Israeli snub puts US in a quandary
Published: Mar 11, 2010 23:21 Updated: Mar 11, 2010 23:21
WASHINGTON: The US Vice President Joe Biden is attempting to salvage Middle East peace talks after the Palestinians announced they were pulling out of a new round of indirect negotiations.
It follows Israel’s decision to build 1,600 new homes for Jews in Arab East Jerusalem.
The US vice president said an agreement was “profoundly” in Israel’s interests and appealed to the Israeli government to make a serious attempt to reach peace with the Palestinians.
On Monday, the White House won agreement from the two sides to begin the indirect talks, with the Palestinians insisting there would be no direct talks unless Israel halted all settlement expansion.
But only hours after Biden met Israeli leaders, Israel announced approval for the illegal new apartments in Ramat Shlomo, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish settlement in Arab East Jerusalem.
Israel’s announcement is widely seen as a slap in the face to its all-important US ally. It stirred significant anger among US officials and widespread skepticism about whether the Obama administration would have the courage or backing to take Israel to task as the US re-launches stalled peace negotiations. Left-wing Jewish groups in the US also condemned the plan.
The future of those talks was called into question late Wednesday when the Arab League recommended withdrawing support for them. “This is a global message of American weakness and Israeli arrogance,” said Palestinian lawmaker Hanan Ashrawi.
Political observers here say it now appears President Barack Obama has the choice of absorbing the blow or engaging in a politically unpalatable battle with the Israeli leadership, which past US presidents have largely avoided.
They noted that Obama might be too invested in key domestic problems, the Iran nuclear issue and two wars to walk into that political minefield.
US special envoy for the Middle East George Mitchell is expected to visit the region next week. Talks are expected to focus on all of the so-called core issues: borders, water, refugees, illegal settlements and Jerusalem.
Condemnation against Israel has poured in from around the world, with many world leaders strongly condemning the Israeli decision, calling them illegal and ill timed.
“This is a bad decision at the wrong time. It will give strength to those who argue that Israel is not serious about peace,” British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.
At the United Nations, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon condemned the Israeli plan as incompatible with international law.
Palestinian Envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour described the announcement as “provocative,” and urged the Security Council to urgently address the “illegal” policy.
Obama had come into office demanding a full settlement freeze, including in East Jerusalem, with his administration later accepting a temporary, limited freeze that did not include East Jerusalem. Palestinians had attacked the new stance.

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