WASHINGTON, (PIC)-- US president Barack Obama agreed with visiting Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu on the importance of advancing from indirect to direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian authority in Ramallah.
The US called for accelerating such a shift before the temporary Israeli freeze on building of settlements in the Wet Bank expires next September.
Netanyahu told a press conference on Tuesday in Washington after meeting Obama that time is ripe for shifting to direct negotiations, lauding his talks in the White House.
Obama, for his part, expressed belief that Netanyahu was "serious" about making peace with the Palestinians, adding that Washington was keen on Israel's security and on special relations with it.
The PA in Ramallah engaged in indirect talks with Israel early last May under auspices of American envoy George Mitchell but no tangible progress was made.
Obama was keen on congratulating Netanyahu on his decision to ease the siege on Gaza, which Hamas had described as "worthless".
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