U.S. President Barack Obama (R) listens to Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speak in the Oval Office at the White House on July 6, 2010 in Washington, DC. The two leaders spoke to reporters and are scheduled to participate in a working lunch. UPI/Mark Wilson/Pool |
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NEW YORK, July 11 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said his meeting with U.S. President Obama demonstrated anew the "unbreakable bond" between the two countries.
"If anyone thought that there was a change of U.S. policy or daylight between Israel and the United States .... I think (Obama) did a lot to lay that to rest," Netanyahu said on "Fox News Sunday."
The two world leaders met Tuesday at the White House, where Netanyahu received a warm welcome, unlike the chilly reception he got in March amid strained relations.
Netanyahu said he and Obama devoted half their meeting to a detailed discussion of Israel's security concerns but would not elaborate on "confidential" matters.
He said Israel could make peace with the Palestinian Authority but added, "It requires a lot of courage from our side, from me, and it also requires courage from (Palestinian Authority President) Mahmoud Abbas."
Calling on Abbas to "step up to the plate" for negotiations, Netanyahu said: "I need a partner on the other side. You know, you can't be a trapeze artist that wants to connect with the other guy and there's no one there. I need a Palestinian partner."
Israel and the PA now negotiate only indirectly through U.S. Mideast Envoy George Mitchell.
The PA has refused to agree to direct talks with Israel over differences relating to security and borders. But Obama called Abbas Friday and urged him to agree to direct talks with Israeli, a Palestinian source told The Jerusalem Post.
The president's call came in response to a request from Netanyahu, the Post reported Sunday.