Obama’s visit to Israel for consultation – not demands

US ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro said US President Barak Obama and Binyamin Netanyahu agreed that the presidential visit would be for the purpose of consultation – not demands or lay down conditions – on major issues such as reviving the peace process, preventing a nuclear Iran and the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. He was answering a question by a Kol Israel national radio interviewer early Wednesday.
The White House says President Barack Obama spoke about a spring visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Jan. 28, when he phoned to congratulate Netanyahu on his success in Israel's general election. The statement said the start of Obama's second term offers an opportunity to reaffirm Israel's close relationship with the US and to discuss major issues like Syria and Iran. The White House has not released the date of Obama's trip. He last visited Israel while running for president in 2008.