Netanyahu to meet Obama next week in NY

The two leaders are expected to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Middle East as well as the way to advance peace and security in the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet with President Barack Obama in New York next Wednesday while the two leaders attend the United Nations’ General Assembly, possibly their last meeting before Obama leaves office.

The meeting is reportedly to take place at Obama’s hotel.

Netanyahu’s office stated on Sunday that Netanyahu will thank Obama personally for the historic security assistance agreement between the US and Israel that was signed last week.

“The agreement expresses the depth of the strategic relationship between Israel and the United States,” the statement read.

The two will discuss “the challenges and opportunities in the Middle East as well as the way to advance peace and security,” the PMO statement added.

The White House stated the leaders will discuss advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Iran nuclear deal and other regional security issues.

Israeli officials are apprehensive about the meet, as Israeli diplomats and foreign ministry officials fear the possibility that Obama will launch a last-ditch diplomatic initiative during the interim period between the elections in November and the swearing-in of the elected president in January that would severely hinder Israel’s maneuvering abilities during any upcoming negotiations.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News