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Related: About this forumUS Takes Tougher Tone on Israeli Settlements in New Report
Source: Associated Press
US Takes Tougher Tone on Israeli Settlements in New Report
By MATTHEW LEE AND BRADLEY KLAPPER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON May 6, 2016, 3:49 PM ET
The United States will endorse a tougher tone with Israel in an upcoming international report that takes the Jewish state to task over settlements, demolitions and property seizures on land the Palestinians claim for a future state, diplomats told The Associated Press.
The U.S. and its fellow Mideast mediators also will chastise Palestinian leaders for failing to rein in anti-Israeli violence. But the diplomats involved in drafting the document said its primary focus will be a surge of construction in Jewish housing in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The U.S. approval of the harsh language marks a subtle shift. Washington has traditionally tempered statements by the so-called "Quartet" of mediators with careful diplomatic language, but the diplomats said the U.S. in this case will align itself closer to the positions of the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, who emphasize Israel's role in the Mideast impasse.
The report's release is sure to infuriate Israel, where officials are already bracing for expected criticism. And on the other side, although the mediators will endorse some long-standing Palestinian complaints, the Palestinians are likely to complain the report does not go far enough.
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By MATTHEW LEE AND BRADLEY KLAPPER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON May 6, 2016, 3:49 PM ET
The United States will endorse a tougher tone with Israel in an upcoming international report that takes the Jewish state to task over settlements, demolitions and property seizures on land the Palestinians claim for a future state, diplomats told The Associated Press.
The U.S. and its fellow Mideast mediators also will chastise Palestinian leaders for failing to rein in anti-Israeli violence. But the diplomats involved in drafting the document said its primary focus will be a surge of construction in Jewish housing in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
The U.S. approval of the harsh language marks a subtle shift. Washington has traditionally tempered statements by the so-called "Quartet" of mediators with careful diplomatic language, but the diplomats said the U.S. in this case will align itself closer to the positions of the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, who emphasize Israel's role in the Mideast impasse.
The report's release is sure to infuriate Israel, where officials are already bracing for expected criticism. And on the other side, although the mediators will endorse some long-standing Palestinian complaints, the Palestinians are likely to complain the report does not go far enough.
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/us-tougher-tone-israeli-settlements-report-38937698
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US Takes Tougher Tone on Israeli Settlements in New Report (Original Post)
Eugene
May 2016
OP
MisterP
(23,730 posts)1. "if we give them $40B in unconditional aid we can threaten them with giving them MORE money
on top of that!"
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)2. I'm not sure harsh language will stop the expansion of the settlements.
Perhaps, if the US increases the annual no strings attached $3 billion aid to Israel, perhaps Netanyahu will understand that this time it's serious.
Israeli
(4,310 posts)3. Israel Lobbies U.S. to Soften Tone of Quartet Report on Settlements
Israel is working to prevent the report, to be issued in the last week of May, from mentioning future possible steps by the UN Security Council on the Israeli-Palestinian issue.
Barak Ravid May 08, 2016 1
Israel is working to soften the tone of an upcoming report by the United States and the rest of the members of the Middle East Quartet of negotiators Russia, the United Nations and the European Union. Israel is mainly concerned that the United States will take a harsher position against the settlements.
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.718464
Barak Ravid May 08, 2016 1
Israel is working to soften the tone of an upcoming report by the United States and the rest of the members of the Middle East Quartet of negotiators Russia, the United Nations and the European Union. Israel is mainly concerned that the United States will take a harsher position against the settlements.
read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.718464