“We do have concerns around settlement activity”, Obama said, adding that the USA wanted to help Israel pursue peace.
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That candor has become a hallmark of the relationship between Obama and his Israeli counterpart, whom the White House has accused of being less-than-diplomatic in expressing his opposition to USA policies like the nuclear agreement with Iran.
The White House says Obama’s meeting Wednesday with Netanyahu will likely be his last before leaving office.
The next president and Congress should rescind and renegotiate the new $38 billion 10-year “memorandum of understanding” signed last week between Israel and the Obama administration, Sen.
It is worth to note that Obama made a move earlier this month to reassure the U.S. -Israel alliance by funding the nation $38 billion and completing a long-term security aid package pledged to the USA ally.
“It allows the Iraelis to have some kind of certainty in a moment when there’s enormous uncertainty in the region”, the president said.
“It is a very risky and hard 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.
The U.S. President Barack Obama urged Israel to end occupation in Palestinian territories in his farewell speech at the United Nations summit.
“This commitment to Israel’s security has been unwavering and is based on a genuine and abiding concern for the welfare of the Israeli people and the future of the State of Israel”.
The allegations of collaboration with Israel comes after reports emerged in September past year that 20 Palestinians filed a lawsuit against the PA in an Israeli court, seeking up to $100 million in damages after they were detained for alleged collaboration with Israeli intelligence.
The two spoke to reporters before their discussion, with Obama sharing his hope that the United States can continue to help Israel find a “path to peace” with their Palestinian neighbors.
A senior administration official said Obama raised “profound USA concerns about the corrosive effect that that is having on the prospects of two states”.
In the meeting Wednesday Obama raised “profound U.S. concerns about the corrosive effect that that is having on the prospects of two states”.
Mr Netanyahu challenged that notion, said one official, adding that the two leaders had not “papered over” their differences.
But the White House tamped down any expectation that Obama would use his final months to launch a new Middle East peace initiative, saying Obama will only step in if he believes both sides are ready and the United States can play a constructive role. “Time is running out and this is one of the last opportunities that a statement by President Obama could be significant”.
But despite the fact that numerous Israeli officials, including the Defense Minister and the Prime Minister, have admitted to this practice, none have been charged with violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention. “We’ve tried multiple tactics; none of them have succeeded”. Much of the criticism came from either Ehud Barak, a former Prime Minister from the center-left Labor party interested in making a comeback, or Moshe Ya’alon, the former chief of staff who would love to replace Netanyahu as prime minister.
On the topic of peace talks with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said that Israel “will never give up”, on the prospect of peace. Mr. Netanyahu made a public show of friendliness at the meeting.
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He told Mr. Obama his “influential voice will be heard for many decades”, and he welcomed him to try out the “terrific golf course” near his home – though he also mentioned that he does not golf.
