With election over, Obama initiates conflict with Israel

Obama: Israel Construction Plans Unhelpful -Christi Parsons

President Obama said that Israel is not helping the cause of peace by restarting home construction in territory claimed by both Arabs and Israelis.

"This kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations," Obama said. "And I'm concerned that we're not seeing each side make the extra effort to get a breakthrough that could finally create a framework for a secure Israel living side by side in peace with a sovereign Palestine."

(Los Angeles Times)


Netanyahu Rejects Obama Criticism -Gwen Ackerman, Jonathan Ferziger & Christopher Power

Netanyahu called Palestinian complaints about Israeli settlement construction "a minor issue" that has become "way overblown."

He said previous settlement construction hadn't prevented Egypt or Jordan from concluding peace agreements with Israel.
(Bloomberg)


Netanyahu: Jerusalem Is Not a Settlement

Prime Minister Netanyahu said: "Jerusalem is not a settlement; Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel. Israel has never accepted upon itself restrictions of any kind on construction in Jerusalem."

"Israel sees no connection between the diplomatic process and planning and building policy in Jerusalem, which has not changed in 40 years. All Israeli governments in the past 40 years have built in all parts of the city. During this period, peace agreements were signed with Egypt and Jordan, and for 17 years, diplomatic negotiations have been conducted with the Palestinians. These are historical facts. Construction in Jerusalem has never hindered the peace process."
(Prime Minister's Office)
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From Jakarta to Jerusalem -Editorial

What did President Obama talk about upon arriving in Jakarta? Israeli construction projects.

Israeli governments of both the right and left have encouraged similar building projects since Jerusalem was reunified in 1967. All Israel has done is insist that Jews have a right to live anywhere in their capital city, something that might be controversial in Ramallah but ought not to be in Washington.

Mr. Obama's public endorsement of the Palestinian view of what constitutes a settlement only puts the negotiated peace he seeks further out of reach.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian government forbids Israeli citizens from visiting their country. If Mr. Obama wants to bridge the distance between Jakarta and Jerusalem, maybe he can start with that one.
(Wall Street Journal)
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