Israel Tough
Decisions against Palestinians
The US president warns Israel’s PM that Israel needs
to take tough decision if peace talks with the Palestinians are to have a future.
During a joint address at the White House as a major
snow storm blanketed the city, the two leaders who have struggled to overcome
mutual antipathy once again found themselves very publicly at odds.
The US President pushed for a decision on the peace process,
while Netanyahu insisted Israel had done its part and said Iran is now the most urgent threat.
Israel and the Palestinians have been engaged in
seven months of direct peace talks which are due to expire at the end of April.
The Israeli leader hit back telling the president
that Israel had taken unprecedented steps to advance peace over the last 20
years and that the ball was now firmly in the Palestinians court.
The greatest challenge, undoubtedly is to prevent
Iran from acquiring the capacity to make nuclear weapons.
The US leader looked o impassively nodding almost imperceptibly
at several points, resting his clenched jaw on his hand.
On the other hand,
Washington may demand a partial settlement freeze to try and ensure the
Palestinians remain at the negotiating table.
Obama’s most significant entry into peacemaking
since 2010 when his first attempt at Middle East mediation collapsed after just
three weeks in a bitter dispute over settlements.
