Netanyahu coming to White House

WASHINGTON, May 4 (UPI) -- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will meet with U.S. President Barack Obama this month at the White House, a presidential aide announced Wednesday.

"The leaders look forward to discussing the full range of issues of mutual interest to the United States and Israel," the statement from press secretary Jay Carney said in announcing the May 20 meeting.

The two leaders have plenty of issues on their plates, starting with the proposed reconciliation of Hamas and Fatah that threatens to further undermine the stalled peace talks. Some Palestinian officials are vowing to seek international backing of Palestinian statehood, sidestepping the need to negotiate a deal with Israel.

Fatah controls the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas holds sway in the Gaza Strip but is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel.

Netanyahu has said an alliance between the two factions would mean an end to Israeli participation in peace negotiations.

Carney told reporters the administration was working to obtain details of the Fatah-Hamas agreement and was consulting with the parties involved.

"What is important now is that Palestinians ensure implementation of that agreement, that its implementation advances the prospects of peace, rather than undermines those prospects," Carney said. "We certainly agree that it's imperative for the parties involved to sit down and negotiate a lasting peace. And the president has made that clear and he continues to believe that's necessary."

The last time the Israeli prime minister was at the White House was March 2010, when the United States was trying to pressure Israel to back off settlement construction in territory contested by Palestinians.