Obama and Netanyahu in last face-to-face

DEBKAfile was founded by a team of journalists in June 2000 as an independent Internet Web site, providing an intelligence and security news service. September 21, 2016, 9:52 PM (IDT)

In the 17^th and last meeting between  Barack Obama as US president and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, both leaders dwelt at length on the $38bn US military aid package recently approved for Israel.  Speaking to reporters Wednesday at the Manhattan hotel where they met, Netanyahu expressed warm thanks to the American people and its president for their aid and support, while Obama commented: “It is a very difficult and dangerous time in the Middle East, and we want to make sure that Israel has the full capabilities it needs in order to keep the Israeli people safe..

“We do have concerns around settlement activity as well,” the president went on to say. “And our hope is that we can continue to be an effective partner with Israel in finding a path to peace.”

The prime minister noted “The greatest challenge is of course the unremitting fanaticism. The greatest opportunity is to advance … peace. That’s a goal that I and the people of Israel will never give up on,” he said. Netanyahu delivers a speech to the UN National Assembly Thursday and is scheduled to meet other world leaders on the sidelines of the session.

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