Horn
3rd April 2010, 11:59 AM
JASON KOUTSOUKIS, JERUSALEM
March 30, 2010
FEARS have grown in Israel that the United States is considering removing its UN Security Council veto to any resolutions critical of the country's handling of the housing issue in East Jerusalem.
Israel's "forum of seven" ministers, an inner cabinet chosen by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is scheduled to meet for the third time in five days tomorrow to try to reach a compromise on Washington's demands for restarting talks with the Palestinians.
The talks are supposed to culminate in the release of a joint document of understanding that will be given to President Barack Obama. The document is supposed to include goodwill gestures towards the Palestinians.
With Israel's relationship with the US in crisis, Mr Netanyahu was last night desperately trying to shore up international support for Israel.
According to the BBC, which quoted an unnamed White House official, the US was considering ending its long-standing policy of using its veto power to block UN Security Council resolutions condemning Israel.
The BBC report suggested that if the issue of Israel's settlements policies in occupied East Jerusalem came before the Security Council, the US would consider abstaining in the vote.
The end of the US veto era would be a severe blow to Israel, which has relied on the US to block UN punitive action.
Israeli officials have been unable to obtain an official response from the White House to the BBC report, but an aide to Mr Netanyahu said last night the report was exaggerated.
"No such decision has been taken by the United States, the aide said. ''The Security Council is not even considering any resolutions against Israel to do with East Jerusalem.''
But another government official quoted in the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth did not rule out such a possibility, and said the threat was constantly being raised behind the scenes. In a conference call on Sunday, that included all Israel's ambassadors abroad, serious concerns were raised that further weakening of Israel's standing will be expressed in condemnation resolutions the European Union is considering.
Mr Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak were at pains to stress the importance of Israel's friendship with the US.
"The relationship between Israel and the US is a relationship between allies and friends, and this is a relationship that is based on a tradition of many years," Mr Netanyahu said. Mr Barak said recent statements from Israeli officials condemning President Obama were uncalled for.
"The relationship between us and the United States is a cornerstone of Israel's security," Mr Barak told ministers at a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Mr Netanyahu also faces pressure from within his own governing coalition to rein in housing construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The suggestion by Labor Party minister Isaac Herzog that his party may leave the government unless Mr Netanyahu moves to resolve the dispute with the US and restart negotiations with the Palestinians means Mr Netanyahu, 60, may have to confront internal dissent no matter which way he moves.
The Israeli leader, who met Mr Obama at the White House last week, is caught between pressure from the US and Labor to revive peace talks and demands from coalition partners such as Yisrael Beitenu and Shas to expand settlements. During his previous tenure as prime minister, 12 years ago, his government fell apart when he acceded to US demands for concessions to the Palestinians. Mr Netanyahu's coalition includes parties such as Shas and Yisrael Beitenu that support settlement expansion, as well as the Labor Party, which has backed ceding most of the West Bank and Gaza in exchange for a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Meanwhile an opinion poll published in the daily newspaper Maariv last night indicated that 53 per cent of Israelis were dissatisfied with Mr Netanyahu's performance as Prime Minister, while 48 per cent of respondents believed Israel's international standing was poor or very poor.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/israel-fears-us-will-withdraw-support-in-un-20100329-r87u.html?autostart=1
March 30, 2010
FEARS have grown in Israel that the United States is considering removing its UN Security Council veto to any resolutions critical of the country's handling of the housing issue in East Jerusalem.
Israel's "forum of seven" ministers, an inner cabinet chosen by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is scheduled to meet for the third time in five days tomorrow to try to reach a compromise on Washington's demands for restarting talks with the Palestinians.
The talks are supposed to culminate in the release of a joint document of understanding that will be given to President Barack Obama. The document is supposed to include goodwill gestures towards the Palestinians.
With Israel's relationship with the US in crisis, Mr Netanyahu was last night desperately trying to shore up international support for Israel.
According to the BBC, which quoted an unnamed White House official, the US was considering ending its long-standing policy of using its veto power to block UN Security Council resolutions condemning Israel.
The BBC report suggested that if the issue of Israel's settlements policies in occupied East Jerusalem came before the Security Council, the US would consider abstaining in the vote.
The end of the US veto era would be a severe blow to Israel, which has relied on the US to block UN punitive action.
Israeli officials have been unable to obtain an official response from the White House to the BBC report, but an aide to Mr Netanyahu said last night the report was exaggerated.
"No such decision has been taken by the United States, the aide said. ''The Security Council is not even considering any resolutions against Israel to do with East Jerusalem.''
But another government official quoted in the daily newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth did not rule out such a possibility, and said the threat was constantly being raised behind the scenes. In a conference call on Sunday, that included all Israel's ambassadors abroad, serious concerns were raised that further weakening of Israel's standing will be expressed in condemnation resolutions the European Union is considering.
Mr Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak were at pains to stress the importance of Israel's friendship with the US.
"The relationship between Israel and the US is a relationship between allies and friends, and this is a relationship that is based on a tradition of many years," Mr Netanyahu said. Mr Barak said recent statements from Israeli officials condemning President Obama were uncalled for.
"The relationship between us and the United States is a cornerstone of Israel's security," Mr Barak told ministers at a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Mr Netanyahu also faces pressure from within his own governing coalition to rein in housing construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The suggestion by Labor Party minister Isaac Herzog that his party may leave the government unless Mr Netanyahu moves to resolve the dispute with the US and restart negotiations with the Palestinians means Mr Netanyahu, 60, may have to confront internal dissent no matter which way he moves.
The Israeli leader, who met Mr Obama at the White House last week, is caught between pressure from the US and Labor to revive peace talks and demands from coalition partners such as Yisrael Beitenu and Shas to expand settlements. During his previous tenure as prime minister, 12 years ago, his government fell apart when he acceded to US demands for concessions to the Palestinians. Mr Netanyahu's coalition includes parties such as Shas and Yisrael Beitenu that support settlement expansion, as well as the Labor Party, which has backed ceding most of the West Bank and Gaza in exchange for a peace agreement with the Palestinians.
Meanwhile an opinion poll published in the daily newspaper Maariv last night indicated that 53 per cent of Israelis were dissatisfied with Mr Netanyahu's performance as Prime Minister, while 48 per cent of respondents believed Israel's international standing was poor or very poor.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/israel-fears-us-will-withdraw-support-in-un-20100329-r87u.html?autostart=1