Washington, October 2 (RHC)-- U.S. President Barack Obama has hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. The meeting comes just days after Netanyahu gave a UN General Assembly speech attempting to link the militant group Islamic State to Hamas, as well as liken it to Iran.

Netanyahu’s visit to the White House comes just as Israel moved ahead with the building of new illegal settlements in occupied East Jerusalem and the takeover of around 25 Palestinian homes in the neighborhood of Silwan.

While Obama did not issue any public criticism, he reportedly raised the issue with Netanyahu in private. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest called Israel’s latest actions in East Jerusalem as "very troubling" -- but refused to condemn the illegal settlements.

In other news, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has confirmed he has submitted a proposal asking the UN Security Council to set a deadline of November 2016 for Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied West Bank.