<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> WorldTribune.com: Mobile — Obama to place the onus on Israel to deliver a Palestinian state

Obama to place the onus on Israel to deliver a Palestinian state

Tuesday, May 5, 2009   E-Mail this story   Free Headline Alerts

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama intends to press Israel to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank over the next two years as one of his administration's top priorities.

Administration sources said the president has relayed messages to American Jewish leaders that the establishment of a Palestinian state would be the priority of his first term in office. The sources said Israeli assistance would determine whether Washington decides to resume efforts to block Iran's nuclear weapons program.

"The order is first a Palestinian state and then Iran," an administration source said.

The sources said the White House has determined that a Palestinian state by 2012 was vital in the formation of any international coalition against Iran and its nuclear weapons program. They said Israel would be pressed to enable Palestinian Authority security forces to deploy throughout the West Bank as well as dismantle Jewish communities.

"They are systematically setting up the most decisive confrontation that we've ever seen," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said.

Obama's message to American Jewish leaders came on the eve of his meeting with visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres as well as the annual conference by the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee. The sources said the president wanted to clarify his position to the Jewish community before the visit by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on May 18.

"Obviously, we want these [American Jewish] leaders to relay the president's priorities to Israel before the visit of the prime minister," the source said.

The sources said Obama has also told European Union leaders that his administration would be more forceful with Israel. They said the Obama message stressed that Israel would not be allowed to derail the international effort to establish a Palestinian state.

On May 3, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel told an AIPAC forum that Obama would demand concessions from Israel and the Palestinians in the U.S. effort to establish a Palestinian state. Emanuel said a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would enable an effective U.S. approach toward Teheran.

"All sides must meet their commitments, as difficult as they may be," Emanuel was quoted as telling 300 AIPAC donors in a closed session. "This is the moment of truth for Israel and the Palestinians."

Obama was also said to have reaffirmed his determination for renewed talks for an Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, captured from Syria in the 1967 war. The sources said Obama was convinced that Israel should pursue negotiations with both Syria and the Palestinian Authority over the next year. They said a similar message was sent to Damascus.

"The president will get very specific in his talks with the Israeli prime minister," the administration source said. "The president will discuss specific measures and timetables."

On May 5, Obama was scheduled to meet Peres at the White House. The sources said Obama would discuss his vision of the Middle East with Peres in an effort to prepare for the White House meeting with Netanyahu.

"Unfortunately, the Middle East finds itself in the shadow of a nuclear threat," Peres told AIPAC on May 4. "We shall refuse to give up. We refuse to surrender."

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