US-Israel crisis — this time it's serious

PROTEST: Shops on the usually busy Salaheddin Street in East Jerusalem are shut on Monday to protest Israel's settlement expansion in the holy city. (AFP)

By BARBARA FERGUSON | ARAB NEWS

WASHINGTON: Tension between the United States and Israel went up a notch on Monday when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said construction in occupied East Jerusalem would continue as usual.

"Construction will continue in Jerusalem as has been the case over the past 42 years," Netanyahu told members of his Likud party.

The United States, meanwhile, pressed Israel to cancel plans to build 1,600 housing units for Jews in the Arab section of East Jerusalem, which it announced during US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to the country last week. Speaking on condition of anonymity, Obama administration officials said whatever Israel does must be a significant step to restore confidence and move peace efforts ahead. Israeli officials said Washington wants the construction project canceled.

There were unconfirmed reports on Monday that the Obama team upped its ante by delaying its Middle East envoy George Mitchell's scheduled trip to the region this week.

In an unusual move, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) made a public call on the White House to tone down the rhetoric. The lobby said statements made by senior officials in the administration were "very worrying."

But Netanyahu still plans to travel to Washington next week to participate in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's annual policy conference, sources in his office said Sunday night. And Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is also still expected to address the pro-Israel group, said US officials.

The standoff has become a hot issue in Washington: "It is clear that the present crisis is more than a tempest in a teapot; it is a crisis between the Obama administration and the government of Israel," said Ziad Asali, president of the Washington-based American Task Force on Palestine. "This issue has now gone public because of the administration's frustration with the Israeli government's actions, after all the effort that the administration has put in getting the parties to negotiate."

In Washington, many opinion writers came out harshly against the Obama team. "The current friction in US-Israel relations has one source: the mishandling of those relations by the Obama administration," wrote Elliot Abrams, senior fellow for Mideast studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. "Polls show that Israel is as popular as ever among Americans ... (and has) a higher approval rating these days than does President Obama."

"The Obama administration can't seem to come up with a response ... Of toughness and reassurance with the Israelis that would drive a coherent strategy. Caught up in tactics, the Obama team can't decide whether it wants to pander to the Israelis or punish them," noted Aaron David Miller, public policy fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Institute.

— With input from agencies

Comments

DAVID - AUSTRALIA

Report abuse
There is no such thing as 'tensions' between Isreal and the US. The announcement of the 1600 new homes was deliberately timed to coincide with Biden's visit to achieve exactly what it did, 'perceived tension between US & Isreal'. This is so that the US can be seen to be sulking in the corner and not be complicit in Isreals future actions. those actions will be the attack on Irans Nuclear Facilities. Meanwhile, the US has shipped 10 containers of Bunker Buster Munitions to the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean . This is for the US to be ready to support Israel. All this is to install another puppet leader back into Iran who will support the US and ruin another foreign economy by looting its resources in the name of democracy.

NISHTHAR IDROOS

Report abuse
Escalation of tension or a possible fall out is not the Muslim and Arab world expect. As a matter of fact this is the very antithesis at this juncture. We exhort the Israelis to heed to world opinion and resume stalled talks. Let’s relegate arrogance and promote dialogue.Embarrasing the US is not a smart idea.

MT

Report abuse
I believe this is just a smart game being played by both USA and Israel. REASON to make fool to others in the whole world and plan another WAR against Iran by saying we are against Israel if world supports war against Iran. So still fool tactics are being implemented with Muslims against Muslims. I believe all should wake up now or never until separate Palestine state is formed then there will be peace or it cannot be achieved at all.

WAQAS-AL-DIN AL-AMERICANI

Report abuse
Oh please, this is complete "balderdash," "malarky" to use some of the Vice presidents highly dignified verbiage... Israel is a spoiled brat and has always done what it has wanted to do regardless of its consequences to Old Man Uncle Sam. Remember the attack on the USS Liberty which led to several hundred American casualties with hardly a whimper coming out from Uncle Sam? Or how about the sophisticated military technology it sells to China, who Uncle Sam see's as an adversary? The point is, we have to stop treating Israel as a rational adult when quite clearly its behavior is that of an immature, overindulged child! Nor is the whole "go to your room, you're grounded!" technique going to work. What we need to do most today is to take Israel in the back room and give it a good old Malaysian style spanking! .

ARIF

Report abuse
In situation cited above, it is obvious the agony and the mental trauma the palestinians are subjected to by senseless acts of Israelis. No sign[s] of, let alone stopping such non-sense acts, even minimising such acts. By each passing day, hour and minute it is getting multiplied. Their action resembles that of a drunken bull, which runs without knowing the direction and ruins all in the way without a rhyme or reason. After all, it is a bull without any sense ! But the acts of israelis put even this bull to shame!. They never care for world bodies, including their step-father. US !! Only Nature can rectify these incorrigibles. "Better late than never" or "Better sooner than later"
Post your comment

required

required (email will never be displayed)

Please enter the following characters in the box provided (case sensitive). This helps us prevent automated programs from creating accounts and sending spam.

All comments are subject to approval

Terms and conditions

Latest comments