State Department: Sanctions? What sanctions?
There must have been a lot of pressure brought on the State Department and the White House because of Assistant Secretary of State Wood's hint about sanctions against Israel on Tuesday. Thursday's press briefing opened with the following from Assistant Secretary of State Phillip Crowley: MR. CROWLEY: Mr. Goyal, good afternoon. Hello to one and all from your Department of State. A couple of announcements before taking your questions:So is the threat removed? I don't believe it has been. If Mitchell comes back and tells the President that Netanyahu won't agree to a freeze and Abu Mazen won't come to the table, we could still see some pressure on Israel.
Special Representative Richard Holbrooke has arrived in Afghanistan after a stop in Pakistan. He will be meeting with officials of the Afghan Government over the next several days, and dealing with a variety of issues leading up to Afghan’s election on August 20. He spent the day today in Helmand province, but over the course of his time in Afghanistan will be focused on critical issues such as civilian-military planning, police, rule of law, Afghan civil society, and agriculture.
Secondly, Special Envoy George Mitchell is in Abu Dhabi, the first of several stops in the region. He will be in Damascus, Syria tomorrow[1]. He will be in Israel on Sunday for meetings with Israeli officials and Palestinian officials. He has other stops planned in Egypt and Bahrain during this trip.
By the way, there was – there had been some reporting after yesterday’s briefing that I think represents some misinterpretation. There’s been some reporting that the United States is contemplating financial or economic pressure against Israel. We are not contemplating such action. Clearly, this is why George Mitchell is in the region today, talking to all of the parties that we believe – about what they need to do to set conditions to resume negotiations so that all of these issues are – can be resolved through peaceful negotiations.
But Obama has enough problems with Congress already and he doesn't need to deal with pressure over Israel as well. This will take the heat off him for a little while - at least on this issue.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:21 PM
6 Comments:
11:58 North Korea publicly executes Christian woman for distributing the Bible (AP)
Obimbos don´t care nowadys
don't be so sure,hussein obama is a vicious israel and jew hater,he has learned his lesson very well from his metor and teacher rev. wright yemach shemo'and he will work day and night to destroy israel
Obama's policy has so far consisted of psychological pressure upon Israel. No real steps have been taken against Israel. As Barry Rubin has written, there is a difference between statements and actions. Should the latter happen, we'll know it. We just haven't see it yet.
I second browser on this. Dear Leader Hussein is psychotically single-minded and tenacious. He will not be distracted from his nefarious goals. Ridding the world of the pesky impediment Israel - the "constant sore", as he called it - fits neatly into his plan to "transform" America. Hence, his parallel government of "czars" (how fitting). There will be more than sanctions, I'm afraid (very afraid).
Yeah, I am with Brower on this one...
Obama rules based on ideology, not rational thinking. His pressure on Israel has already considerably weakened the US public support for Israel. He knows it and will continue pressuring Israel as he believes that Israel is the aggressor and his policies seem to be driving the US public into his way of thinking. He has nothing to loose.
I think that sanctions on Israel are a real possibility, followed by a very strong US Security Council resolution, this time NOT vetoed by the US. And remember, UN Security Council resolutions are binding, unlike the General Assembly crap.
I'm really no big friend of BHO, but I don't like the exaggerated reactions of browser. Norman F is right to distinguish between psychological pressure upon Israel and "vicious israel and jew hatred". We have enough enemies and shouldn't needlessly create additional ones.
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