- Title: MIDDLE EAST: Israel says will abide by prior commitments regarding settlements
- Date: 29th May 2009
- Summary: GIVAT ZEEV SETTLEMENT, WEST BANK (FILE) (REUTERS) HOUSING UNITS CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS AT SETTLEMENT IN EAST JERUSALEM CONSTRUCTION WORKER ON SCAFFOLDING WORKING ON FACE OF BUILDING FOUR SETTLEMENT BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION AND CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE WITH ARM RAISED TO ROOF CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE DRIVING PAST SETTLEMENT BUILDINGS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
- Embargoed: 13th June 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVAA96440NROQU1YDQOS33UZ0HTL
- Story Text: Israel rebuffed a strong plea on Thursday (May 28) from its close ally the United States to stop all building in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
U.S. President Barack Obama, who hopes to revive Middle East peace negotiations, is set to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later Thursday, when Abbas is expected to ask that Washington put new pressure on Israel to stop backing settlers.
Obama's secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, offered strong U.S. support on Wednesday for the Palestinian demand. She said Obama would "press the point" that all settlement activity must stop, including the "natural growth" of existing enclaves which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he will continue.
Responding to her comments, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev said Israel was committed to removing unauthorised outposts, but said the fate of other settlements would be determined through negations.
"In the peace process, all sides have obligations: Israel, the Palestinians, the Arab states. The best way to move forward is for all sides, in parallel, to implement their obligations. For our part, Israel will abide by our commitments not to build new settlements and to take down the unauthorised outposts. As to the status of existing settlements, their fate will be determined in final status talks between us and the Palestinians. In the interim, normal life in those communities must continue," Regev said.
"We don't want to see stagnation in the talks with the Palestinians. We want to see momentum. Israel has proposed a triple-track approach where we, in tandem deal with the political, economic, and security issues that are on the table. Ultimately, the Palestinians can bring their concerns to the table. We can bring our concerns to the table, and let's start solving problems," Regev added.
Wading into Middle East diplomacy early in his presidency, Obama will meet Abbas 10 days after hosting Netanyahu at the White House, where they differed over settlement expansion.
Abbas will make his case for a tougher U.S. approach toward Netanyahu, who has also not endorsed Palestinian statehood.
But it remains unclear how hard Obama is willing to push Israel, a close U.S. ally, to make concessions when his administration has yet to complete its Middle East strategy.
In Washington last week, Netanyahu, who heads a new right-leaning government, did not budge from his resistance to accepting a two-state solution, a cornerstone of U.S. policy.
The U.S.-sponsored road map requires Israel to freeze settlement activity. Continued resistance could cause friction in generally smooth relations between Israel and its staunchest ally.
Abbas has ruled out restarting peace talks until Israel commits to Palestinian statehood and a settlement freeze. Despite that, the White House said it was "hopeful" Abbas would agree to resume negotiations.
Close to half a million Jews live in the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem, which were captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. The World Court has deemed the settlements illegal, in court decisions not recognised by Israel. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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