US, Israel leaders hold first post-Iran deal meeting

US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they have not given up on finding peace in the Middle East. It is their first face-to-face meeting since relations soured over a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran. Mr Netanyahu is also seeking a boost in the annual US military aid for […]

US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they have not given up on finding peace in the Middle East.
It is their first face-to-face meeting since relations soured over a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran.
Mr Netanyahu is also seeking a boost in the annual US military aid for Israel’s security.
The Washington talks come amid weeks of unrest between Israel and Palestinians.
In brief remarks at the White House ahead of the meeting, Mr Obama said he would seek his counterpart’s thoughts on ways to lower tension between Palestinians and Israelis.
He said he wanted to get the two groups “back on a path towards peace”. Mr Netanyahu echoed the sentiments saying, “we have not given up our hope for peace”.
In the last week, the US has also expressed its surprise at Mr Netanyahu’s choice of a new spokesman, Ran Baratz, who made controversial comments about administration officials.
On Facebook, Mr Baratz accused Mr Obama of anti-Semitism and described US Secretary of State John Kerry as having a “mental age” of no more than 12.