Israeli raid on a flotilla that was trying to carry aid to the Palestinian territory. | Israel came under international pressure to ease its four-year blockade of Gaza after nine Turkish activists were killed in a 31 May Israeli raid on a flotilla that was trying to carry aid to the Palestinian territory. |
| The international Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, told the BBC he believed the international outcry which followed that raid persuaded it to accelerate the easing of the Gaza blockade. | The international Middle East envoy, Tony Blair, told the BBC he believed the international outcry which followed that raid persuaded it to accelerate the easing of the Gaza blockade. |
| "It is true to say that the Israeli government, I think, were moving towards a different policy anyway, but of course what happened has hugely accelerated the idea," he said. | "It is true to say that the Israeli government, I think, were moving towards a different policy anyway, but of course what happened has hugely accelerated the idea," he said. |
| The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says that Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu will have plenty to talk about: what comes next in the gathering storm over Iran's nuclear programme; the changing strategic picture in the Middle East, epitomised by Turkey's public falling out with the Israelis; and how to establish a credible peace process with the Palestinians. | The BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says that Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu will have plenty to talk about: what comes next in the gathering storm over Iran's nuclear programme; the changing strategic picture in the Middle East, epitomised by Turkey's public falling out with the Israelis; and how to establish a credible peace process with the Palestinians. |
| Last week Mr Netanyahu said he believed that a main part of the talks "will be focused on how to start direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians right away". | Last week Mr Netanyahu said he believed that a main part of the talks "will be focused on how to start direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians right away". |
| 'Better atmosphere' | 'Better atmosphere' |
| The Palestinians broke off direct peace talks after Israel launched a military offensive on Gaza in late 2008. | The Palestinians broke off direct peace talks after Israel launched a military offensive on Gaza in late 2008. |
| The start of indirect negotiations in March was halted after Israeli municipal authorities approved plans for the construction of new homes in a settlement in East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as the capital of a future state. | The start of indirect negotiations in March was halted after Israeli municipal authorities approved plans for the construction of new homes in a settlement in East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as the capital of a future state. |
| Under the proximity talks, Mr Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, will shuttle between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to try to narrow their differences. | Under the proximity talks, Mr Obama's Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, will shuttle between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to try to narrow their differences. |
| When the Israeli premier last visited the White House in March, he was snubbed by President Obama, who refused even to allow a photo of their meeting to be released, our editor says. | When the Israeli premier last visited the White House in March, he was snubbed by President Obama, who refused even to allow a photo of their meeting to be released, our editor says. |
| That was because of a row over an Israeli settlement plan in East Jerusalem. | That was because of a row over an Israeli settlement plan in East Jerusalem. |
| Both sides want the atmosphere this time to be much better, our editor says. | Both sides want the atmosphere this time to be much better, our editor says. |
| However, he adds that - unlike his predecessor - President Obama is prepared to accept that some of Israel's actions are part of the problem in the Middle East. This continues to create irritation - and nervousness - on the Israeli side. | However, he adds that - unlike his predecessor - President Obama is prepared to accept that some of Israel's actions are part of the problem in the Middle East. This continues to create irritation - and nervousness - on the Israeli side. |