Netanyahu, Obama to meet Monday

Nov 9, 2009, 3:58 GMT

Washington - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet late Monday with US President Barack Obama, the White House confirmed.

Netanyahu is also scheduled to address Jewish community activists in the US.

Netanyahu's visit to the US comes amid questions over the Israeli- Palestinian peace process, following the announcement by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that he will not seek re-election in upcoming elections, and the efforts by Israel and Washington to find a formula to achieve a resumption of peace talks.

The negotiations were suspended a year ago as Israel entered an election period, and have not been renewed since Netanyahu took office at the end of March.

Palestinians insist they will not return to negotiations unless Israel completely halts all construction in West Bank settlements.

Netanyahu has said that while Israel will build no new settlements, it will go ahead with construction inside existing ones, to facilitate population expansion, so-called 'natural growth.'

The Obama administration, which initially demanded a complete construction halt, has been holding talks with Israeli officials for months to try to find a compromise on the issue.