Netanyahu's aides visit US in attempt to link Iranian, Palestinian issues, according to 'Sunday Times'; Mideast adviser: "Obama doesn't want to be the president on whose watch Iran acquires nukes, 2 state solution dies."
By JPOST.COM STAFFNetnayahu and Obama stroll in Whtie House 390(photo credit: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO)
US President Barack Obama is willing to up pressure against the Iranian nuclear program if Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will open talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on borders and security issues, The Sunday Times reported.According to the report, the US promised to raise the heat on the Iran issue in return for more open talks with the Palestinian leader even if core issues such as Jerusalem and the issues of Palestinian refugees is not raised.The Times quoted Aaron David Miller, of the Woodrow Wilson Center, an adviser on the Middle East to six US secretaries of state as saying "Barack Obama does not want to be the American president on whose watch Iran acquires a nuclear weapon or be accused of presiding over the demise of what’s left of the two-state solution."Two of the prime minister’s aides will arrive in Washington this week in an attempt to link the Iranian and Palestinian issues, The Times reported. If the report over Obama's attempt to appease Netanyahu is authentic, the White House is receptive to the link.White House officials spent weeks in Israel attempting to form an alliance of pro-western states, including Turkey and Jordan, to help stabilize the region, The Sunday Times also reported.
