Netanyahu, Obama low-profile talks cover Iran, stalled ME negotiations

           Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and US President Barack Obama discussed Iran's nuclear ambitions as well as stalled Middle East peace talks during a low-profile White House meeting Monday night, Kol Israel reported. In a statement issued after the hour and forty minute closed-door session, the White House said that the president reaffirmed the strong commitment to Israel's security and discussed security cooperation on a range of issues. Iran was also addressed. A source in the prime minister's entourage said before the meeting that Netanyahu planned to tell Obama that Israel is serious about peace, and is willing to be generous in restraining building in settlements to get negotiations started again. The White House spokesman reiterated before the meeting that ‏the policy of the United States government for many decades has been: no more settlements, that's not something new with the current administration. Netanyahu arrived at the White House after dark. A Kol Yisrael reporter says that reporters were not allowed into the Oval Office, in contrast to practice during previous visits by Israeli prime ministers. No joint public appearance was held afterwards. The late announcement of the meeting itself, coming only after Netanyahu arrived in the US on Sunday, had earlier prompted officials on both sides to deny the last-minute invitation reflected US frustration with the Israeli prime minister. Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who took part in the start of the meeting, said that the White House talks strengthen the sense of the need for determination in resuming negotiations with the Palestinians, despite the difficulties. He told a Kol Yisrael reporter that all the sides must make an effort to overcome difficulties, because now there is an opportunity. Barak met in Washington with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates and national security adviser Jim Jones. Earlier in the day, in an address at the annual conference of North American Jewish federations, Prime Minister Netanyahu urged the Palestinians to resume negotiations with Israel. The prime minister said that no Israeli government has been so willing to restrain settlement activity. He called on Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to seize the moment to reach a historic agreement. Before sitting down with Netanyahu, Obama and members of his senior staff hosted Jewish leaders from across the country who were attending the meeting of the Jewish federations of North America. A Kol Yisrael reporter says Obama's remarks focussed on domestic affairs, in particular the health care reform. He refrained from dealing with the Middle East, noting only the upcoming meeting with Netanyahu. (13,00)