The White House announced yesterday that US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a "constructive" telephone conversation last Monday, days before Netanyahu's speech on his policy for "peace and security". The White House Spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said in a statement that Obama and Netanyahu held 20-minute constructive talks. Obama repeated the main points contained in his Cairo speech, including his commitment to Israel's security. Obama said he looked forward to hearing Netanyahu's speech on his views on peace and security. Israeli officials close to Netanyahu said the Prime Minister believed that the US President was willing to have a confrontation with Israel.
Israeli Haaretz quoted these officials as saying: From Netanyahu's point of view, the Americans believe that the open debate with Israel would serve the main purpose of the Obama administration, namely improving the US relations with the Arab world.
On the other hand, a European Parliament delegation arrived to the Gaza Strip yesterday, via the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, to express its solidarity with the Palestinians and reject the Israeli siege on Gaza since Hamas took control of it in June 2007. The delegation includes 41 parliamentarians headed by the EP Vice-President Luisa Morgantini.
