ISRAEL AND UNITED STATES TENSION

ISRAEL AND UNITED STATES RELATIONSHIP

NETANYAHU CONFIRMS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ISRAEL AND U.S. IS ONE BETWEEN ALIES AND FRIENDS

By Synthia Esther

March 28, 2010

Jerusalem - President Obama and Israel's Leader Netanyahu's recent meeting last week at the White House was reportedly filled with tension. Dispite that fact, in his first public comments on the matter, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyaju told his Cabinet that "The relationship between Israel and the U.S. is one between allies and friends, and it's a relationship based on years of tradition. Even if there are disagreements, these are disagreements between friends, and that's how they will stay."

Matti Friedman, Associated Press Writier, reported on March 28, 2010, "Netanyahu, who has consistently rejected calls for any halt to building in Jerusalem, got a chilly reception at the White House last week. He gave no sign of giving in to the U.S. demand or resolving the dispute by the time he left. Ties between Israel and the U.S. are more tense than they have been in years." In Washington, David Axelrod, who is a top adviser to President Barack Obama, said Sunday the relationship with Israel remains strong. However, he gave no indication the sides were any closer to resolving their dispute.

President Obama on behalf of the U.S. has criticized Isreal's construction efforts in east Jerusalem, the section of the holy city claimed by the Palestinians. It has asked Israel for gestures toward the Palestians to help relaunch ongoing peace talks, which were supposed to start earlier this month. The planned negotiations were thrown into doubt after Israel announced plans to build 1,600 new apartments for Jews in east Jerusalem. Israel made the announcement while Vice President Joe Biden was visiting, which in turn drew harsh condemnations from Washington and calls to cancel the construction plans.

Palestinian officials gave comment that they have been told by U.S. officials that Washington is still pushing Netanyahu for further concessions. The Palestinians officials spoke about anonymity due to the discussion of such a sensitive diplomatic matter. Netanyahu says Israel will retain its east Jerusalem neighborhoods in any peace deal, so building there does not harm the chances for peace. The Israeli construction plans inturn have caused a deadlock in peace efforts according to Palestinian protests in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. What is evident is President Obama's continued stance toward's peace at any cost, which is in this writiers opinion, the reason he won a Noble Peace Prize. Pat Robinson weighed in (and I agree) on the 700 Club, confirming it is Israel right to build on their land, which they have very little of.