A Palestinian peace negotiator says the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is too big to ignore, even though it was sidelined in a meeting between Israel's prime minister and US President Barack Obama. Saeb Erekat said Tuesday that in the Middle East, “No issue is above the Palestinian issue.” He spoke after Israeli and American leaders met to discuss Iran's nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not speak about peace talks, which broke down in 2008. Obama made passing reference to the subject in a speech to a pro-Israel lobby and before meeting Netanyahu. Erekat said that Netanyahu pushed a “a plan of war, not a plan of peace.” He said resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict was the key to achieving regional security. Palestinian officials say they expect little from the US until after November's presidential election. Obama predecessors Bill Clinton and George W. Bush became more engaged in the Mideast in their second terms, once domestic electoral concerns played less of a role.
