U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet (Reuters) at the White House to mend ties after a period of rocky relations over Israeli settlement policy. The meeting--postponed a month ago after a controversial Israeli raid on a Gaza aid flotilla--may help restart suspended direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestine. Iran's nuclear program will be high on the agenda, but it remains unclear whether Netanyahu will extend beyond September a ten-month Israeli moratorium on new housing in Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Another deadline driving U.S. officials is the Arab League's four-month window, through mid-September, for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to show advances toward Palestinian statehood (WSJ) from indirect talks with Israel. Without a new endorsement, Abbas is unlikely to continue negotiations. Obama will press Netanyahu on the issues involved in creating a Palestinian state to help Abbas sell the idea of direct talks to skeptical neighboring Arab states.

The meeting comes a day after Israel confirmed it would allow more consumer goods to enter the Gaza Strip (BBC), which the White House called a "significant step" forward.

Analysis:

CFR's Robert Danin says that today's meeting between Netanyahu and Obama will focus on averting a breakdown in peace negotiations in light of September's two crucial deadlines.

In the Jerusalem Post, Ari Harow says Israel and the United States should renew their commitment to common ideals like fighting Islamic fundamentalism.