BARACK OBAMA and Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu publicly admitted to rifts over the Middle East peace process yesterday after lengthy talks at the White House.
Although both sides adopted a conciliatory tone, they acknowledged differences remain over approaches to a peace deal.
Mr Netanyahu, speaking afterwards, stressed Mr Obama’s public backing for a deal based on the border before the 1967 Arab-Israeli war was a major difference.
The Israeli leader said he was prepared to make concessions – but the 1967 border was “indefensible”. The talks, originally scheduled to last 50 minutes, ran over by 90 minutes.
Mr Obama described the discussion as useful. “We agreed there is a moment of opportunity that could be seized as a result of the Arab spring,” he said.
Mr Netanyahu said Palestinian leaders would have to choose between a pact with Hamas or peace with Israel.
The meeting in the Oval Office came the day after Mr Obama became the first president to endorse explicitly and in public the Palestinian demand for a state based on the border before Israel’s occupation in 1967 of East Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank. This would be the starting point for negotiating a possible series of land swaps.
Mr Netanyahu, who replied by saying a return to the 1967 border would make Israel indefensible, told reporters travelling with him to the US on Thursday night he felt strongly about this. “There are things that can’t be swept under the carpet,” he said.
His aides elaborated, saying Mr Obama did not fully understand Israel’s predicament. “There is a feeling that Washington does not understand the reality, Washington does not understand what we face,” an official said.
Washington has become increasingly frustrated at the failure of the Israelis and Palestinians to enter into serious negotiations. The lack of progress prompted the resignation last week of US special envoy George Mitchell, who had become so disenchanted that he had not visited the region since December.
The New York Timesreported White House aides saying Mr Obama had concluded a peace deal is not possible with Mr Netanyahu in power.
Mr Obama could have a difficult time when he speaks tomorrow morning to about 6,000 people expected to attend the annual conference in Washington of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, the powerful Jewish lobbying organisation. Officials have urged participants to treat all speakers with respect.
A White House national security spokesman said Mr Obama would discuss the Israeli-Palestinian issue with British prime minister David Cameron in London next week. – (Guardian service)