Kerry urges putting 'settlements' aside
This comes as something of a surprise. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass>) has come out in favor of tabling the dispute between the United States and Israel over Jewish housing construction in Jerusalem. John Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was slated to join a host of lawmakers meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who's in town for AIPAC's annual conference. The Cable caught up to Kerry just before his meeting, and the senior senator from Massachusetts said that he will tell Netanyahu that both the United States and Israel should set the settlements issue aside for now.But can he convince the dogmatic Obama administration to drop it?
"I think what's important now is not to get stuck on the issue of the settlement freeze," Kerry told The Cable. "I think what's important is to get to the table and discuss the final-status talks as rapidly as possible."
Kerry noted that calling for a full settlement freeze has been official U.S. policy for years, under both Democratic and Republican administrations. But he said that was just not the most important thing on the table at this point.
"I think the focus ought to be on the talks themselves," he said. "The clock is ticking and that ticking clock works against Israel's security and it works against our interests in the region."
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:28 PM
5 Comments:
The real problem is persuading the Palestinians to stop inventing excuses to boycott talks. There's already been a freeze in Yesha for nearly a half a year and it hasn't been enough for the Palestinians. And Israel is not to going agree to a freeze in Jerusalem and not to one that encompasses natural growth. If the US is not going to pressure the Palestinians to moderate, then the proximity talks are going to be stillborn for sure.
And none of this has anything to do with whether 20 new apartments are built in the Shepherd Hotel location in Jerusalem.
today Obama received new orders from Saudi Arabia
"But can he convince the dogmatic Obama administration to drop it?"
First step on both Iran issue and Jerusalem/settlements in both houses would be for the Republicans to work towards a joint signed statement to the President. The Republicans should pick up the baton and run with it. Where are they JOINTLY on this issue?
As we know at the very least a simple statement to the President by house leadership would be 'something.'
I have to say however this is not going to happen. Politics always trumps Israel. It is perceived on both sides the road to peace in the ME has everything to do with Jerusalem. (despite all the promises) Like it or not this is the very reason the Jerusalem Bill has never been signed.
What they tell us for our votes in their campaign promises and why they actually fail to wield their power paints a very eye opening picture indeed. In the respect of waiting to hear a unified voice from at the very least THE Republican leadership, signed by every republican congressperson and senator.
Face it, no one stopped Iran before Obama and certainly we can expect nothing of substance out of that narcissist in the oval office. We can however expect our Republican officials to speak with unity. Ditto Jerusalem, settlements and truth about the Palestinians.
While Netanyahu can proclaim:
"Jerusalem is not a settlement. It is our capital," Where is the broad support for it in the form of one voice? Ditto his deep concerns on Iran.
"The real problem is persuading the Palestinians to stop inventing excuses to boycott talks."
Who in power will convince them of this NormanF? The Palestinians INVENT EXCUSES because they can!
They have been enabled, propped up and lied for by every US president and head of state virtually around the world. Who will find the need to convince of honesty? After all, history has already been re-written to the point Israel the victim is now the victimizer. Why do they need to give in to anything seeing the words, contiguous viable Palestinian state have been spoken for so many years by so many mouths it is perceived as truth?
Our President Bush traveled to Egypt as well. Both he and Mubarak threw the emphasis on what happens in Jerusalem means peace to the wider ME. They both talked about a contiguous viable Palestinian state which did not resemble swiss cheese. They talked about the pain of occupation and the humiliation which goes along with it as the central cause of hostilities. Bush like Obama spoke those words on a world stage while at the same time calling Mubarak a good friend of the US and ally in the war on terror. (both knowing full well Mubarak allowed thousands of weapons tunnels dug from his country to Gaza which enabled terrorists to slaughter Jews)
Palestinian terrorist mentality mimics exactly an enabled drunk or drug abuser but a million times worse. So hy should they do anything? Why should they change their ways? As long as there is a world to prop them up at every step their excuses hold. The Palestinians sit in the drivers seat continuing to accept billions on white paint and mouthfuls of lies
so they can look squeaky clean by those who speak and act in their behalf.
this peace nonsense leads to nothing, cs. the Palis can never abandon the "right-of-return" demand
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