(AP-Fox News) President Barack Obama is playing down expectations for a Mideast peace breakthrough during his upcoming trip to Israel, telling American Jewish leaders that he won't be carrying a "grand peace plan" when he arrives later this month. Obama, in an hour-long private meeting at the White House on Thursday, acknowledged that near-term prospects for peace are bleak, according to a person who attended the discussion. But the president said a deal with the Palestinians remains the only way for Israel to achieve long-term security. Obama said pursuing sweeping peace talks now would be premature, but that doesn't preclude him from launching a peace effort in six months or a year.
2013-03-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive