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Photo: AFP
Netanyahu at the UN
Photo: AFP

Netanyahu to meet Trump and Clinton in New York

While in the US for the UN General Assembly session, Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with both the Democratic and Republican presidential nominees on Sunday; he met with Secretary of State Kerry on Friday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet separately on Sunday with both US presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in New York. Both the Clinton and Trump campaigns confirmed that meetings would be held.

 

 

Netanyahu is currently in New York for the annual UN General Assembly, where he spoke on Thursday. In his speech at the assembly, Netanyahu said that the relationship with the US is stronger than ever, adding that "the United Nations rejects us, but the United States supports us."

 

Netanyahu at the UN (Photo: AFP) (Photo: AFP)
Netanyahu at the UN (Photo: AFP)

 

Last year, Trump was slated to meet with Netanyahu in Israel, but decided to postpone the visit, which was scheduled for December 28, 2015.

 

At the time, Trump said he will visit Israel "after I am elected president of the United States."

 

Trump explained to Fox network that, "Netanyahu said he expected the meeting between us, but I did not want to put him under pressure. I'm also in the middle of a strong campaign which is progressing well and it wasn’t easy to hold the visit.”

 

At the time of the cancellation, Trump was at the center of global uproar over a statement he made to prohibit Muslims from entering the US. At the same time, 37 Knesset members signed a letter demanding that the prime minister publically condemn Trump’s remarks and cancel the scheduled meeting.

 

Clinton and Trump will hold their first debate Monday, in Hofstra, New York six weeks before the election will be held on November 8. It will be the first scheduled debate of three and will provide undecided voters an opportunity to choose. Analysts believe the debate will attract an audience of approximately 100 million Americans.

 

Trump and Clinton (Photo: AFP, MCT) (Photo: AFP, MCT)
Trump and Clinton (Photo: AFP, MCT)
 

 

Netanyahu has been taking advantage of his visit to the United States to meet with other senior figures as well. On Wednesday, he met with President Barack Obama at the White House and on Friday he met with Secretary of State John Kerry.

 

"We had, I thought, an excellent meeting with President Obama," Netanyahu told Kerry at the beginning of their meeting. 

 

"I look forward to continuing our conversation, which I have to divulge we do every other day by phone, sometimes every day. But it’s always important and productive to talk directly about how we can advance peace and stability with our neighbors in the region, and that’s something I look forward to doing with you now," the Israeli prime minister added.

 

Kerry confirmed that "The meeting with the President was, as the prime minister says, a very constructive meeting."

 

The secretary of state then went on to discuss the recent $38 billion military aid deal signed between Israel and the United States, saying "I think the size and structure of the memorandum of understanding which provides for a long-term commitment of security between the United States and Israel is a remarkable statement about the relationship between our countries."

 

He went on to say that while his time as secretary of state is soon coming to an end, "my affection for Israel, my commitment to Israel, will last well beyond my tenure as Secretary of State."

 

The American diplomat also cited "the need to protect the two-state solution," and noted in the last few months of the Obama administration, "our hope is obviously that we can find a way to utilize the friendship of our countries to advance, what we believe is not only in the highest priority for Israel to provide for its long-term security, but also to create a new relationship within the region that can be powerful in reinforcing that long-term security interest."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.24.16, 09:24
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