by Melissa Gruz, Jenny Feder, and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, Washington DC/Jerusalem
34 minutes ago
US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet for the first time since relations deteriorated over a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran.
The Washington talks come amid weeks of unrest between Israel and Palestinians.
Six Israelis were wounded in knife attacks by Palestinians on Sunday. A Palestinian who drew a knife on Israeli guards was shot dead on Monday.
Mr Netanyahu is seeking a boost in annual US military aid for Israel.
The talks are expected to pave the way towards an increase from $3.1bn (£2bn) a year to $5bn, media reports say.
Jon Sopel: Netanyahu comes to Washington - again
Relations between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Obama were strained over July's nuclear deal with Iran, which was bitterly opposed by Israel.
In the last week, the US has also expressed its surprise at Mr Netanyahu's choice of a new spokesman, Ran Baratz, who made controversial comments about administration officials.
On Facebook, Mr Baratz accused Mr Obama of anti-Semitism and described US Secretary of State John Kerry as having a "mental age" of no more than 12.
A US state department spokesman said the posts were "troubling and offensive". Mr Baratz will not be part of Israel's delegation.
Image copyrightEPAImage caption The past month has seen clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces
At a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said the focus of the talks would be on "possible progress with the Palestinians, or at least stabilising the situation with them, and, of course, strengthening the security of the state of Israel".
On Monday morning a Palestinian woman was shot dead when she ignored warnings to stop after approaching security guards with a knife at a crossroads in the West Bank, Israeli officials said.
In the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday, four Israelis were struck by a car driven by a Palestinian man, who was then killed by security forces.
A Palestinian woman stabbed a security guard close to a West Bank settlement south of Jerusalem before being shot by the victim. She remains in a serious condition in hospital.
And near the West Bank village of Nabi Elias, an Israeli man was stabbed by two people who then fled.
The upsurge in violence began in September, when tensions at a flashpoint holy site in East Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims boiled over amid rumours Israel planned to relax long-standing rules to strengthen Jewish rights at the complex.
Israel has repeatedly denied such claims.
34 minutes ago
US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are set to meet for the first time since relations deteriorated over a nuclear deal between world powers and Iran.
The Washington talks come amid weeks of unrest between Israel and Palestinians.
Six Israelis were wounded in knife attacks by Palestinians on Sunday. A Palestinian who drew a knife on Israeli guards was shot dead on Monday.
Mr Netanyahu is seeking a boost in annual US military aid for Israel.
The talks are expected to pave the way towards an increase from $3.1bn (£2bn) a year to $5bn, media reports say.
Jon Sopel: Netanyahu comes to Washington - again
Relations between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Obama were strained over July's nuclear deal with Iran, which was bitterly opposed by Israel.
In the last week, the US has also expressed its surprise at Mr Netanyahu's choice of a new spokesman, Ran Baratz, who made controversial comments about administration officials.
On Facebook, Mr Baratz accused Mr Obama of anti-Semitism and described US Secretary of State John Kerry as having a "mental age" of no more than 12.
A US state department spokesman said the posts were "troubling and offensive". Mr Baratz will not be part of Israel's delegation.
Image copyrightEPAImage caption The past month has seen clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces
At a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said the focus of the talks would be on "possible progress with the Palestinians, or at least stabilising the situation with them, and, of course, strengthening the security of the state of Israel".
On Monday morning a Palestinian woman was shot dead when she ignored warnings to stop after approaching security guards with a knife at a crossroads in the West Bank, Israeli officials said.
In the West Bank city of Nablus on Sunday, four Israelis were struck by a car driven by a Palestinian man, who was then killed by security forces.
A Palestinian woman stabbed a security guard close to a West Bank settlement south of Jerusalem before being shot by the victim. She remains in a serious condition in hospital.
And near the West Bank village of Nabi Elias, an Israeli man was stabbed by two people who then fled.
The upsurge in violence began in September, when tensions at a flashpoint holy site in East Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims boiled over amid rumours Israel planned to relax long-standing rules to strengthen Jewish rights at the complex.
Israel has repeatedly denied such claims.
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Israel and the Palestinians
- Is Palestinian-Israeli violence being driven by social media? 22 October 2015
- Video Jerusalem's flashpoint holy site 15 October 2015
- Israel-Palestinians: World diplomacy's Gordian knot 20 October 2015
- Fear and loathing fuel Jerusalem knife attacks 15 October 2015
Backgrounders
- Who are Hamas? 11 July 2014
- Mid-East talks: Where they stand 22 July 2013
- Palestinian territories profile 8 July 2015
- History of Mid-East peace talks 29 July 2013
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