US-Israeli relations are deteriorating. US Special Envoy George Mitchell has postponed his next visit to the region indefinitely, further underscoring the Obama administration's fury at the Israeli Ministry of Interior's announcement of the construction of 1,600 apartments in east Jerusalem during the visit to Israel of Vice President Joseph Biden last week.
The Americans are not describing the postponement of Mitchell's visit as a punishment, but as a constructive measure to signal Israel that it must give Mitchell material to build solid foundations for resuming the peace process with the Palestinians. In other words, without a major Israeli gesture, which the US is not specifying, another trip to the Middle East by Mitchell would be pointless.
"The New York Times" quotes a senior administration official as saying, “What happened to the vice president in Israel was unprecedented. Where it goes from here depends on the Israelis."
US administration officials are not spelling out exactly what they expect the Israelis to do, but the word in Washington is that the Obama administration presented Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with an ultimatum: end all building plans in Jerusalem and publicly commit to undertaking serious negotiations with the Palestinians. At this point, the Obama administration will not be satisfied with behind-the-scenes Israeli agreements; it is demanding a public declaration that will underscore the commitment.
Washington will now show less patience to the usual arguments by the Netanyahu government that it cannot make a public declaration on concessions because of the fragility of the coalition.
In view of the burgeoning crisis in US-Israeli relations, pro-Israel sources in the US yesterday expressed bitter disappointment at the refusal of Democratic representatives and senators, including Jewish Congressmen representing important Jewish districts, and other friends of Israel, to openly declare their objections to the Obama administration's conduct toward Israel. So far as is known, only one Democratic Representative, Shelley Berkley of Nevada, has publicly criticized the administration's statements.
Online political magazine "Politico" yesterday said that senior Democratic Congressmen will support the administration in the present confrontation with Israel.
"You have to understand the distress of Democratic senators and representatives who are friends of Israel," a source on Capitol Hill told "Globes". "President Obama is under unprecedented attack from the Republicans in both Houses of Congress who oppose most of his initiatives, beginning with healthcare and financial reform. The Congressmen feel that at this time they must show unity with the White House as much as possible, and not open another front against it."
There are rumors in Washington that, in addition to the big stick that the US is wielding against Netanyahu, it is also offering a carrot: a meeting with Biden when Netanyahu visits Washington next week to attend the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference. The offer is conditional on Israel making the gestures demanded by the administration.
Netanyahu will not meet Obama, who will be traveling to Indonesia and Australia next week. "The New York Times" quotes an official as jokingly saying that the scheduling conflict suits the administration well right now. “This may not be the best time for a face-to-face,” he said.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on March 16, 2010
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