Obama Insists On Implementing Two State Solution, No Ifs, Ands, or Buts

[Cees Binkhorst]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

Dus Obama is niet thuis, tot Israel ernst maakt met afgesproken
twee-staten-oplossing.
Klinkt goed, heel goed ;)

Groet / Cees

http://israelpolicyforum.ngphost.com/blog/emanuel-says-obama-insists-implementing-two-state-solution-no-ifs-ands-or-buts

Emanuel Says Obama Insists On Implementing Two State Solution, No Ifs,
Ands, or Buts

MJ Rosenberg
Washington Director of Policy Analysis, Israel Policy Forum
Posted April 16, 2009 - 11:06am

Yedioth Achronoth, the largest circulation daily in Israel, reports today
that President Obama intends to see the two-state solution signed, sealed
and delivered during his first term.

Rahm Emanuel told an (unnamed) Jewish leader; "In the next four years
there is going to be a permanent status arrangement between Israel and the
Palestinians on the basis of two states for two peoples, and it doesn't
matter to us at all who is prime minister."

He also said that the United States will exert pressure to see that deal
is put into place."Any treatment of the Iranian nuclear problem will be
contingent upon progress in the negotiations and an Israeli withdrawal
from West Bank territory," the paper reports Emanuel as saying.  In other
words, US sympathy for Israel's position vis a vis Iran depends on
Israel's willingness to live up to its commitment to get out of the West
Bank and permit the establishment of a Palestinian state there, in Gaza,
and East Jerusalem.

Yedioth also reports that Obama is conveying his displeasure with the new
Israeli government in several ways. "US administration officials informed
Netanyahu that President Obama will not be able to meet with him in early
May, while the AIPAC conference is held in Washington. The meeting between
the new Israeli premier and the president of the United States is
perceived in Israel as a sign that the formation process of the new
government has been completed and as a salutation by Israel's close
friend. Netanyahu had hoped to capitalize on the opportunity and to meet
with Obama during the annual AIPAC conference, but the Americans informed
the Israelis that Obama was not going to be 'in town.' That being the
case, the inclination among Netanyahu's aides is to cancel his trip to
attend the AIPAC conference and to try to secure a date for a meeting with
Obama later in May.

"Sources in Washington also said that the Obama administration would not
continue the tradition that developed during the Bush administration of
hosting Israeli premiers many times during the year, sometimes with just a
phone call's advance notice."

So far neither the White House or the Israeli government has commented on
the report which, it should be noted, comes from Shimon Shiffer, one of
Israel's most highly respected journalists.

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