Netanyahu, Barak, Lieberman Meet Ahead Of US Envoy’s Visit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has held preparatory discussions with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in advance of U.S. Special Envoy George Mitchell’s visit to the Middle East tomorrow.

The three senior Israeli officials were joined Monday by senior security officials, including the prime minister’s top security adviser, Uzi Arad, and the head of the Israeli Defense Ministry’s Diplomatic Security Bureau, Amos Gilad.

Mr. Mitchell’s visit occurs three weeks prior to Mr. Netanyahu’s scheduled first visit with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C.

According to Kenneth Timmerman, a Washington, D.C.-based researcher who met with officials closer to the prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu plans to focus his talks with the new administration on stopping Iran’s nuclear capability.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com