/israeli relations. it goes beyond begin and carter and bush 41 and the reality is that no american president for political reasons and policy reasons can afford to have this sort of relationship. a lot of it rests on netanyahu and his first incarnation. even clinton, a guy who was prepared to cut him all kinds of breaks was annoyed in extreme us with some of netanyahu's frustrating behavior. but the reality is that barack obama has to clear away this old business, this dysfunctional relationship and he has to deal with two basic realities. he does not want to be the american president on whose watch the two-state solution expires and he certainly doesn't want to be the america president on whose watch iran acquire it is xas capacity or everybody a nuclear weapon. so israel is central to both of those stories. he's going early, there's no expectations and he's going early with a view i suspect to seeing whether or not he can't manage that relationship with netanyahu more effectively and create a new rela

what you have now inside the israeli government. ministers who are themselves settlers and this is the highest number of settlers who are sitting in the government they are also controlling the housing industry and they are controlling the industry and commercial industry and they are also controlling the finance committee in the israeli knesset and practically they control the policy regarding the occupied territories because the minister of defense who is in charge of the army is also loyal to the settlers in reality with such an israeli government it's impossible to move into a real peace process unless the punishment act. what we need besides the popular nonviolent resistance that you are showing now on your screen what we need is an act of boycott divestment sanctions against this israeli policy like was used before with the south african apartheid system only then we can change the balance of power and we can find peace and let me tell you these demonstrations we've been in today and yesterday were nonviolent they were peacefu

among israelis.a lot of argument over the cairo speech, over his not coming here, over his call for a settlement freeze. so whoever got off on the wrong foot, the relationship between the prime minister and the president was not a good one. does a visit like this, the charm offensive or operations desert schmooze, as jeff goldberg called it in "the atlantic." taking off their jackets, dinner at the house, talking about his family, does all of this work to warm things up? >> i think i have to say what needs to be said. is that israel and the united states are so close, such good intimate friends, that whenever you have a disagreement, it becomes front-page news, it really is blown out of proportion. i think the president said last week in washington, he said that he and prime minister netenyahu have a good, i think he said a terrific business relationship. and as far as the israeli people are concerned, you've seen, i've seen, how the israeli people have welcomed the president, have shown respect, hav

israelis have to believe it. two, launching this movement of people using the connection between young people and these three parts of the world to push their leaders. without that, peace may be possible and just and necessary, but he's saying it's not going to happen. >> and ayman, with regard to the perspective there in the arab world, i know you're there in cairo, break down quickly this speech and if you think it reached the palestinian people, if you think they heard what they needed to hear. because they also heard at the same time that this president very much backs the israel lands, the people, the government. >> well, make no mistake about it. this was definitely a speech intended for the israeli public, but it was more a speech that was divided in different themes, if you will. at the very top of it, for the first third, it was the united states reaffirming support for israel, reaffirming its right to exist ideal logically as well as committing itself to the security needs of israel. that is obviously n

the israeli public. it does not mean that netanyahu is completely poll focused. i think the issue of iran as a gut issue for netanyahu. it is not just looking at public opinion. certainly having public opinion more on his side, even if it is not a dramatic change, could only help the president as he relates to the new government. i would say that is the first part. there dennis and i agree. the policy summit, these guys will be having something like five hours together, probably the most intense conversations and time netanyahu and obama have ever spent together. obama has said there is not any leader he has sat with more than netanyahu. this is the most intense period of time that they have had. each one has sober expectations. they have been at this for four years. obama knows that they have different political visions. and it cannot do know is that netanyahu -- netanyahu knows obama is less inclined towards intervention. this could be a good thing. from the israel side, my sense is -- hear about the l

would be obliged to support any potential israeli offensive against iran the proposed legislation is to be discussed at the annual american israeli public affairs committee gathering about to kick off in washington despite the significance of such a move neither of the leaders of the two countries are attending geo political analyst patrick headings and says that this could be a sign of the israeli lobby losing its influence we know the u.s. and some noises coming out of washington there is quite a little contingent within the united states that is looking to perhaps get into to combating negotiation with iran and not be talking abrasively as they have in previous years and israel has entered the fray the israeli lobby is really putting pressure on. those politicians in america to take a more israeli line which is a more hardcore lied us to do with perhaps a flame war with out of around the big change that we're looking at is a shift there is a shift away from this kind of like allegiance to israel that is on capitol hill in washington d.c. there are splits appearing because american

hundreds of israelis came to hear the u.s. president speak. obama step to the key message of his visit. >> i believe that peace is the only path to true security. the only way for israel to enter and thrive as a jewish and democratic state is through the realization of an independent and viable palestine. that is true. >> the address to university students came after obama returned from the west bank where he met with the palestinian president. both leaders criticized israeli settlement building. abbas condemned the construction as illegal. obama also spoke to the ongoing threats to israeli security. the u.s. president criticized hamas, saying cause the's rulers have focused on tearing palestine down instead of building israel up. obama had words of the encouragement for young israelis back in jerusalem. he said they held the key to making peace and pledged washington's solidarity. >> today, i want to tell you -- particularly the young people, so that there is no mistake here -- so that there -- so long as there is a united states of america [

israelis love to be loved. the rest is what have you done for me lately but they, you know they're basically fundamentally insecure and he doesn't show a great deal of affection but look at it this way. imagine there's two bookends here the june 2009 cairo speech in which he was attempting to reset relations with the arab and muslim world and he did a very good job in that speech but at the same time and i think unintentionally he left the impression in israel that it was going to come at their expense and the fact that he didn't go from cairo to israel and the fact that he didn't visit at all even though peace making was a top priority, and didn't have his own ambassador out there for 2 1/2 year and gave one television interview in something like 3 1/2 years, gave them the distinct impression -- people on the left to the right -- that he didn't care about them, which was untrue but that's the impression that he left. so the second bookend is the speech he will make thursday evening israel time to a large group

so i believe that the israeli people do want peace. and i also understand why too many israelis, maybe an increasing number, maybe a lot of young people here today, are skeptical that it can be achieved. but today israel is at a crossroads. it can be tempting to put aside the frustrations and sacrifices that come with the pursuit of peace, particularly when iron dome repels rockets, barriers keep out suicide bombers. there's so many other pressing issues that demand your attention. and i know that only israelis can make the fundamental decisions about your country's future. i recognize that. i also know, by the way, that not everyone in this hall will agree with what i have to say about peace. i recognize that there are those who are not simply skeptical about peace, but question its underlying premise. have a different vision for israel's future. and that's part of a democracy. that's part of the discourse between our two countries. i recognize that. but i also believe it's important to be open and honest, especially with your friends

sorry palestinians are protesting against the israeli occupation of land especially against the israeli settlements which not only did not subside but they actually are growing especially over the past decade and especially under the government of benyamin netanyahu what's happening around you right now we see people running we've seen fires in the back just describe what's going on around you as well. what i can tell you that that ban was actually stun grenade i'm sorry it's not it's not particularly dangerous they just kind of really literally stuns you and now we can see that the tear gas that vehicle that has pulled up maybe we can turn around and you can see what's happening actually as we talk so we yeah we see the vehicles which i have the tear gas dispersal units on them they're there are edging they're trying to edge the protesters out as we as we speak the protesters are lined up on the street the only hill right above there and see they're using these special these special i don't i don't know if we do we want to call them the gadgets which with which they throw stones which

[applause] israelis are active on social media. every day seems to be a different facebook campaign on where i should give a speech. [laughter] [applause] that innovation is as important to the relationship between the united states and israel for security. our first free trade agreement in the world was reached with israel, nearly three decades ago. today the trade between our two countries is at $40 billion every year. [applause] more importantly, that partnership has created new products and medical treatments and pushing new frontiers of science and exploration. that is the kind of relationship israel should have and could have with every country in the world. we see how that innovation could reshape this region. there is a program in jerusalem that brings together young israelis and palestinians to learn vital skills in technology and business. and in israeli and palestinian have joined together to begin a start. it speaks to the talent and entrepreneurial spirit. one of the great ironies of what is happening in the broader re

i want to make sure that the israeli people and israeli government consistently understand my thinking and how i'm approaching this problem and i want to understand how the israeli government and the prime minister is approaching this problem, to make sure that there are no misunderstandings there. with respect to the peace process, as i said, i'll have more to say about this tomorrow. but i think you were absolutely right, that over the last year, year and half, two years, two and half years, we haven't gone forward. we haven't seen the kind of progress we would like to see. the fact of the matter is, even with all that's happening in the region, the palestinian authority has worked effectively in cooperation with the international community in part because of some of the training that we, the united states, provided. to do its part in maintaining security in the west bank. we have seen some progress when it comes to economic development and opportunity for the palestinian people. but the truth of the matter is, trying to bring this to some sort of clear settlement, a solution that wo

when some rebels are firing at israeli troops or patrolling on the go and hurts so first and foremost is rose interested in peace quiet tranquility and the situation not affecting its own security and well being of its citizens ok sagal in london would you like to jump in here it sounds kind of benign what we just heard. well i think the israeli problem is with the people not with the good regimes israel has never had problem with the regimes in any of the countries their problem is always with the people in the in that region that are more city toward the toward israel is so deep rooted that it doesn't matter what. and if you have a situation where there is no dictatorship like the one which exists at the moment then it's going to be free for all to vent their anger to take whatever measures that have and this is the point that israel is what it about certainly as far as been so far it's been very quiet they don't know how it's going to be when it's when the regime collapses and i think this is the point that they are about but at the same time they are. happy that the syrians are de

that the israelis or u.s. would need to strike.that is one of the time frames, one of the real items that will be focused on during the course of the private conversations they have here. >> e ya, interesting, though, that body language of the shot of the two gentlemen being almost fraternal with their coats over their shoulder. may i ask you about the reports of the president's limo having issues earlier today. is that the limo called the beast? >> yeah, in fact, they're pretty much whichever limo he uses is called the beast. we just spoke to the secret service team a short time ago and they told us that here is exactly what took place. there was a mechanical malfunction, mechanical problem with one of these limousines that the president would use as it was driving from tel aviv to jerusalem ahead of the president's arrival. he was not in the vehicle at the time, it's unclear what the problem was, the president was using an suv on the tarmac. used the u.s. presidential helicopter to get here. so the problem has been averted if the

government because what you have now inside the israeli government. ministers who are themselves settlers and this is the highest number of settlers who are sitting in the government they are also controlling the housing ministry and they are controlling the industry and commercial ministry and they are also controlling the finance committee in the israeli knesset and practically they control the policy regarding the occupied territories because also the minister of defense who is in charge of the army is also loyal to the settlers in the ality with such an israeli government it's impossible to move into a real peace process unless the punishment acts taking. still to come this hour sends another don't mess with me message north korea which rates it's serious about threatening war with the south with its claims once again stirring up the u.s. that's. no sign of improvement in the guantanamo hunger strike but a u.s. rights lawyer says the american public has very little awareness in fact what's actually happening inside camp delta. cypriots with six fi

government because what you have now inside the israeli government. ministers who are themselves settlers and this is the highest number of settlers who are sitting in the government they are also controlling the housing ministry and they are controlling the industry and commercial ministry and they are also controlling the finance committee in the israeli knesset and practically they control the policy regarding the occupied territories because also the minister of defense who is in charge of the army is also loyal to the settlers in the ality with such an israeli government it's impossible to move into a real peace process unless the punishment acts taking. a lot more news coming up for this half of me kevin i went on our team including in a few minutes time no letup in the egyptian opposition's outrage scuffles that the muslim brotherhood opponents and supporters of the north of left dozens injured while protesters in the capital are directing their anger at the prosecutor general we're talking about that shortly also as well talking about the fact

any kind of address to the palestinian public which is later today he will be addressing the israeli public and then he will not be visiting the grave of the former p.l.o. leader yasser arafat that you see behind me where as he will be visiting the grave of the former israeli prime minister yitzhak rabin certainly the feeling on the palestinian street is that this is a visit by the american media ship that is a sign of support for the israelis and that it is ignoring palestinian concerns and palestinian issues so certainly a lot of anger here in palestine and obama will have a lot of having to make up if indeed he's going to get the palestinians on his side ever again. political analyst even him allusion says palestinians are angry by an apparent lack of desire on the part of israel and the u.s. to bring peace to the region. the state of israel speaking about defense is really like a carnivore speaking about being vegetarian this state of israel has been launching one that after another against neighboring arab states as well as palestinians with and most recently in gaza and two tho

israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu he said that his goal is to talk to the israelis he has used words such as friends such as coming home he's spoken about the close alliance between washington and tel aviv he's spoken about the importance of israeli security and he's also committed american financial assistance to israel particularly in terms of military programs beyond two thousand and seventeen when the current contracts expire now there's been very little mention so far of the palestinians of the peace process of the continued israeli settlement expansion and this is in stark contrast to the speech the president gave back in two thousand and nine in cairo when he said that one of his priorities in terms of his foreign policy was was oving the palestinian issue having said that though there is a lot of mistrust between obama and netanyahu there is a lot of areas and disagreement they certainly don't see eye to eye on the issue of iraq and here we have mr yahoo continuing to call for a military strike while obama continues to say that all options are on the table and that ther

kind of benign what we just heard well well i think the israeli problem is with the people not with the good regimes israel has never had problem with the regimes in any of the countries their problem is always with the people in the in that region the animosity toward the toward israel is so deep rooted that it doesn't matter what regime you and if you have a situation where there is no dictatorship like the one which exists at the moment then it's going to be free for all to vent their anger to take whatever measures they had and this is the point that israel is what it about certainly as far as been so far it's been very quiet they don't know how it's going to be when it's when the regime collapses and i think this is the point that they are about but at the same time they are. happy that the syrians are destroying themselves are committing suicide destroying that army and killing their people they hope that this will also end up by getting hizbullah and iran influence i got there i want to go to those topics a little bit later now bill in washington you jump in but israel subjective

it was in the heart of the mission to speak to the israeli, to the israeli public. in a way, president obama has been doing what president sadat had done in the late '70s. he came to jerusalem before the actual negotiations with mr. begin in order to build support for the peace with egypt at the time, and enable mr. begin to make concessions and win public support. so he was investing public diplomacy in the same way, trying to build support among the israeli public, for the painful concessions that will have to be made. >> rose: and so how do you think the prime minister and his party will take this? >> they could have done without this part of the visit but they had their part of the visit in the first day. >> rose: which was iran. >> well, we don't know what went on behind closed doors. but publicly, you know, came out weekend hurt from the elections. and one of the criticisms leveled at him was he mismanaged the relationship with the united states. and here was the president all smiles and friendship and patting each other on the back. that was very good for mr.

, that resured the israelis. phrase he used that netanyahu repeated after the president. this has -- this sentence has great resonance here in israel and will give the israeli people and prime minister netanyahu as you well know, wolf, enormous reassurance. it means the president believes israel should have the capability to act on its own, in its own defense, part of the reason the statement is formed and it suggests to many people that the president believes israelis should have the -- perhaps the weaponry or the support in various ways, who knows, to be able to do that under a variety of situations. >> and, wolf, as you know, this is a tiny little neighborhood. ramallah is eight miles away, gaza, 50 miles away. i was in both communities. they have soured on president obama and if the palestinian leadership is listening today they didn't like some of this. >> we'll see what happens tomorrow when the president goes to ramallah and meets with the palestinian authority, president mahmoud abbas. john king and jessi

/israeli relations, wolf. i can imagine at a certain moment this might be something useful to introduce into the mix depending upon what the president was asking, what benjamin netanyahu was asking of israel. i think it is unlikely to be decided shall we say in isolation. it's ban big political issue particularly in israel on the right as you know better than anyone else for sometime. so my hunch is this is not something again that will be given away, if you will for free. >> let me bring gloria back and talk a little bit about the political fallout from the president's visit to israel, coming back now the secretary of state john kerry will remain at least a little bit trying to maybe get this israeli/palestinian peace process off the ground. >> jump-start it. >> he has some political issues he has to deal with, major issues here. how much of a subject of importance will this be for the president? >> look, i think this has been very good for the president because there were lots of people in the american jewis

and the israeli forces were responding with us dung grenades and tear gas it kind of comes and goes in waves but of course the palestinians are showing no signs of giving up at all of the of this this actually has the land demonstrations have been a tradition since one thousand nine hundred eighty six when they occurred for the first time and six palestinians were killed in a confrontation with the israeli police and israeli armed forces and it has been happening every here as it is happening today last year the protests were extremely violent and they usually turned more violent in gaza where the israeli police and military forces are generally using live ammunition and we know that at least one person has been wounded with live ammo earlier today in the gaza strip as for what's happening in the west bank where of course protesters being held by the palestinians all over the place there has been an exchange like i said stronger. to tear gas we do not so we have asked the israeli forces whether they have used rubber bullets they have said no but palestinian media is reporting that t

prime minister benjamin netanyahu a bonus said that the goal of his visit was to talk with the israeli people no mention of the palestinians no mention of the peace process or of continuous israeli settlement expansion in fact during his first address off to arriving yesterday in israel and later after he met with the israeli president shimon peres he did not talk about the palestinians at all now this is in shock in sharp contrast to the address he gave back in two thousand and nine in cairo where he said that one of the top priorities of his foreign policy agenda was the resolution of the israeli palestinian conflict syria has received more attention than the decades old conflict between israelis and palestinians and the american and israeli leadership have been focusing more on what is happening on syria than on this never ending conflict here right on the doorstep it's no secret that a bomb in netanya who don't exactly like each other or see eye to eye and many people feel that this latest visit by the american president is nothing more than a p.r. effort but it doesn't ignore the

you're a friend of the israelis. so mending fences with the israelis was very much on his general. just as important was mending fwenss the palestinian people. he said the right things to the palestinian leaders, the palestinian president mahmoud abbas apparently made some come promises in terms of his preconditions with the israelis. he said he would not call for an open settlement freeze. that was one of the demands of the palestinians. so some movement among the palestinian leadership that could indicate movement toward support for a new peace process but outside the leadership, he didn't score many friends. did not make many friends among the palestinian people. not yet. >> martin fletcher from jerusalem. let's bring in the news nation panel. the editor at large. bobby, ambassador to the united nations, bill richardson. the president started a speech today. he started on a whom just note. i want to play a bit of what he said. >> i want to clear something up just so you know. any drama between me and my friend was just an attempt to clear up a plot. that was the only thing that

government because what you have now inside the israeli government. ministers who are themselves settlers and this is the highest number of settlers who are sitting in the government they are also controlling the housing ministry and they are controlling the industrial and commercial ministry and they are also controlling the finance committee in the israeli knesset and practically they control the policy regarding the occupied territories because also the minister of defense who is in charge of the army is also loyal to the settlers in the reality with such an israeli government it's impossible to move into a real peace process unless the punishment acts. are separate six figure savings stand to see the bulk of it deposits wiped out as part of a painful rescue plan from the e.u. central bank says sixty percent of all the positive one hundred thousand euros would drain vestas will be compensated with around forty percent of the ses deposit many analysts stop killing. to be junk. doubts will. get their hands on the remains of their money. in the journa

together these forces within the israeli lobby ensure that no action can be taken to compel israel to comply with its international law obligations now we're here in the hague the home of the international criminal court and there has been calls for some israeli officials to appear before the i.c.c. why hasn't that happened. the situation is that in two thousand and nine following israel's invasion of gaza the palestinian authority accepted the jurisdiction of the international criminal court and requested that investigation be made into international crimes committed during that conflict and the of but the prosecutor of the i.c.c. does not have the courage to take action of this kind and it's quite clear that this is because of the influence of the united states the united states is not a party to the growth of the international criminal court but its presence is ever felt it does attend meetings of the assembly of state parties it makes its position clear in which ways the united states exert influence over the international criminal court well it is a. hope and expectation that the

the west bank and gaza from israeli control israel's rule is. israel is resisting tooth and nail withdrawing from approximately twenty two percent of historic powers dying what's the basis for the assumption that israel will relinquish relinquish complete control over the eighty percent of palestine it's had sovereigns sovereign sovereign control over since one thousand for the night that's just sheer silliness the only reason these. speculations now rise of one state it's because nothing is happening if nothing is happening on the ground and of course people will speculate about all sorts of things that are totally disconnected from politics if you take for example the first intifada the first into father was significant and to be number one it was a mass all right. we don't have enough time in your government my friend we have run out of time many thanks to my guest today in new york and in amman and thanks to our viewers for watching us here darkie see you next time and remember cross talk rules. is a. mirror image of iraq after inflation. tw

you know is not in favor of a good life for israelis and palestinians the only way that israelis can prosper is if palestinians prosper and i can't imagine what it's like to be a child in israel worrying about missiles coming over or being a child in gaza worrying about bombs coming over you so the situation stands now is not one not a good one and our comedy show is a way to bring people together bring up this issue and do it in a way where people don't yell at each other and storm out of the room which is what usually happens when the subject of the middle east comes up well obama who opposes things to say about the palestinian leader mahmoud abbas he said was a true partner i do think that news is going to go down in israel. well i think i'm going to be. the best partner israelis can hope for and i think that you know this is been it's really been twelve years since they've been serious peace negotiations and that to me is just you know terrible is no excuse for it and mahmoud abbas said earlier today that he recognizes the state of israel i mean there's no excuse not for both par

/israeli relationship.jamin netanyahu bears an enormous amount of the responsibility for that. if this president doesn't want to be the president on whose watch iran gets a nuclear weapon and the two-state solution expires, he's simply going to have to figure out a way to work with netanyahu and the new government and that, that new start, i don't like the word reset. but that new relationship begins this week. >> but at the same time, tommy, when the president was asked by israeli television about his relationship with netanyahu, he described it as business-like. he didn't say my good friend, he didn't try to sugar-coat it, frankly. i think anyone who has seen the pictures of them together over the years knows it's not a cozy relationship. >> well you know -- >> it's a strategic alliance. >> right. aaron can tell you, bebe netanyahu is not a warm and fuzzy guy, i don't think he needs to be. they've got be a lot done together. they've spent more time one-on-one the president has with almost any other leader

what we have to be an arab member of the israeli parliament and also the leader of the arab movement for change dr thank you very much for joining us here on r.t. what is your reading of the recent elections israeli seem to have voted more same to end not as far right as was earlier predicted would you agree with us we thought that this knesset the nineteenth knesset will be much more radical than the eighteenth but i am not sure this impression is the right to the victory of the party of european there is a future his at it is. in the victory of the center. of liberals of the seculars he instilled. in large meant and strengthening the liquid does that mean good news for breakthrough in peace talks i'm not sure of that. usually israelis are in love with the process not with the peace they are talking a lot about peace but doing nothing nothing in order to achieve it there are fascinated with the along with fatah or with talking with negotiations as to see that this is the goal. but it is their tool not the goal and its tool to achieve peace meanwhile israel is trying to rearrange the

the reports not everyone sold of psycho israelis big money building spree. over the past five years georgia has changed dramatically of president mikheil saakashvili is architectural programs but not everyone is in the mood to admire these architectural novelties and his family lost their home several years ago after falling on hard times they had been promised a new flat by the city's authorities but the promise hasn't been kept and now they're a moment group of several others who are homeless forced to find shelter in an abandoned school. this city is building and being painted but we have nothing it is supposed to be built for the people but we are the people and we have nothing if there is no us then there's no need for all this beauty we have small children here and we live in a house with this building with no heating or electricity improving george's outlook was made a priority by saakashvili police his old town has seen more than building spring up including this huge government justice department said to be the world's biggest and this glass and ste

>> reporter: many israelis, it depends on who you talk to, really. the israelis, they, too, are very divided when it comes to the palestinian issue. many israelis agreed with president obama and they do feel that there should be a two-state solution. that that would be in the best interest of israel itself to have a nation side by side with the palestinian state, two states that can actually get along. there have been some skeptics as well, people who believe that there may not be a way to negotiate peace because the animosity between the two sides have grown as the decades have gone by. >> nbc's atia abowi, thank you. >>> the prospect of peace is no less he lucive in syria where the civil war there is only intensifying. a devastating bomb blast tore through a mosque in the capital yesterday killing at least 42 people. among them, one of the country's top clerics. the leading opposition group is denying responsibility for the attack. >>> the united nations is opening its own investigation to claims that chemical weapons have been used in the fighting