(AP) — President Barack Obama's national security adviser has met with Israel's defense minister, just hours before the U.S. leader leaves on a trip to the Middle East.
Ehud Barak met with National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones on Tuesday at the White House. President Barack Obama entered the room in middle of meeting , joined the discussion and spoke with Barak for 15 minutes.
The visit comes ahead of Obama's trip to the Middle East to promote improved U.S. relations with Muslims and their nations. Obama plans to visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and a speech to Muslims Thursday in Cairo.
Update: from Ynet:
Sources in Washington told Ynet that Obama "dropped by" to greet Barak, who he met during his visit to Israel ahead of the US presidential elections.
The president's presence in the four-hour meeting between Barak and Jones was not planned in advance. Obama and Barak reportedly discussed, among other things, the issue of a settlement freeze, which at this time is at the heart of the disagreements between US and Israel.
During the meeting Barak presented Jerusalem's position, whereby Israel is willing to remove 22 out of the 26 illegal outposts established in the West Bank after March 2001. The defense minister urged the US administration to reexamine the demand to freeze construction in settlements and settlement blocs that may remain in Israel's hands as part of a future peace agreement.
