Obama, Netanyahu to Seek Consensus

By JAY SOLOMON WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in their first summit meeting, will seek common ground on two critical issues facing the Middle East — Palestinian statehood and Iran’s nuclear program — officials from both countries said. Achieving a consensus on statehood could prove challenging, however, as Mr. Netanyahu hasn’t formally backed Mr. Obama’s call for the creation of an independent Palestinian state to help end the Arab-Israeli conflict. The Israeli government also has resisted U.S. demands that it freeze all settlement activity in Palestinian areas. The potential threat posed by Iran’s expanding nuclear program could…

Read more >>