Obama Pushes Middle East Agenda

The Israeli government and Palestinian Authority have been urged by US President Barack Obama to resume peace talks. Obama’s plea comes before an Israeli settlement freeze agreement expires in September.

His remarks came after discussions with the Israeli premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the oval office. Netanyahu had said that is was “high time” for direct talks.

Mr Obama commented that the bond between Israel and the US was “unbreakable”, amidst speculation of a diplomatic rift between the two countries.

The US President also praised the Israeli government’s decision to ease the blockade of Gaza it has had in place for the past three years.

Obama said that the hoped that direct peace talks would resume before the expiration of Israel’s ten month cessation of building new settlements in the West Bank. Approximately 42 percent of the West Bank form’s part of Israeli settlements on the land, which under international law are illegal.

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