US President Barack Obama is calling for direct Middle East peace talks to begin before September after a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Obama’s call overnight for direct peace talks before Israel’s partial settlement freeze expires in September came as he and Mr Netanyahu denied reports of a rift and spoke of the”unbreakable” bond between their two nations.

Seated next to mr Obama in the Oval Office, in the kind of photo-op that did not take place on his previous contentious visit in March, Mr Netanyahu praised new US sanctions on Iran that Mr Obama signed last week as having “teeth”.

But he called for “much tougher” measures from other nations, including targeting Iran’s oil industry.

Mr Obama said he trusted Mr Netanyahu and believed he would engage in serious negotiations with the Palestinians, as Washington tries to move from indirect proximity talks to direct negotiations.

“I believe Prime Minister Netanyahu wants peace. I think he is willing to take risks for peace,” Mr Obama said, in a firm, personal endorsement of the Israeli leader.

Mr Netanyahu said he had “extensive discussions” with Mr Obama and said it was “high time” that direct talks took place between the Israeli and Palestinian leadership.

Mr Netanyahu says he is ready to meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas at any time, but the Palestinians accuse Israel of undermining the push for talks with mere public relations moves while continuing settlement building activity.

Mr Obama said he hoped the momentum generated in direct talks which he said he hoped would start soon, would make the question of the expiration of the Israeli settlement freeze less crucial by September.

Mr Netanyahu is under extreme pressure from his right-wing coalition not to cave in to US demands to extend the moratorium, which was announced in November after Obama’s administration pushed for concessions to the Palestinians.

The Palestinians, who argued the partial freeze does not go far enough, would likely react furiously if it is not extended, and the mood for direct talks with Israel would sour.

The Palestinians froze direct negotiations in December 2008 when Israel launched a deadly 22-day offensive against the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to halt rocket attacks.

Mr Obama’s aides insist that the proximity talks have “narrowed gaps” and are making progress – despite Palestinian claims they have yielded little progress.

A diplomatic flurry in the run-up to this visit, including talks yesterday between Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad, suggested movement in the stagnant peace process.

Mr Obama also recently met Mr Abbas and Saudi King Abdullah at the White House.

Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu were meeting for the first time since Israel’s raid on an aid flotilla headed for Gaza in May, which killed nine Turks, and triggered a regional diplomatic crisis.

On the eve of Mr Netanyahu’s visit, Israel gave the go-ahead for the international community to import construction materials into the Hamas-run Gaza Strip for projects under international supervision.

Because of the blockade, little reconstruction has taken place in the Palestinian territory since Israel’s Gaza offensive. The United States welcomed the move.

Washington is also concerned about the escalating diplomatic showdown between Israel and its key NATO ally Turkey. Ankara has demanded a full Israeli apology for the Gaza flotilla raid and has even threatened to sever ties with Israel over the incident.

Mr Obama has been facing political heat – even from some Democratic allies at home – over his stance towards Mr Netanyahu.

The president has faced orchestrated campaigns in Congress from the Israel lobby to let up on Mr Netanyahu, and some candidates in this year’s mid-term elections may face pressure on the issue.

Mr Obama won 78 per cent of the Jewish vote, which can be crucial in areas like Florida, in the 2008 election.

Courtesy by dailytelegraph.com