Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Rahm Emanuel invites Netanyahu to WH meeting to discuus "shared security interests"

White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on Wednesday invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington for talks with the U.S. President Obama on regional peace and security.

"On behalf of the President I am happy to extend an invitation to visit President Obama in the White House for a working meeting to discuss our shared security interests, as well as our close co-operation in achieving peace between Israel and its neighbors," Emanuel told Netanyahu at the prime minister's Jerusalem office.

At the end of their meeting Netanyahu and Emanuel made statements but did not take questions from the press. Emanuel noted the warm welcome he received in Israel and joked with Netanyahu about his teenage son.

Emanuel said the White House talks would focus on "shared security interests," a likely reference to the Iranian nuclear issue.