Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is expected to arrive in the U.S. next week for talks with Vice President Joe Biden amidst speculation on new moves to get the Israel-Palestinian Authority final status talks back in gear.
Netanyahu told the Cabinet on Sunday he will fly on Sunday, November 7 to meet with Biden while President Barack Obama will be in Asia when the Israeli Prime Minister arrives. Both Biden and Netanyahu are scheduled to address a conference of Jewish American leaders in New Orleans, where they plan to meet.
The 22-member Arab League is slated to meet in two weeks to discuss whether the PA should continue to participate in talks with Israel. PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has refused to continue the process unless Netanyahu renews a freeze on Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria that expired after 10 months on September 26.
Obama, hoping to entice Israel into extending the freeze by 60 days, last month allegedly offered to guarantee a U.S. veto of any United Nations Security Council resolution relating to the talks for the next 12 months. The American president also reportedly stated there would be no further requests to freeze Jewish construction, promised to increase pressure on Iran, and said the U.S. would accept the legitimacy of Israel's security needs.
Netanyahu reportedly turned down the offer, explaining that his coalition would not agree to renew any freeze on Jewish construction prior to renewed talks with the PA. The White House subsequently denied to inquiring reporters that any letter had been sent spelling out the proposal, but it has been presumed to have bee communicated orally..
The previous 10-month construction freeze was initiated at Obama's behest after the PA insisted it would not return to the negotiating table without it. Even so, the U.S. only succeeded in pressuring the PA to participate in the talks just as the freeze was ending; and every step of the way, the PA dragged its feet, saying it would not continue without Israel agreeing to an extension.