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Thursday, July 2, 2009
Israeli source: U.S. can't get Arabs to commit to normalizing Israel ties - Americans can't continue demanding gestures only from Israel

Israeli source: U.S. can't get Arabs to commit to normalizing Israel ties
By Barak Ravid and Cnaan Liphshiz Haaretz Last update - 08:26 02/07/2009
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1097224.html

The U.S. administration has not been successful in securing commitments from
Arab countries to take steps toward normalizing relations with Israel, a
senior source in Jerusalem said Wednesday.

The source said U.S. President Barack Obama's recent meeting with King
Abdullah of Saudi Arabia did not produce a commitment to encourage the other
Arab states to begin normalization.

"In such a situation, the Americans can't continue demanding gestures only
from Israel, such as the demand that Israel freeze settlement construction,"
the source said.

In response, a senior White House source said talks with the Arab states are
continuing with the aim of obtaining a commitment to make gestures toward
Israel, and there is still hope for progress.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak returned to Israel on Wednesday from a meeting
with U.S. Mideast envoy George Mitchell. A senior White House official
confirmed reports that progress was made on the issue of settlements, though
no agreement had been reached. He added that similar progress had been made
in contacts with Arab countries.

Haaretz has learned that the talks with Mitchell included discussions of a
package deal to include a curb on settlement construction. Barak reportedly
argued that any steps taken by Israel would have to be accompanied by
assurances that the Arab states would also move forward. This would lay the
groundwork for resumed talks on a final regional peace agreement.

Within the next two weeks or so, Mitchell is expected to visit Israel to
continue talks.

A senior diplomatic source said that even if a meeting between Mitchell and
the prime minister doesn't resolve the settlement issue, it will narrow the
gap, and the prime minister may request a meeting with Obama in Washington
in the coming months to seal an agreement.

Barak noted that if a package deal is reached, Israel might agree to a
temporary construction freeze in the settlements, but this would not apply
to more than 2,000 housing units already being built.

Also yesterday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at the traditional
Independence Day reception at the residence of the American ambassador,
James Cunningham. Netanyahu spoke of shared values with the United States
but did not address the settlement issue. Although many senior Israeli
politicians attended the event, turnout was lighter than usual.

By attending, Knesset members ignored the call by Likud MK Danny Danon, who
wrote a letter to his parliamentary colleagues this week urging them to
boycott the event. He said America "was trying to call into question the
State of Israel's independence" by pressuring it to halt construction in the
West Bank and agree to territorial concessions to the Palestinians.

A senior diplomat said he was puzzled by the logic behind Danon's proposal.
He said that despite any disagreements, the event was meant to honor the
American people, not any administration.

In his address, Netanyahu highlighted the democratic traditions of Israel
and the United States, which he said united them in the face of tyranny.
Referring to Obama's recent speech in Cairo, he noted the president's
reference to the unbreakable bond between Israel and the United States.

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