BARACK OBAMA is to press the hardline Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu to make an explicit commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state when the two meet for the first time in Washington today.
However, there are signals from Jerusalem that Mr Netanyahu will stop short of acknowledging the right of Palestinian independence at talks expected to set the stage for a dramatic shift away from the Bush administration’s accommodation of Israeli foot-dragging on ending the occupation.
The White House has promised a firmer and more interventionist approach to an issue the president has described as a “constant sore” and national security issue for the US. Both sides have indicated they are keen to avoid confrontation at this early stage, particularly Mr Netanyahu, after his previous term as prime minister in the 1990s was marred by poor relations with Bill Clinton. But each has been manoeuvring in recent weeks to set the framework of future dealings. The White House wants Israel to finally abide by commitments to stop the rapid expansion of Jewish settlements, while Mr Netanyahu is seeking to put the Palestinian issue on hold in favour of confronting Iran over its nuclear programme.
He has said he is willing to begin talks with the Palestinians, but has not said to what end. The Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak said Mr Netanyahu – who just a few years ago specifically ruled out Palestinian independence – would recognise self-government but stopped short of saying he would endorse an independent state.
“I think and believe Netanyahu will tell Obama this government is prepared to go for a political process that will result in two peoples living side-by-side in peace and mutual respect,” he said.
A Netanyahu aide told the Israeli press yesterday that the prime minister instead intended to propose a new road map to peace that draws in Arab governments.
Robert Malley, former special assistant for Arab-Israeli affairs to Clinton, said there was little doubt Obama was prepared to pressure Israel over the immediate issues around the occupation, from Jewish settlements to the daily control of Palestinian lives.
But it remains unclear how far the administration will go if Mr Netanyahu declines to consider Palestinian statehood.
“Certainly there are more than a few hints that the administration is going to be tougher when it comes to issues on the ground – settlements, roadblocks, access and movements,” said Mr Malley. – (Guardian service)