Buzz Sociopolitics Malaysia: Obama, Netanyahu Split Over Red Line on Iran

Obama, Netanyahu Split Over Red Line on Iran

March 6, 2012

US-Israel Relations: Obama, Netanyahu Split Over 'Red Line' upon Iran

by Carol E. Lee as well as Jay Solomon

President Barack Obama as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlayed rounded off 3 hours during a White House Monday in a bid to unfreeze their frosty attribute as well as narrow their differences over how to frustrate Iran's chief ambitions.

U.S. officials pronounced which they believed a visit, which followed tougher speak upon Iran by Mr. Obama in brand new days, has eased a little of a immediate vigour from Israel for a troops set upon upon Iran. But a dual allies remained during odds over clearly defining a "red lines" which Tehran contingency not cranky in building a chief program.

Mr. Netanyahu as well as a little of Israel's staunchest supporters in Congress have been pressing Mr. Obama to set as a red line Iran's development of a chief "capability," a rather loose definition which many Western diplomats believe Tehran has already achieved. Indeed, crafting such process could severely increase a calls for an approaching attack upon Iran.

Pressure for a White House to take this in front of is expected to increase in a entrance weeks as U.S. lawmakers, corroborated by Washington's many successful pro-Israel lobbying group, seek to pass a resolution defining U.S. foreign process along these lines.

U.S. officials, however, insisted Monday which Mr. Obama will not go over his broader policy: which a U.S. is committed to keeping Iran from obtaining a chief weaponthrough diplomacy, sanctions and, as a ! final re sort, force. Setting a red line of "nuclear capability" would be too obscure as well as open to different interpretations, these officials said.

They pronounced which a U.S. believed Iran was rounded off a year away from being means to achieve a chief weapon.

At a start of his assembly with Mr. Obama, Mr. Netanyahu stressed Israel's right to unilaterally set upon Iran, saying a Jewish state contingency "remain master of a fate." Mr. Obama, who has tried to tamp down speak of war, reiterated his preference to resolve a emanate diplomatically. "We assimilate a costs of any troops action, as well as we wish to assure both a American people as well as a Israeli people which we have been in constant as well as close consultation," Mr. Obama said.

The assembly between a dual leaders was seen as a key impulse in U.S.-Israel relations. Messrs. Obama as well as Netanyahu have had a tense attribute over a final 3 years as well as officials upon both sides hoped a conversation would correct relations.

But U.S. officials pronounced they done headway in a two-hour sit-down in a Oval Office, followed by lunch.

Mr. Netanyahu was scheduled to speak Monday night before a American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Israel lobby group. Israeli officials pronounced a prime apportion was to call for assertive brand new steps to prevent Iran from advancing a chief work.

Carol E. Lee during carol.lee@wsj.com as well as Jay Solomon during jay.solomon@wsj.com