Israel/US - Netanyahu in Washington

Mr Netanyahu goes to Washington

Article published on the 2009-11-09 Latest update 2009-11-09 19:09 TU

Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Jewish community in Washington
(Photo: Reuters/Jason Reed)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to meet US President Barack Obama in rare closed-door talks at the White House on Monday.

The meeting comes just hours after Netanhayu again urged moderate Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, who last week announced he would not run for re-election, to renew peace talks immediately.

"We must begin and complete peace negotiations. We should not place pre-conditions for holding talks," Netanyahu told a gathering of the local Jewish community in Washington.

"I say today to Mahmud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority 'let us seize the moment to reach an historic agreement. Let us begin talks immediately.'"

Tensions have been strained between Israel and the US, traditional allies, over Netanyahu’s refusal to heed the US demand for a full settlement freeze in the occupied West Bank ahead of resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians.

The White House only announced the meeting on Sunday evening only after Netanyahu's arrival in Washington, forcing Israeli official to deny that the last-minute invitation signals a snub to the premier.

Israeli officials said that Netanhayu would be flying to Paris to meet President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday. France has not yet confirmed the meeting.