Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who was briefed on Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu�s White House meeting, rejected reports of strained relations between Jerusalem and Washington, stating �Netanyahu and Obama have begun a dialogue�.
�
Responding to reports on the Washington meeting, Barak during a visit to IDF Central Command Headquarters stated Israel is aware it must enter into a process with the PA (Palestinian Authority). �I do not believe the four words �two states for two people� will stop the Iranian centrifuges� stated Barak.
�
Barak spoke with the prime minister on Tuesday morning, receiving a first-hand report on the meeting. Regarding American demands to remove authorized outposts in Yehuda and Shomron, Barak stated �The outposts are not an issue between Israel and the United States, but between Israel and herself�.
�
�Any self-respecting nation cannot tolerate outposts on private Palestinian land and we are compelled to act accordingly� added Barak. Barak added he is pleased that a dialogue is underway between the White House and the current Israeli administration and that �the president realizes the importance of the Iranian issue�.
�
The senior minister added that Israel is not ruling out any options, advising the United States and others to do the same.
(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)
