Two states on the agenda in Obama-Israel talks
US president Barack Obama is set to meet with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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Monday, 18, May 2009 12:14
US president Barack Obama is set to meet with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu later today.
Mr Netanyahu will meet with the US president in Washington and is expected to discuss plans for a new peace deal in the Middle East.
Israel's defence minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday that Mr Netanyahu may be willing to endorse a separate Palestinian state – a solution favoured by the US.
Speaking on Israeli TV, Mr Barack said: "Netanyahu will tell Obama: We're willing to engage in a process whose end is a regional peace accord.
"The Arabs say 'two states,' [and] I don't see a reason why Netanyahu would not say that at the end of an accord... there will be two peoples living side by side in peace and mutual respect."
One of the other issues expected to be discussed at the talks is that of the building of settlements in the West Bank, an act considered illegal by the United Nations.
Another issue expected to be on the agenda is the response to Iran with US secretary of state Hillary Clinton previously saying that Israel risked support against Iran if it did not take peace efforts with the Palestinians seriously.