Israel’s Security Is Washington’s Top Priority

08/07/2010 US President Barack Obama had warm words about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after their talks on Tuesday and affirmed the unbreakable bond that links the United States and Israel.

The last meeting between the two leaders earlier this year had been frosty, overshadowed by Israel's announcement of construction in occupied East Jerusalem despite the temporary settlement freeze.

Netanyahu on Wednesday described his meeting with Obama as positive, adding that America has no better friend or ally than Israel.

In an interview with CBS anchor Katie Couric later Wednesday, Netanyahu was asked why he had such a positive outlook and whether anything in his talks with Obama had been disappointing.

"You know, you ... you remind me of the Israeli press. They say, 'How come you had a good meeting with President Obama?' Well, because I did," he responded.

In an interview with CNN's Larry King, Netanyahu indicated that Israel had made substantial advances toward a peace agreement, while the Palestinians hesitate to act. "The whole settlement issue," Netanyahu said "is supposed to be discussed at the final peace negotiations."

"Let's just get into the talks and one of the things we'll discuss right away is this issue of settlements and that's what I propose doing," he said. "I put on a temporary freeze – seven months passed by but the Palestinians didn’t come and now they need another extension."

"It requires courage on the Palestinian side to stand up and do what the latest president of Egypt Anwar Saddat did – to say 'It’s over, enough with the bloodshed.'"

Asked if he would sit down at the negotiations table with Hamas, Netanyahu said he "would sit down with anyone who recognizes our existence and not calling for our destruction."

Netanyahu also met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, to discuss the efforts promote Middle East peace and the continuing closure of Gaza. The two met for nearly an hour at the UN headquarters, for talks that included a one-on-one discussion.

Netanyahu did not speak to reporters following those talks, and UN associate spokesman Farhan Haq issued a very brief statement saying only that they discussed the Middle East peace process, Gaza closures and Lebanon among other topics.

Following a meeting in Washington earlier Wednesday with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Netanyahu said that a final status agreement must provide for the possibly of renewed hostilities on Occupied Palestinian eastern border following an American withdrawal from Iraq.

The Israeli prime minister's comments appear to indicate that even after a withdrawal from Palestinian territory, he would insist on maintaining an Israeli military presence along the Jordan Valley, which forms the border between Jordan and the West Bank.

Netanyahu also told Gates that any peace settlement must include safeguards to prevent the transfer of rockets and other weapons into a future Palestinian state.

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