Netanyahu to Meet With Obama on March 5

The Associated Press reports that President Barack Obama's national security adviser has concluded three days of talks with Israeli leaders in Jerusalem amid an escalating focus on Iran's nuclear intentions, and announced a March 5 meeting at the White House between Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

"National Security Adviser Tom Donilon was the latest American official to visit Israel. He met with Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and others. Last month, the chairman of the U.S. joint chiefs of staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, traveled to Israel.

The White House described the talks as a reflection of the Obama administration's 'unshakeable commitment to Israel's security.'

The U.S. has urged Israel not to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Dempsey said in an interview broadcast Sunday that such an attack is 'not prudent.'"

Ynet News writes that the prime minister was already scheduled to travel to Washington D.C. early next month in order to appear at AIPAC's annual conference.

"The visit is part of the continuous and intensive dialogue between the United States and Israel and reflects our unshakable commitment to Israel's security," the White House said of Donilon's recent visit to Israel, which The Jerusalem Post reports included talks on Iran and Syria.

The March 5 meeting between Netanyahu and Obama will be the first face-to-face-conversation between the leaders since the UN General Assembly in September.