The growing divide between Tel-Aviv and Washington

The growing divide between Tel-Aviv and Washington dangles hope for Middle East Peace

Earlier this month the Palestinians reluctantly agreed to US-mediated indirect talks with Israel but the planned negotiation collapsed two days later when Israel announced plans to build 1600 new settler homes in east Jerusalem during a visit by US Vice-president Joe Biden. This illegal announcement angered not only Biden and Hillary Clinton but also the US president Barack Obama himself. The whole world salutes Obama for his present stance against the Israeli policy. The peace loving people of the entire globe now observes the whole situation with much anxiousness and with keen interest how US is going to deal with the affair ultimately. It is true that America’s tough stance against Israel‘s expansion theory and state anarchy will definitely be cornered. The Palestinians have said Israelis construction of settlement is the main obstacle to reaching a peace deal because it is carving off parts of their promised state. Netanyahu imposed a ten-month halt on new construction in the West Bank in November, but the move was rejected by the Palestinians because it did not include east Jerusalem, public buildings and projects already under way. The murder of a Palestinian politician in Dubai recently was committed by Israel. The recent expulsion of an Israeli diplomat in London by the British government over a forgery of British passports that would camouflage the killers is a broad hint of the levels to which Israel has stooped in defense of its questionable national interest. The White House’s tit for tat policy when Netanyahu went to meet Obama clearly indicates US really wants real peace in the Middle East. The recent incidents clandestinely retain many messages for Israel.
Netanyahu returned from Washington on March 26 after a tense visit that appeared to deepen a bitter row with the administration of president Barack Obama over the bundling of Jewish settlements in annexed Arab east Jerusalem.” The Prime Minster’s position is that there is no change in Israel’s policy on Jerusalem that has been pursued by all governments of Israel for the last 42 years. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was even at pains to renew administration warnings that Israel- Palestinian tensions harm US security interest in the Middle East. The lack of progress to wear Middle East peace is clearly an issue that is exploited by our adversaries in the region. Gates said adding it does affect US national security interests in the region. The US appears in no mood to blink first in its tense showdown with Israel after reportedly handing prime minster Benjamin Netanyahu a blueprint to kick start moribund peace talks, Israeli Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu put on a brace face as he flew home to a storm of derision on March 26 having failed to resolve a bitter row with Washington over settlement holding. He insisted ahead of his departure that the two close allies had made progress but his trip served to illustrate the growing divide between Israel and Washington on Jewish settlement activity. Despite meeting with US president Barck Obama and other top officials, Netanyahu appeared unable to tamp down the row over the construction of 1600 new settler home in annexed Arab east Jerusalem .
A senior minister warned that Israel would ‘liquidate’ the Islamist Hamas-run government in Gaza following deadly weekend clashed that killed two Israeli soldiers. “Sooner or later we will liquidate the military regime of the pro-Iranian Hamas which control the Gaza Strip. Finance minister Yuvai Steintz , from the governing rightwing Likud party told public radio. He continued “I am not setting a timetable but we will not tolerate this regime continuing to strengthen itself military and providing itself with an arsenal of rockets that threaten our territory.” Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on March 27 ruled out holding even indirect talks with Israel unless it freezes settlement construction in the West Bank including mostly Arab east Jerusalem. “We cannot resume indirect negotiation as long as Israel maintains its settlement policy and the status quo.”-he said. All these indicate that the black cloud is gathering in the sky once again. Israel still seems to be firm in its illegal decision and hopes to receive backing from its so long closest allies. But the world hopes not to see Middle East peace shattered any more by the questionable steps of Israel.
Israel captured east Jerusalem during the 1967 war and annexed it shortly after in a move not recognized by the international community. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. The long standing crisis in this region must come to an end and USA will take stern and legal steps for establishing sustainable peace in the region is the hope of all.


Md. Masum Billah
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