THE GREAT MEETING HAS BEEN HELD - AT 4:55 P.M. ET:  The leftist press must be very frustrated now that the Obama/Netanyahu meeting has been held, and the Israeli prime minister came out with his arms still attached. 

The meeting apparently was well scripted, with neither side changing any positions, but expressing them respectfully.  Obama wants a two-state solution, Netanyahu will commit - for now - only to a future in which the Palestinians govern themselves.

It was only on Iran that a little bit of news was made.  The president would not impose a rigid deadline on talks regarding Tehran's nuclear program, but said that he would reassess the situation by the end of the year, and that the talks must not go on forever.  From the Washington Post:

Acknowledging "deepening concern" over Iran's nuclear program, Obama today declined to set a deadline for Iran to end it, saying that he would wait until after that county's June presidential elections to directly engage its leaders. Obama said he should know by the end of the year whether those talks were making progress in persuading Iran to give up any ambitions to acquire nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu believes time is running out to stop Iran's nuclear program. He acknowledged today that Israel's interests coincide with those of Sunni Arab governments in the Middle East, including such important regional powers as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who also fear Shiite Iran's nuclear ambitions.

COMMENT:  Much will depend on whether Obama wants to move more to the center on foreign policy, something that's been hinted at in some recent decisions.  As we get into fall, the 2010 congressional elections will become more important in these calculations. 

May 18, 2009