Clinton accuses Netanyahu of undermining relations with Washington
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WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to condemn his "profoundly negative" attitude towards Washington, using harsh words against the main ally of the United States in the Middle East.
- Mrs. Clinton, "irritated" by a new blow to the peace process, has served on the speaker that the new Jewish construction in East Jerusalem was "a profoundly negative signal about the approach of Israel on bilateral relationship."
The Israeli Ministry of Interior announced this week in full visit of Mr. Biden, a project to build 1,600 new homes in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of East Jerusalem, creating a vast movement of disapproval, including inside Israel.
The chief U.S. diplomat told not understand how this could have happened, especially knowing the great interest of the United States for Israel's security," reported his spokesman, Philip Crowley.
The harsh tone employed by Hillary Clinton is virtually unprecedented in relations between Israel and the United States. Biden had said "condemn" the initiative of Israel, using again a term almost unprecedented between two close allies.
In June 1990, James Baker, secretary of state for President George Bush (father), frustrated by the intransigence of Yitzhak Shamir, then Israeli Prime Minister, recited before the U.S. Congress the phone number of the White House, adding to the Israel: "When you think seriously about peace (with Palestinians), give us a call!".
The tension, even today, is linked to the peace process revived by laboriously America and which threatens stalling. But the American-Israeli context is very different, said on condition of anonymity an expert in Washington.
"Unlike Bush and Baker at the time, Clinton and Biden are very close friends of Israel," said this source.
Mrs. Clinton is really "angry", said a member of his entourage.
Washington feared that the indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians that the United States have worked to save up for months, are stillborn because of this announcement.
While Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas now excludes further dialogue with the United States interposed without no cancellation of announcements by Israeli, Hillary Clinton reiterated to Netanyahu that his initiative weakened confidence in the peace process "stuck for 15 months.
"She said very clearly that the Israeli government must show not only in words but also by specific acts, it was committed to the relationship (with the United States) and the peace process," insisted M. Crowley.
As prime minister, Mr. Netanyahu is ultimately responsible for the acts of this government, "said Philip Crowley, taking care to emphasize that Washington was unhappy with the content of the ad, not only of his time.
The Quartet of Middle East (United States, Russia, UN, European Union) has also condemned Israel to turn to the decision to allow new construction.
"The Quartet agreed to closely monitor developments in Jerusalem and reserves the right to take any additional action that the situation on the ground might require, "said in a statement the group, which is scheduled to meet on March 19 in Moscow in the presence of Mrs. Clinton. -
Ennaharonline/ M. O.
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