GAZA, 26 March 2005 — The US ambassador to Israel asserted yesterday that Washington supported the idea of Israel retaining large Jewish settlement blocks in the West Bank under a final peace deal with the Palestinians. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice seemed to contradict that when she said Israel’s plan to expand a West Bank settlement was “at odds with American policy” and could threaten peace with the Palestinians.
“US policy is the support that the president has given for the retention by Israel of the major Israeli population centers as an outcome of negotiations,” Ambassador Dan Kurtzer told Israel public radio.
His comments prompted a furious response from the Palestinians, with chief negotiator Saeb Erekat charging that Washington had no right to negotiate on behalf of the Palestinians.
“The United States cannot negotiate in the name of the Palestinian people. What President George W. Bush has promised Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is unacceptable,” he said. “Settlement is illegal throughout the West Bank.”
The US ambassador was responding to a report in the top-selling Yediot Ahronot daily which quoted him as saying Washington had not made any such promise to Israel.
According to the paper, Kurtzer “refuted” the much-repeated Israeli claim that there is an “understanding” with Washington that in a comprehensive future agreement with the Palestinians Israel would retain sovereignty over large settlement blocs.
“I tell you that no such understandings were ever reached, and I checked the matter with Washington,” the paper quoted Kurtzer as saying. Commenting on the Yediot article, Kurtzer said: “This story has no basis in fact... There is no misunderstanding between our two governments. Our policy remains absolutely clear and absolutely firm and it is in black and white in a letter that the president gave to the prime minister.”
Such understandings were outlined in a letter sent by Bush to Sharon in which the US leader stressed that the final borders of any lasting settlement must take into account demographic realities on the ground.
Asked how his comments could have been so radically misinterpreted, Kurtzer put it down to “a misunderstanding by junior officers.”
An Arab analyst said this move showed America’s two-faced policy in the Middle East, and did not help American interests in the region. It also stokes anti-American sentiments, he added.
Saudi businessman Yasin Alireza said: “Arabs should not be surprised by this statement. There’s nothing new in the American action and their support for Israel will continue forever.”
A Saudi woman, who did not want to be identified, said: “The only language the Israelis understand is force and all efforts should be made to evict the occupiers from Palestinian land.”
Kurtzer’s clarification came on the same day the Los Angeles Times quoted Rice as saying Israel’s plans to build 3,500 extra housing units in Maaleh Adumim, east of Jerusalem, could threaten peace in the region.
She said the plans revealed earlier this week were “at odds with American policy” and that the Israeli explanations were “not really a satisfactory response.”
The European Union also expressed concern about the Israeli plans, which conflict with its commitments under the internationally drafted peace road map launched in 2003.
