Netanyahu, on US visit, may back a Palestinian state, official says

Senior White House officials said Obama's meeting with Netanyahu tomorrow is "part of his commitment that he's made since day one of the administration to pursue comprehensive peace in the Middle East, including a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians."

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said he thought an agreement with the Palestinians could be achieved within three years.

"I think and believe that Netanyahu will tell Obama this government is prepared to go for a political process that will result in two peoples living side by side in peace and mutual respect," Barak told Channel 2 TV.

However, he did not use the word state, leaving open other options for Netanyahu.

After the Israeli prime minister made a lightning visit to Jordan Thursday to meet with the king, a senior Jordanian government official said Netanyahu is likely to endorse a two-state solution when he meets Obama. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

When they meet, the two allies will be grappling with diverging policies on how to approach the Mideast conflict. They do not see eye-to-eye on the Palestinian issue or on the Obama administration's efforts to open a dialogue with Israel's arch foes, Syria and Iran.

There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity surrounding Syria in recent weeks. An Obama envoy was in Damascus to try to repair strained relations and assured the government the United States is committed to pursuing a comprehensive Middle East peace that would include the Syria-Israel track.

Obama's chief Middle East envoy George Mitchell is also planning a trip to Syria, US officials said Friday.

Last year, Turkey mediated indirect talks between Israel and Syria but Damascus halted them over the Gaza war.

The recent messages from both sides have not been positive. On Friday, President Bashar Assad of Syria said his country was interested in resuming indirect talks but does not see the new hard-line Israeli government as a good partner.

Syria is demanding Israel cede all the Golan Heights, territory captured from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war. But just days ago, Netanyahu said Israel would not leave the Golan.