US-Israeli relations hit new low over settlement plan

[FarCenter]

The Obama administration's relations with Israel have hit a new low as hopes for fresh peace talks collapsed in the wake of the row over plans for 1,600 settler homes.

Matthew Kalman in Jerusalem and Alex Spillius in Washington
Published: 7:27PM GMT 11 Mar 2010

US Vice-President Joe Biden ended a three-day visit to the region by saying President Barack Obama had asked him to issue an "immediate and unequivocal" condemnation of the moves.

Mr Biden had hoped his trip would be crowned by the resumption of talks between Israel and Palestinians after a year of stalemate. But he was left humiliated after the surprise announcement on Tuesday of plans for settlement construction in disputed east Jerusalem.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, said it would now be "impossible" for the US-mediated indirect talks to go ahead unless the plans were withdrawn.

"Our position is simple," said spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh. "The Palestinians and the Arabs accepted the indirect talks.

"It was the Israeli decision to start a new settlement project in East Jerusalem that hindered these talks. The Israelis should revoke these decisions, otherwise it will be difficult and impossible to go back to the negotiations."

The Palestinians were supported by the 22-nation Arab League which had first raised hopes of negotiations by giving Mr Abbas its backing to restart talks.

<SNIP>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/7421631/US-Israeli-relations-hit-new-low-over-settlement-plan.html

[cliffordu]

1. I sure am tired of the fucking Israeli government.

They seem to be bigger pricks than the RNC

[mwrguy]

5. six of one

half dozen of the other.

[MUAD_DIB]

2. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister,

telephoned the vice-president yesterday morning to "express his regret for the unfortunate timing" of the decision.


Why do I doubt Bibi's veracity about the timing? Their timing couldn't have been better in order to embarrass the VP.

[FarCenter]

3. It is quite implausible that the timing was not deliberate

[Vinnie From Indy]

6. I agree!

There is no way on Earth that this was a mistake. This was a conscious decision by that bloodthirsty prick Netanyahu and his right wing extremist asshole buddies to stick it in Obama's ear. The announcement is really a testament to the power that Israel wields in AMERICA. They have no fear of Obama or any other American politician. Hell, they even their own Senator in Joe Lieverman.

[applegrove]

7. Yup.

[Pirate Smile]

4. "“What you’re doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq,Afghanistan"

"People who heard what Biden said were stunned. “This is starting to get dangerous for us,” Biden castigated his interlocutors. “What you’re doing here undermines the security of our troops who are fighting in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. That endangers us and it endangers regional peace.”

The vice president told his Israeli hosts that since many people in the Muslim world perceived a connection between Israel’s actions and US policy, any decision about construction that undermines Palestinian rights in East Jerusalem could have an impact on the personal safety of American troops fighting against Islamic terrorism.

Beyond his desire to allay Israel’s fears about the Iranian nuclear threat, Biden asked the Israeli decision-makers to show the same degree of understanding and sensitivity to the United States’ interests in the Middle East and the military campaign that it is currently waging against radical Islamic agents in Afghanistan and Pakistan."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/laurarozen/0310/What_Biden_told_Netanyahu_behind_closed_doors_This_is_starting_to_get_dangerous_for_us.html

[Flaneur]

8. Tell it, Mr. Biden.

[starroute]

9. The Israelis are cutting their own throats

Which is sad but not entirely unforeseeable.

Some tragedies are avoidable if you can see them coming. This one probably isn't.

[GeorgeGist]

10. Let Israel go ...

it alone.