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Obama makes counter-offer: I'll drop the Kerry deal if you promise to stop eating Heinz beans. (Michelle, where's the goddamn air-freshener?!)

March 4, 2014

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Israel: Stop nuclear Iran and we’ll agree to Palestinian state

Uzi Mahnaimi, Tel Aviv Published: 2 March 2014

Binyamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama are to meet tomorrow at the White House

Binyamin Netanyahu and Barack Obama are to meet tomorrow at the White House (Martin H. Simon)

BINYAMIN NETANYAHU, the Israeli prime minister, is planning to offer President Barack Obama a ground- breaking deal in which Israel would agree to an accord with the Palestinians in return for a tougher US stance on Iran’s nuclear programme.

The proposed “Palestine for Iran” deal is due to be tabled by Netanyahu during meetings at the White House tomorrow.

Obama is keen to persuade the Israelis to accept a draft accord crafted by John Kerry, the US secretary of state, which would establish an independent Palestinian state later this year.

“Bibi [Netanyahu] has agreed in principle to a Palestinian state,” said one of his closest advisers. “He’s willing to accept a withdrawal from most of the West Bank and will agree to a compromise in Jerusalem.