Netanyahu convinces Obama Israel is serious: Israel "wants peace" and is serious about its intentions to move forward to direct negotiations with the Palestinians, President Barack Obama said after meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday.
As Politico reports:
As Politico reports:
There were laughter and protracted handshakes at the Barack Obama-Benjamin Netanyahu press conference following their White House meeting today, as the American and Israeli leaders sought to use body language and warm words to demonstrate the strength of the American-Israeli relationship.
Obama objected to an Israeli reporter's characterization that Obama had previously distanced himself from Israel.
"The premise of your question was wrong," Obama said, saying he has constantly reaffirmed the special relationship and that the U.S. commitment to Israel's security is "unwavering."
The U.S. will "back that up, not just with words but with actions," Obama said.
Netanyahu added that, paraphrasing Mark Twain, "reports of the demise of the special relationship" between the U.S. and Israel "are just flat wrong."
We're committed to peace, I'm committed to peace," Netanyahu said. However, the Prime Minister pointed out that Israel wants security after a peace agreement, saying that the withdrawal from Gaza did not bring that.
"Peace is the best option," Netanyahu declared.
Netanyahu said that, in order to accomplish this goal, "Abbas and I need to move to direct talks."
Obama expressed support for Netanyahu, saying "he's dealing with a complex situation in a tough neighborhood."
"I believe the prime minister wants peace, two states living side-by-side in peace and security" Obama said. "We expect the proximity talks to lead to direct talks, and there will be a set of confidence-building measures."
"It's important that the Palestinians don't look for excuses for incitment," Obama pointed out. "Abbas and Fayyad have done significant things for security in the West Bank - we should extend their powers there. The Palestinian people will appreciate that."
Obama also asked Iran to "cease its provocative behavior," and said that "as a consequence of hard work, internationally the toughest sanctions ever have been put on Iran, in addition to [the US's] robust sanctions."
"We will continue to pressure Iran," Obama added.
In connection to the Non-Proliferation Conference, Obama said "we believe that given its size and the threats against it, Israel has unique security requirements."
"The US will never ask Israel to take steps to undermine its security interests," the US president declared. "We are committed to Israel's security."
"We discussed Gaza," Obama said. "I congratulated Prime Minister Netanyahu on the progress that's been made more quickly and more effectively than many thought."
Netanyahu brought a detailed list of goods Israel will not allow into the Gaza Strip. The "negative" list, defines what is prohibited rather than what is permitted, thus allowing more goods in.
Obama also sought to dispel rumors of a worsening US-Israel relationship, saying "our relationship continues to improve in great part because of Netanyahu."
The US president called the meeting "one more step in the extraordinary friendship between the US and Israel, which has grown closer and closer as time goes on."
"I've trusted Netanyahu since the first time I met him, before I was elected president" Obama said. "The press in Israel and the US like to make a storm."