An attempt is made to share the truth regarding issues concerning Israel and her right to exist as a Jewish nation. This blog has expanded to present information about radical Islam and its potential impact upon Israel and the West. Yes, I do mix in a bit of opinion from time to time.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Israeli PM to tell Obama settlements 'to grow'
Ron Bousso Ron Bousso Tue May 12, 10:04 am ET
JERUSALEM (AFP) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will tell US President Barack Obama next week that Israel wants to keep building in existing settlements in the occupied West Bank, a senior aide told AFP on Tuesday. The decision could mark a new bone of contention between the hawkish premier and the United States which has called for Israel to stop construction of settlements, one of the main obstacles in the stuttering peace process.
"Netanyahu will insist on Israel's right to construct within existing settlement blocs in order to sustain their natural growth," said Zalman Shoval, a close confidante of Netanyahu and former Israeli ambassador to Washington.
"He will also make a clear commitment not to build new settlements," he added.
Netanyahu is due to meet Obama in Washington on May 18 in their first encounter since the hawkish premier was sworn in office in Israel on March 31 at the head of a largely right-wing government that backs settlements.
The Palestinians have demanded that Israel stop settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, the larger half of their promised state, and east Jerusalem, which they want to make the capital.
Netanyahu will argue that Obama's predecessor George W. Bush said in a letter to former prime minister Ariel Sharon in 2004 that large settlement blocs will remain under Israeli control in any future peace deal.
"The previous US administration made a clear commitment on the large settlement blocs. It is not possible not to build there," Shoval said.
"As for the other settlements, we will have to examine the issue when we discuss the final status (peace) agreement with the Palestinians," he said.
A senior government official said that "the new Israeli government will abide by previous commitments not to build new settlements."
Israel adhered in 2003 to an internationaly-backed roadmap to peace which calls for the peaceful co-existence of Israel and an independent Palestine and for a halt to Jewish settlement activity as well as an end to Palestinian attacks against Israel.
Obama has pledged to work vigorously to jumpstart the stalled peace process and Vice President Joe Biden last month urged Israel to halt its settlement activities.
But the US efforts risk running against the hardline policies of Netanyahu, who has so far refused to publicly endorse the creation of a Palestinian state, a bedrock principle of plans to resolve the decades-old Middle East conflict.
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