Israel Seeking to Curb Crisis with Obama over Settlements

Link
Hanan Awarekeh

18/11/2009 Although Israel has been insisting for quite a while that there is no crisis of relations with the United States, Israeli officials were surprised Tuesday by the harsh American, British, regional and International responses to the approval of building 900 new housing units in the occupied Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo.

A source in Benjamin Netanyahu's office clarified Tuesday evening that such approvals "are not handled by the Israeli prime minister."

Netanyahu's associates attempted to minimize the implications of the US and British criticism following the plan to expand the neighborhood, which is located beyond the Green Line, hinting that the Americans must clarify in public why they oppose the construction. "The Americans know very well that the Israeli agreement to freeze the construction does not include Jerusalem," one of the sources told Israeli media.

"We are dismayed at the Jerusalem planning committee's decision to move forward on the approval process for the expansion of Gilo in Jerusalem," said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. "At a time when we are working to relaunch negotiations, these actions make it more difficult for our efforts to succeed," said Gibbs, effectively accusing Israel of undermining the floundering US-led peace process.

The aides chose to address the American response only, ignoring the even harsher criticism voiced by Britain.

The Foreign Office said Foreign Secretary David Miliband "has been very clear that a credible deal involves occupied Jerusalem as a shared capital. "Expanding settlements on occupied land in east Jerusalem makes that deal much harder. So this decision is wrong and we oppose it," a spokeswoman said.

"The Americans are well aware of the prime minister's stand on the matter, and therefore it would be a mistake to refer to the Americans' statements as a crisis. There are things that are not seen by everyone," one of the sources said, expressing his confidence that the tension would be over within a week.

Netanyahu’s Office said in a statement that the approval issued by the regional construction and planning committee was a routine procedure. "Building permits in Jerusalem's municipal borders, as in Israel's other cities like Tel Aviv and Jaffa, do not reach the prime minister's table."

The statement added that "the Gilo neighborhood is an integral part of Jerusalem, just like Ramot Eshkol, Rehavia, the French Hill, and Pisgat Ze'ev. There is a broad national agreement on this matter. The construction in Gilo has been going on for decades, and there is nothing new in the current planning and construction procedures."

Israeli officials hinted that the remarks made by Washington were simply a show. "The Americans want the entire issue of the territories to be clarified in the permanent agreement, and don't want the sides – mainly Israel – to create facts on the ground. However, Israel's stand on the matter is unequivocal – Jerusalem will not be part of any discussion on reducing construction," one of the sources said.

Israeli Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen said earlier that "the United States is acting like a bull in a china shop. A unilateral stance prevents any chance for dialogue. The Americans should learn from the past."

Following this remark, Netanyahu instructed Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser to make it clear to all the ministers and their deputies that they must make no further statements on the American criticism.

Israel's settlement move flew in the face of Palestinian calls, backed by Washington, for a complete freeze on new building before any new round of talks. With the Palestinians so frustrated at the failure of peace efforts that they have launched a unilateral bid to seek statehood from the United Nations, the two sides are as far apart as ever.

Netanyahu was widely condemned by the international community for allowing new housing units to be erected in the disputed area. "The secretary-general deplores the government of Israel's decision today to expand Gilo settlement, built on Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war," said a spokesman for UN chief Ban Ki-moon.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said the impasse gave him no choice but to unilaterally pursue international recognition of a Palestinian state, even as Europe and the United States discouraged the move. "We feel we are in a very difficult situation," he said in Cairo after talks with Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak. "What is the solution for us? To remain suspended like this, not in peace? That is why I took this step."

Nabil Abu Rodaineh, aide to Abbas, said Israel's move "destroys the last chances for the peace process."

The European Union, the Palestinians' biggest donor, joined the United States Tuesday in urging reconsideration of the recognition move and instead called for a return to talks. "I would hope that we would be in a position to recognize a Palestinian state but there has to be one first, so I think it is somewhat premature," said Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, whose country holds the EU presidency.

Moreover, Saudi Arabia said on Wednesday that Israel's decision constituted a "major obstacle" to efforts to restart Middle East peace talks. "We feel that a settlement is a major obstacle in the way of the peace process ... in east Jerusalem in particular," foreign ministry spokesman Osama Nugali told AFP.

"Unless there are decisive measures taken in regard to these policies, it is too difficult to advance the peace process," Nugali said.

Mideast regional power Saudi Arabia has insisted that Israel freeze all settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank before it helps revive peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis.