US Envoy Cancels Mideast Trip

The US government today informed the regime in Israel that special envoy George Mitchell's trip to wrap up details for direct Israeli-Palestinian peace talks has been postponed indefinitely. This comes on the heels of an announcement by the Netanyahu government that 1,600 new homes for Israelis would be built in East Jerusalem. Yesterday, the Israelis re-opened a synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem, which sparked a mini-riot by Palestinian youths. This isn't the time for peace talks it would seem.

For decades, Israel has had a policy of building settlements on land it conquered after the 1967 war. The idea is to change the facts on the ground giving Israel more bargaining chips and to allow a redrawing of boundaries to Israel's advantage. The trouble, of course, is Palestinians live on that land. This is especially a sensitive situation in East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed in 1967 (contrary to international law) and which the Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.

Where the Netanyahu government erred was in announcing the building program while Vice President Biden was visiting. Indeed, shortly after the very pro-Israeli Veep said there was no space between the US and Israel, the local authority announced the 1,600 apartment project. The prime minister has said he was taken by surprise by the announcement's timing, while defending the idea of building. One is prepared to accept that this was not a deliberate insult to the US, but it does show a certain complacency by the Israeli government regarding its relationship with America.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat took note of this as well. He poked a finger in Israel's eye saying, "I'm really pleased with the fact that the international community and the US now have a realization of the side that is trying to obstruct the peace process." One doubts that the US will ever act as a neutral mediator in the dispute, but a more balanced American approach may come from this incident.

General David Petraeus has noted "Israeli intransigence on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is jeopardizing US standing in the region." George W. Bush promised the Islamic world that the US would work on the Israeli-Palestinian dispute as it rebuilt Iraq-Nam. The Baghdad situation is far from resolved, but there has been some effort put in. America has failed to exert itself on the West Bank. It will prove difficult to engage the parties necessary to settlements in south Asia if America is seen to favor Israel even after the treatment it has received.

© Copyright 2010 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.

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