When Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu meets in Washington with President Barak Obama, the Iranian nuclear crisis will lead the agenda. The two leaders will also discuss negotiations between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority).

The prime minister announced on Sunday, 12 Shevat 5772, that he plans to travel to the United States in the beginning of March to address the annual AIPAC (The American Israel Public Affairs Committee) conference. President Shimon Peres will also be present at the AIPAC event, where he will receive a life achievement award.

According to the daily Yisrael HaYom, the fact that both the president and the prime minister will be in Washington simultaneously may present somewhat of a diplomatic protocol issue for the White House, pointing out that both Netanyahu and Peres are scheduled to meet with the president, but the latter generally does not meet with more than one leader from a country.

The meetings of the senior state officials comes amid many other multi-level members of the government and diplomatic corps as they meet with officials in Washington, focusing on the Iranian issue. This includes a recent visit to Washington by Mossad Chief Tamir Fredo, Vice Premier Ya’alon & Minister of Strategic Affairs Meridor.

On Sunday, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman left for Washington, where he will meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Working relations between Lieberman and Clinton have been strained and this will be their first meeting since September 2010.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)