President Barack Obama sat down with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House Monday. The leaders tried to ease tensions over the Iran nuclear deal, while addressing the increased violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Washington bureau reporter Geoff Bennett filed the following report.
Monday's Oval Office meeting marks the first time President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have talked face to face in more than a year.
The two leaders had a falling out early this year after Netanyahu went behind the president's back to arrange a speech to Congress, to urge lawmakers to block Obama's impending nuclear deal with Iran. The spectacle on the House floor alienated some Democrats, especially those inside the White House.
On Monday, the president tried to downplay the discord.
"It's no secret that the prime minister and I have had a strong disagreement on this narrow issue. But we don't have a disagreement on the need to making sure that Iran does not get a nuclear weapon," Obama said.
The two also discussed the situation in war-torn Syria and the uptick in violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
"I don't think anyone should doubt Israel's determination to defend itself against terror and destruction, but neither should anyone doubt Israel's willingness to make peace with any of its neighbors that generally want to achieve peace," Netanyahu said.
While in town, Netanyahu will meet with Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill. He is also scheduled to appear at the Center for American Progress, a leading progressive think tank. Both visits are aimed at mending his relationship with Democrats.
"He’s going to have to really carry a very convincing and powerful message that is different than the one he’s made in the United States before if he’s really going to rebuild some of those bridges with the center and left of the American political spectrum," said Dylan Williams, vice president of government affairs for the progressive, pro-Israel group J Street.
There is, however, one thing missing from Netanyahu's three-day visit. Obama administration officials say there won’t be any real peace negotiations.
"Obviously, we’ve got a long way to go before anything like that is likely to occur," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Monday.
So no prospects of a diplomatic breakthrough, but a new sign of solidarity between the two leaders.