Silence That Speaks Volumes: Blackout As Israel’s Leader Leaves White House -- Times Online
Two separate meetings between President Obama and Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, failed to produce so much as an official photograph as a chill settled over US-Israeli relations and secrecy shrouded any efforts to repair them.
The Israeli Prime Minister was due to fly home from Washington after three days marked by Israeli defiance on the issue of settlements and an extraordinary silence maintained by both sides after his three-and-a-half-hour visit to the White House.
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More News On U.S. - Israeli Relations
Netanyahu Ends US Visit Without Resolving Settlement Dispute -- Voice of America
Netanyahu leaves U.S. disgraced, isolated and weaker -- Haaretz
Netanyahu Says Progress Made in Dispute With U.S. -- Business Week/Bloomberg
Netanyahu returns to Israel after troubled US visit -- Euronews
Obama snubbed Netanyahu for dinner with Michelle and the girls, Israelis claim -- The Telegraph
Netanyahu and Mitchell meeting after tense White House talks -- Haaretz
Israeli Ministers rally behind Netanyahu on East Jerusalem construction -- Haaretz
My Comment: There is no meeting of the minds between President Obama and PM Netanyahu. They are so far apart on key issues that any hope of moving forward on the peace process is now dead.
1 comment:
The Obama administration seems to be utterly ignorant to Israeli law and domestic politics.
Does Obama approve or announce any new subdivision that is constructed in the greater DC area? It wouldn't even reach his cabinet!
Same thing for construction within the boundaries of Jerusalem. While some disagree regarding the legality of the annexation of Jerusalem with respect to international law, the law of the land (Israel) sees construction in Jerusalem as equivalent to construction in Tel Aviv (West Bank and formerly, Gaza is a totally different story).
If the construction freeze would encompass Jerusalem this would stand in direct violation of Israeli Basic Law (the equivalent to American Constitutional Law) and will surely be overturned by the Supreme Court.
Any changes in the status of Jerusalem would require a modification to a basic Law (a process similar to constitutional amendment in terms of consensus level). I do not foresee it happening unless it comes under the form of a comprehensive, guaranteed, middle east peace agreement that will solve the conflict for good. Until then, no government will be able to convince 70% of the public's direct representatives that this is a good thing!
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