Israeli President Shimon Peres departed Sunday for the United States where he will hold talks with US President Barack Obama aimed at furthering regional peace efforts.
A statement by the White House says that Obama and Peres will discuss a number of issues of joint concern to Israel and the US, including defense cooperation, recent developments in the Middle East, and the peace talks. They will hold a one-on-one working meeting, and then have lunch.
According to the New York Times, the Palestinian Authority's initiative to win UN General Assembly recognition as an independent state in September will be a main issue at Tuesday's meeting between the two men. Peres will also likely face the storm that has erupted over Friday's op-ed piece in The Washington Post by Judge Richard Goldstone, in which he retreated from accusations against Israel in his report on Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2009 for the UN Human Rights Commission.
"The New York Times" today reported that Peres is due to meet Obama at the White House to "explore ways out of the bind", as more than 100 countries are expected to vote in favor of a UN General Assembly resolution to add Palestine as a UN member. There is no veto in General Assembly votes, so the US cannot block the resolution.
"The New York Times" cites diplomats as saying that the US is still uncertain how to move the process forward.
Peres is to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday, his office said.
He was also set to hold meetings with Vice President Joe Biden and Congressional leaders.