TIMES ONLINE: The White House is refusing to back down today in a bitter dispute with Israel over settlements in Jerusalem that has stalled peace talks, split Jewish lobbyists in Washington and which the Pentagon believes is threatening the lives of American soldiers in the broader Middle East.
As Palestinians threatened to boycott future talks, the depth of the dispute was revealed when Michael Oren, Israel’s Ambassador to Washington, was quoted today warning that US-Israeli relations were “in their worst crisis since 1975 – a crisis of historic proportions”.
Still smarting over the announcement of new construction in East Jerusalem during the visit to Israel last week by Joe Biden, the US Vice-President, Hillary Clinton has called the move and its timing “insulting” towards the US.
Her remarks were echoed by senior White House officials at the weekend who spoke of Israel’s “affront” to Washington after Mr Biden’s effort to restart the peace process was sabotaged by the prospect of new Jewish settlements in districts claimed by Palestinians for their future capital.
Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, has apologised for embarrassing Mr Biden but has given no sign of ordering a halt to the project to build 1,600 new homes in Ramat Shlomo, an East Jerusalem neighbourhood conquered by Israel in 1967.
Mrs Clinton extracted the promise of a ten-month freeze on Israeli settlement-building from Mr Netanyahu last year.
Washington sees the construction project as a betrayal of trust, but the American response appears to have been doubly emboldened by an extraordinary briefing given to the Pentagon in January by the staff of General David Petraeus, the top-ranking US military officer in the Middle East and Central Asia. >>> Giles Whittell, Washington | Monday, March 15, 2010
HAARETZ: Netanyahu: Israel will keep building in Jerusalem: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday said that Israel would continue to build in Jerusalem in the same way that it has over the last 42 years.
"The building in Jerusalem - and in all other places - will continue in the same way as has been customary over the last 42 years," said Netanyahu at a Likud party meeting. >>> Barak Ravid and Mazal Mualem, Haaretz Correspondents | Monday, March 15, 2010
YNET NEWS: Obama shows diplomatic sensitivity worldwide, with the exception of Israel
One reprimand by Hillary Clinton, a half-threatening tone from the Obama Administration’s direction, and there we have the Diaspora Jew hidden in the genetic code of all of us breaking out fearfully.
Now you will say that the Netanyahu government shot itself in the foot, and that during such a significant visit on behalf of our master it allowed the community’s bureaucrats to run wild. You will say that the crisis is unbearable and that the Americans are fed up with the Mideast’s harsh realities.
You will then cry out: Jews, the future is bleak and, heaven forbid, the masters across the ocean may undermine loan guarantees and aid funds to the shtetl we established here.
Yet with all these words, secret government sessions, and apologies, someone may forget that after all we are dealing with a sovereign Jewish State here. A state allowed to declare that Jerusalem is its capital and allowed to plan construction on days and at sites the current US Administration is not comfortable with. >>> Yoaz Hendel | Monday, March 15, 2010
YNET NEWS: Moshe Dann pleased that Biden, Clinton emerged from Obama's closet hatred of Israel
If delusion is one of the most dangerous pitfalls of diplomacy, then, paradoxically, recent criticism of Israel by Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is a blessing in disguise.
Condemning a routine announcement of Israeli plans to build a new neighborhood in Jerusalem, Biden fired the first shot. Clinton added that "it was not only an insult to Biden, but an insult to the United States."
Such fiery attacks on Israel are sharp contrasts to pledges of love and loyalty, rhetoric meant to anesthetize Israelis against the reality of American policy and intentions.
We should all breathe a sigh of relief, not only that these agents of PLO policies – that Jerusalem is negotiable – have left, but that it's out in the open.
Prime Minister Netanyahu avoided the first salvo by excusing and apologizing for the "untimely" announcement. Actually, the timing was perfect. It exposed the real purpose of Biden's visit and President Barack Hussein Obama's direction.
But Netanyahu cannot avoid Clinton's pot shots, which struck at the spinal nerve of the relationship between Israel and the US. As she put it, this was not a dispute over policy, but a deliberate attempt to humiliate the United States of America.
It was not the planned official dedication of a square and monument in Ramallah – during Biden's visit - to a terrorist who had murdered Israelis that offended Ms. Clinton, but plans to build apartments for Jews.
Concessions a display of weakness
Supporters of Israel should rejoice that Biden and Clinton have emerged from Obama's closet hatred of Israel. >>> Moshe Dann | Monday, March 15, 2010
The author is a writer and journalist in Jerusalem
YNET NEWS: Wall Street Journal: Why is Obama against Israel? : Day after political journalist Thomas Friedman slams Israel for authorizing east Jerusalem building, economic newspaper sides with Israel, criticizes Obama's foreign policy: 'When it comes to Israel, no trouble raising pitch' >>> Ynet | Monday, March 15, 2010
YNET NEWS: Senior PLO member warns building in east J'lem will lead to intifada: After Netanyahu vows to continue east Jerusalem construction, Qureia says, 'If Israel continues these practices, another uprising will break out'; Egyptian FM calls Israel's actions 'attempt to suffocate the Palestinians'. Dozens of Palestinians riot north of Jerusalem >>> Ali Waked and agencies | Monday, March 15, 2010
Related:
US Diplomatic Rift with Israel Widens After Settler Plan >>>Adrian Blomfield in Jerusalem | Sunday, March 14, 2010
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