Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Netanyahu: Obama White House Meeting Was ‘One of the Best We Have Had’



Netanyahu: Obama White House Meeting Was ‘One of the Best We Have Had’
by Jordan Schachtel 10 Nov 2015Washington, DC
In what may have been the most cordial meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since Obama’s ascendancy to the White House, the two leaders discussed how to protect Israel’s interests during the ongoing civil war in neighboring Syria.

Netanyahu told the Israeli press concerning his meeting with Obama, “I told the president we will not accept any political solution that will leave Syria as a battleground for Iranian proxies to launch attacks against Israel. Any solution in Syria must include the halting of attacks from Syrian territory to Israel.”

The Israeli Prime Minister’s remarks come as Iran has increased its presence in Syria dramatically, deploying thousands of ground troops and even high-ranking commanders to assist Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad’s forces in contested areas throughout the state. Iran has also utilized its proxy, Hezbollah, to help turn the tide in Assad’s favor.

Netanyahu also told the President that Israel would be forced to act if his “red lines” were crossed, adding that he would not allow weapons to be smuggled from Syria to Lebanon and into the hands of Hezbollah terrorists.

The sit-down with Obama was “one of the best meetings we have had. Of course we have our disagreements, but there were no tensions whatsoever,” Netanyahu remarked. “We are very practical and moving forward, we have a mutual interest to make sure Iran abides by the agreement, and we have a mutual interest in stabilizing the Middle East.”

Another big topic discussed was U.S. defense aid to Israel. Reports have stated that Israel is hoping to increase U.S. aid from $3 billion a year to $5 billion. The boost in cash flow would allow for Israel to more easily afford its upcoming purchase of F-35 Fighter Jets and other advanced pieces of military hardware.

“We did not talk about numbers,” the Israeli leader said, but “the President accepts our positions on the regional dangers and strategic changes” that Israel faces.

Netanyahu said he reiterated that Israel is working to prevent “escalation” in dealing with the recent Palestinian terror campaign against Israelis.

Netanyahu concluded:

It is Israel’s interest to prevent an eruption of violence. We can decrease the frictions, and we can prevent tensions, we are trying to distinguish between the general population and the inciters and terrorists, and prevent violence from spreading more – and that is the spirit of the steps we will be suggesting.

The Israeli Prime Minister is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday. The two will discuss the ongoing violence in Israel and the West Bank, according to reports.

Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu is the prime minister for Israel.

Note: Sidley Austin LLP is the lobby firm for Israel.
Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.
Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.                    
R. Eden Martin is counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago.  
Newton N. Minow is a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP, and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago.
Cyrus F. Freidheim Jr. is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).    
Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).
George Soros was the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.  
Cameron F. Kerry is a fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s brother.
Teresa Heinz Kerry is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is married to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Saban Center for Middle East Policy is a policy center at the Brookings Institution (think tank).
Haim Saban is a benefactor for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, a trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and a friend of Shimon Peres.
Shimon Peres is a friend of Haim Saban, and the president of Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu is the prime minister for Israel, was an adviser at the Boston Consulting Group, and a friend of Merv Adelson.
Michele A. Flournoy is a senior adviser for the Boston Consulting Group, and was the undersecretary of defense for the Barack Obama administration.
Merv Adelson was a friend of Benjamin Netanyahu, and a trustee at the American Film Institute.
Ari Emanuel was a trustee at the American Film Institute, and is Rahm I. Emanuel’s brother.
Rahm I. Emanuel is Ari Emanuel’s brother, a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago (IL) mayor, and was the White House chief of staff for the Barack Obama administration. 
Commercial Club of Chicago, Members Directory A-Z (Past Research)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013       
R. Eden Martin is the president of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.
Newton N. Minow is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, and a senior counsel at Sidley Austin LLP.
Michelle Obama was a lawyer at Sidley Austin LLP.  
Barack Obama was an intern at Sidley Austin LLP.
Sidley Austin LLP is the lobby firm for Israel.
Benjamin Netanyahu is the prime minister for Israel.

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