Big Thaw? Obama, Netanyahu to Meet in Nov.

The White House says President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet at the White House on Nov. 9. It will be the first formal meeting between the two leaders in months. White House press secretary Josh Earnest says the two leaders will discuss implementation of the Iran nuclear deal and other regional issues, as well as efforts to counter the Islamic State's activities in the region.

Obama pointedly refused to see Netanyahu in March when the Israeli leader appeared before a joint meeting of Congress and harshly criticized the US-negotiated nuclear deal with Iran, Israel's enemy. Lawmakers had arranged Netanyahu's appearance without White House input. Congressional Republicans failed this week to block the deal from going forward.