Clinton: US wants Israel settlement halt 'forever'

[azurnoir]

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton defended the U.S. stance toward Israeli settlement building to worried Arab allies on Wednesday, saying Washington does not accept the legitimacy of the West Bank enclaves and wants to see their construction halted "forever."

Still, she said an Israeli offer to restrain — but not halt — construction represents "positive movement forward" toward resuming Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

Clinton met for an hour with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during a hastily arranged stopover in the Egyptian capital to soothe Arab concerns that Washington is backing off demands for an Israeli settlement halt.

Egypt appeared reassured by Clinton's visit, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit called for a resumption of negotiations.

But Clinton has had to do a lot of explaining since last Saturday, when she stood with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and praised his offer to limit settlement construction without halting it.

Clinton has since tried to clarify the remarks, saying that the Israeli offer does not got far enough. Still, she has indicated that the Palestinians should resume negotiations with Israel without a full settlement halt as they demand.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g-qGLDs-gAnZiUXD2NU51ry3j3dwD9BOR1MO0

[Dr Robert]

1. Now that's a strong stance. Good job, Hillary.

Stop the Expansion today.
End the Occupation tomorrow.

[joeycola]

2. sometime 'incremental' approaches backfire. This is one of those times.

[damntexdem]

3. Construction halted -- and existing settlements dismantled?

Oh, well, it's just a wish Clinton expresses, but one the U.S. never acts on, anyway.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Good for her.

[azurnoir]

5. I had wondered with the headlines over the weekend

but she has now "clarified" herself which is good because her statements about Israel's "unprecedented offer" combined with the non-binding resolution in the US congress yesterday could send a message that could be very damaging to any peace efforts

[proteus_lives]

6. Both settlement-building and rocket attacks need to stop.

The Palestinians will never believe the Israelis want peace if the settlements continue to go up.

The Israelis will never believe the Palestinians want peace if the terror attacks continue.

[Violet_Crumble]

9. I've read in two different articles today that rocket attacks have stopped...

Are they wrong?

[Scurrilous]

7. Top official: U.S. will not accept partial settlement freeze

<snip>

"The U.S. does not accept continued Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William J. Burns said in a speech in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, adding that Jerusalem's commitment to restrain settlement activity was not enough.

Speaking in front of the Middle East Institute, Burns said that the Obama administration does not "accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements.

"We consider the Israeli offer to restrain settlement activity to be a potentially important step, but it obviously falls short of the continuing Roadmap obligation for a full settlement freeze," Burns added.

The under secretary said the goal of the Obama administration was to achieve "two states living side by side in peace and security."

"A Jewish state of Israel, with which America retains unbreakable bonds, and with true security for all Israelis; and a viable, independent Palestinian state with contiguous territory that ends the occupation that began in 1967, that ends the daily humiliations of Palestinians under occupation, and that realizes the full and remarkable potential of the Palestinian people," he added."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1128034.html

[stranger81]

8. I'm glad she said this, but what would really matter is her standing in Jerusalem and saying it.

Here's hoping we'll all see that happen some day.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

10. And backing it up with aid cuts if necessary.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

11. Or what?

This stance is only meaningful if the policy of the US government towards Israel will be affected by whether or not Israel continues expanding settlements.

Since it appears that the policy of carte blanche support will continue regardless, this statement is probably meaningless.

[Violet_Crumble]

12. Or Hillary's going to have to announce her support for settlement expansion...

That'll teach 'em!