Obama Tells Netanyahu his Intenion to Impose Peace Deal in Two Years

Obama steps up Israel pressure

Published today (updated) 29/03/2010 10:22

Bethlehem - Ma'an -

US President Barack Obama made clear during talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week that he intends to impose a peace deal in less than two years, news reports said Monday.

The Israeli daily Haaretz, quoting political sources, reported that Israeli officials view Obama's supposed demands as just the beginning in a dramatic change in US policy toward Israel, with which the Americans retain strong ties.

According to the report, 10 demands posed by Obama include four specifically dealing with Jerusalem, including opening a Palestinian interests office in occupied East Jerusalem, to stop razing Palestinian buildings, and a settlement freeze that includes Ramat Shlomo, the settlement area that sparked US Vice President Joe Biden's condemnation when it was announced during a visit earlier this month.

Haaretz says Israeli officials are worried that Obama wants both sides to discuss core issues in indirect talks rather than in future direct negotiations, which would become unnecessary. This method would permit the US to impose its own settlement, the officials reportedly said.

Furthermore, the sources claim that the White House and State Department have put pressure on Israel via its allies in Europe, particularly Germany.

They also fear the supposedly new policies contradict past assurances and will encourage Palestinians to toughen their stance, which is already opposed to any kind of negotiations without a real settlement freeze.

President Mahmoud Abbas told delegates Saturday at the Arab League summit in Libya that there will be no talks without an end to settlements in all the occupied Palestinian territories including East Jerusalem.

Abbas said that in order to save the two-state solution, immediate action was required to compel Israel into committing to a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel in 1967, a settlement moratorium, and adhering to the terms of the Road Map.

"Jerusalem is the jewel in the crown as well as the door and the key to peace. We emphasize that we hold onto every grain of soil and stone in Jerusalem. We are determined to defend Palestine's capital," he said.

The president further called on the international community not to recognize unilateral actions in Jerusalem, and demanded that Arab and Muslim support be mobilized, in coordination with the Organization of the Islamic Conference, to bring a halt to "Israeli aggression" against Muslim and Christian religious sites.

U.S. Might Abstain During UN Vote On Jerusalem Settlement Construction

Monday March 29, 2010 11:22 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

The BBC reported on Sunday that the United States might abstain for a possible UN Security Council vote on Israel’s illegal construction of Jewish settlements in occupied East Jerusalem.

The issue was raised last week during a meeting between the Foreign Minister of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad Bin Jassim Al-Thani, and a senior U.S. official.

The official was quoted as stating that that Unites States is seriously considering the possibility of abstaining if settlements issue was put to the vote, Israeli Ynet News reported.

Al-Thani asked the official whether the U.S. would guarantee that it would refrain from using its Veto power if the issue is voted on.

Using its Veto power, the United States has blocked numerous U.N. resolutions condemning Israel and calling for its full withdrawal from Arab and Palestinian territories, and any resolution that is not of Israel’s interest.

But Israeli sources reported that by challenging the U.S. administration and approving additional 1600 units for Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem, U.S.-Israeli relations were severely damaged.

Israel announced the construction plan while vice president, Joe Biden, visited the region in an attempt to launch the indirect Palestinian-Israeli talks.

The Palestinian Authority of President Mahmoud Abbas withdrew from the proximity talks to protest Israel’s violations.

Israel says that Jerusalem “will always be its undivided capital”, while Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, stated recently that Jerusalem is not a settlement and that his government and every Israeli government will continue to build in it.

East Jerusalem is an important part of the Palestinian territories Israel illegally occupied after the June 1967 war. Although Israel considers the “undivided” Jerusalem as its capital, the International Community regards it as an occupied city.

The Tuesday White House meeting between Obama and Netanyahu ended without talking to the press and even without a press release.

Despite speculation about tension between Israel and the United States over Israel’s illegal settlement activities, especially in East Jerusalem, White House advisor, David Axelrod told CNN’s State of the Union news program that the meeting was an ordinary meeting between friends.

There are at least 300.000 Jewish settlers living several settlements in the occupied West Bank, and additional 180.000 settlers living in occupied East Jerusalem.

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