Obama condemns Palestinian violence “in the strongest terms”

President Barack Obama condemned Palestinian terror and said that Israel has the right and duty to defend itself against terrorism and expressed his condolences to Israeli victims. He urged steps for lowering the current high temperatures. He and PM Binyamin Netanyahu delivered short statements before starting their White House meeting Monday. Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution and his wish to see “two states for two peoples, a demilitarized Palestinian state that recognizes a Jewish state.” He agreed that steps were necessary for bringing peace forward.  
Obama said that Israeli security remained a top priority of his administration. The military and intelligence cooperation attained by the US and Israel was closer than between any other two governments in history, said the president. “We are concerned that Israel will not only be able to defend itself, but also withstand regional threats,” he said. President Obama said the focus of their discussion would be a future US defense package that will last a decade.
Netanyahu thanked the president for his work for Israeli security and the deep friendship binding the US and Israel.