Ben Smith at Politico quotes a couple of U.S. officials who say that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Obama could have a strong relationship — as long as Netanyahu strikes a deal on settlements in the next couple weeks:
U.S. officials are stepping up the pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cut a deal on curtailing Israeli settlements, and they’re holding out a prize that both Netanyahu and President Barack Obama badly want: strong ties between the two leaders …
"Netanyahu’s at a pivotal moment,” said a senior U.S. official. “Depending on what he decides, he could wind up with a very strong relationship with President Obama and potentially become a historic figure in Israel."
“It could very well hinge on what he decides in the next couple of weeks,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Another senior U.S. official held out a similar carrot for Netanyahu: This moment offers the opportunity to “forge a very important and positive relationship between Netanyahu and the president,” the official said.
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