WASHINGTON (JTA) — Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak had an impromptu meeting with President Obama.
The U.S. president interrupted a scheduled meeting Tuesday in Washington between Barak and James Jones, the White House national security adviser.
Obama and Barak met for 15 minutes and discussed regional issues, an aide to Barak told JTA.
Obama and other U.S. officials have pressed Israel in recent weeks to commit to eventual Palestinian statehood and to freeze settlement building.
Barak is scheduled to return to Israel on Thursday.
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