Netanyahu set to embark on six-day US visit
Feb 28, 2014 16:14:28 GMT -5
Post by bloodbought on Feb 28, 2014 16:14:28 GMT -5
Netanyahu set to embark on six-day US visit
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to depart Israel for U.S. on Sunday • Iran nuclear program, peace talks with Palestinians expected to top agenda of White House meeting • Letter calls on PM to "stand firm against pressure."
Shlomo Cesana, Daniel Siryoti, Dan Lavie and Hezi Sternlicht
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will depart Israel on Sunday morning for a six-day visit to the U.S. During the trip, Netanyahu will meet U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington. The two leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and the nuclear talks between world powers and Iran.
While the visit is expected to be amicable, both Israeli and American officials are not hiding the fact that there are differences of opinion between Netanyahu and Obama.
A point of contention between the two regarding Iran's nuclear program is Netanyahu's demand that the U.S. and world powers insist that Iran be prohibited from enriching uranium within its own territory.
On the issue of the peace negotiations with the Palestinians, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected a present a framework document of principles next month. The U.S.-drafted proposal, which is based on progress made in the negotiations until now, is meant to lay the groundwork for continuing the talks and reaching a permanent accord by 2015.
The main principles of the proposal have not yet been presented to the two sides, but it is known that they will deal with divisive core issues.
Kerry has been the American point man in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, but Obama will be re-entering the fray with his meeting with Netanyahu on Monday. The White House announced on Thursday that Obama will also meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on March 17.
The New York Times reported earlier this week that Obama intends to pressure Netanyahu and Abbas to accept the U.S. framework proposal.
"The parties are talking about the core issues, including borders, security, Jerusalem, refugees, mutual recognition, an end of conflict, and an end of claims," White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Thursday. "We believe that the framework will be a significant breakthrough, as it would represent a common picture on the outlines of the final status agreement."
Meanwhile, a group of regional council heads in Judea and Samaria and religious Zionist rabbis have a sent a letter of support to Netanyahu, calling on him to "stand firm against pressure to give up parts of the land of Israel."
Speaking at a Manufacturers Association conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday ahead of his visit, Netanyahu said, "[In the U.S.] I will discuss diplomatic and security issues, which do not stop raging around us. I think that in the past five years we have navigated Israel through tumultuous waters and a global and regional storm in the best way possible -- responsibly, with prudence, all the while warding off pressures when necessary and preserving our vital security and economic interests. That is what we have done and will continue to do."
The Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday that, during negotiations with then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in 2008, Abbas had agreed to an Israeli Jew serving as mayor of an umbrella municipality for Jerusalem that would govern the capitals of Israel and a Palestinian state.
During his U.S. visit, Netanyahu will meet with WhatsApp founder Jan Koum and Apple officials. Netanyahu will also conduct meetings with officials from other Silicon Valley companies including Venture capital fund Sequoia, Flextronics, LinkedIn, and eBay, among others, in an effort to increase cooperation with them.
"They speak a lot of Hebrew there [in Silicon Valley] you know, and I want to draw our friends over there back to Israel to invest," Netanyahu said on Thursday.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to depart Israel for U.S. on Sunday • Iran nuclear program, peace talks with Palestinians expected to top agenda of White House meeting • Letter calls on PM to "stand firm against pressure."
Shlomo Cesana, Daniel Siryoti, Dan Lavie and Hezi Sternlicht
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will depart Israel on Sunday morning for a six-day visit to the U.S. During the trip, Netanyahu will meet U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington. The two leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations and the nuclear talks between world powers and Iran.
While the visit is expected to be amicable, both Israeli and American officials are not hiding the fact that there are differences of opinion between Netanyahu and Obama.
A point of contention between the two regarding Iran's nuclear program is Netanyahu's demand that the U.S. and world powers insist that Iran be prohibited from enriching uranium within its own territory.
On the issue of the peace negotiations with the Palestinians, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is expected a present a framework document of principles next month. The U.S.-drafted proposal, which is based on progress made in the negotiations until now, is meant to lay the groundwork for continuing the talks and reaching a permanent accord by 2015.
The main principles of the proposal have not yet been presented to the two sides, but it is known that they will deal with divisive core issues.
Kerry has been the American point man in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, but Obama will be re-entering the fray with his meeting with Netanyahu on Monday. The White House announced on Thursday that Obama will also meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on March 17.
The New York Times reported earlier this week that Obama intends to pressure Netanyahu and Abbas to accept the U.S. framework proposal.
"The parties are talking about the core issues, including borders, security, Jerusalem, refugees, mutual recognition, an end of conflict, and an end of claims," White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Thursday. "We believe that the framework will be a significant breakthrough, as it would represent a common picture on the outlines of the final status agreement."
Meanwhile, a group of regional council heads in Judea and Samaria and religious Zionist rabbis have a sent a letter of support to Netanyahu, calling on him to "stand firm against pressure to give up parts of the land of Israel."
Speaking at a Manufacturers Association conference in Tel Aviv on Thursday ahead of his visit, Netanyahu said, "[In the U.S.] I will discuss diplomatic and security issues, which do not stop raging around us. I think that in the past five years we have navigated Israel through tumultuous waters and a global and regional storm in the best way possible -- responsibly, with prudence, all the while warding off pressures when necessary and preserving our vital security and economic interests. That is what we have done and will continue to do."
The Jerusalem Post reported on Thursday that, during negotiations with then-Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in 2008, Abbas had agreed to an Israeli Jew serving as mayor of an umbrella municipality for Jerusalem that would govern the capitals of Israel and a Palestinian state.
During his U.S. visit, Netanyahu will meet with WhatsApp founder Jan Koum and Apple officials. Netanyahu will also conduct meetings with officials from other Silicon Valley companies including Venture capital fund Sequoia, Flextronics, LinkedIn, and eBay, among others, in an effort to increase cooperation with them.
"They speak a lot of Hebrew there [in Silicon Valley] you know, and I want to draw our friends over there back to Israel to invest," Netanyahu said on Thursday.
link