U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet on Monday for the first time since the Israeli leader lost his battle against the Iran nuclear deal, with Washington seeking his re-commitment to a two-state solution with the Palestinians.
Netanyahu, who infuriated the White House by urging Congress, in an address in March at the Republican leadership's invitation, to reject an emerging accord with Iran, hopes the talks will help outline a new 10-year military aid package for his country.
In a conference call with reporters last week, Rob Malley, the U.S. National Security Council's coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa and Gulf region, reiterated Obama's view that he would leave office without an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
Seeking a boost in U.S. defense aid, Israel argues that sanctions relief agreed by world powers under the July deal that curbs Iran's nuclear program will allow Tehran to invest more heavily in its missile development, while redoubling funding for Hezbollah and Hamas guerrilla allies on its borders.