Obama Says His Middle East Peace Expectations Were Set Too High

Friday January 22, 2010 09:47 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

United States President, Barack Obama, told the Time Magazine that he made a mistake when he had high expectations for Middle East peace, and added that both Israel and the Palestinians are not willing to make bold gestures to achieve peace.

He stated that his administration overestimated the US ability to convince Israel and the Palestinian to return to the negotiations table.

President Obama said his administration overestimated its ability to persuade the Israelis and Palestinians to resume meaningful peace talks, Israeli Ynet news reported.

Yet, Obama said that he is not giving up and that his administration would continue to work towards a two-state solution that guarantees Israel’s security and sovereignty for the Palestinians.

He said that the Palestinians and Israel realize that the political environment and coalitions, in addition to internal divisions have a great impact on the peace process, and are impacting the resumption of meaningful talks.

The president said that Mahmoud Abbas “has Hamas looking over his shoulder”, and that the Arab World feels impatient with any process. He added that Israel showed willingness to conduct some policy changes but found it difficult to make any bold gestures.

U.S Envoy, George Mitchell started Thursday his Middle East tour with the hope to convince Israel and the Palestinians to resume peace talks.

This is his first trip to the region this year and comes after several tours that ended with failure and could not even bring the two parties one inch closer.

Chief Palestinian negotiator, Dr, Saeb Erekat, stated that Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is imposing further restrictions and obstacles to the peace process, especially after he declared that Israel want to keep its presence in the West Bank even after a final peace deal.

Erekat added that Netanyahu is rejecting to stop the settlement activities, rejecting to withdraw from occupied East Jerusalem, rejecting the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees, and wants to keep the occupation in the Jordan valley.

United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, stated during a press conference with British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, that the lack of progress in the peace process is creating further problems.

She added that the United States would continue to do whatever it can to resume and advance the peace process.

“But, this issue is between Israel and the Palestinians”, she added, “the US, UK, EU and the Arab League, everybody can work together to create a positive atmosphere, we will continue to do whatever we can, and we urge both parties to return to the negotiations table”.