US President Barack Obama was to press Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu to make an explicit commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state when the two meet for the first time in Washington yesterday.
However, there were signals from Jerusalem that Netanyahu would stop short of acknowledging the right of Palestinian independence at talks expected to set the stage for a dramatic shift away from the Bush administration’s accommodation of Israeli foot-dragging on ending the occupation.
The White House has promised a firmer and more interventionist approach to an issue the president has described as a “constant sore” and national security issue for the US.
PHOTO: AP
Both sides have indicated they are keen to avoid confrontation at this early stage, particularly Netanyahu after his previous term as prime minister in the 90s was marred by poor relations with former US president Bill Clinton.
But each has been maneuvering in recent weeks to set the framework of future dealings. The White House wants Israel to finally abide by commitments to stop the rapid expansion of Jewish settlements, while Netanyahu is seeking to put the Palestinian issue on hold in favor of confronting Iran over its nuclear program.
Netanyahu has said he is willing to begin talks with the Palestinians, but has not said to what end. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak, said that Netanyahu — who just a few years ago specifically ruled out Palestinian independence — would recognize self-government, but stopped short of saying he would endorse an independent state.
“I think and believe Netanyahu will tell Obama this government is prepared to go for a political process that will result in two peoples living side by side in peace and mutual respect,” he told Israeli TV.
A Netanyahu aide told the Israeli press on Sunday that the prime minister instead intended to propose a new road map to peace that draws in Arab governments.
Robert Malley, former special assistant for Arab-Israeli affairs to Clinton, said there was little doubt Obama was prepared to pressure Israel over the immediate issues around the occupation, from Jewish settlements to the daily control of Palestinian lives.
But it remains unclear how far the administration will go if Netanyahu declines to consider Palestinian statehood.
“Certainly there are more than a few hints that the administration is going to be tougher when it comes to issues on the ground — settlements, roadblocks, access and movements. On that we’re going to have a more forceful, more energetic, more assertive administration,” Malley said. “The question that people are asking themselves here and I suspect in Ramallah and Jerusalem as well, is whether when it comes to the final status file there will also be a more aggressive, assertive, pro-active administration.”
Malley said it was likely to be several months before the White House was forced to decide whether the Israeli government could be drawn in to a process aimed at creating a Palestinian state in Obama’s first term or whether the US would have to take the lead in laying down a blueprint and pressuring all parties to sign up to it.
Malley said that would be a “radical break” with previous policy that Obama would only take if he was all but sure of success and able to win over Congress.
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