While US President Barak Obama will only be in Israel for 48 hours, he will be meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu twice, before and after his meeting with PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen). It appears that despite the fact the White House is signaling it has low expectations for the visit vis-à-vis the diplomatic process between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority), the president will still make a major push to jumpstart the process.

The two will meet on Wednesday 9 Nissan 5773 as was reported to the media in advance. It now appears a second meeting will take place on Thursday after the president returns from Ramallah before the major event, Mr. Obama’s address in the Jerusalem Convention Center.

There will of course be the usually talk of Israeli good will gestures, including the release of an additional 123 Fatah terrorists imprisoned prior to the signing of the 1993 Oslo Agreement in addition to calling for a renewed construction freeze over the Green Line.

According to a Haaretz report quoting the president’s comments made during a meeting with senior American Arab leaders, Israel is not willing to make additional concessions at this time.

The presidential visit will be followed by a visit from US Secretary of State John Kerry, presumably to turn up the heat on Jerusalem to make the required concessions to bring Abu Mazen back to the negotiating table.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)