Lugar, who represents Indiana, has been regarded as a leading ally of
the Obama administration. Many of his statements were said to reflect the
positions of the White House and State Department.
"The consequences of a failure to move ahead have to be evident at some
point," Lugar said in a committee hearing on March 4. "Somebody has to worry
about this."
Israel has been the leading recipient of U.S. aid, receiving more than
$2.4 billion in military assistance. The PA has received about $160 million
in security and related assistance from Washington.
The senator's warning came as the administration has expressed
increasing frustration over the failure of Israel and the PA to realize a
U.S. plan for a Palestinian state in the West Bank by 2012. Officials said
many in the leadership of the Democratic-controlled Congress as well as
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were warning that this could undermine
U.S. credibility as it sought to withdraw from Iraq and stabilize
Afghanistan.
On March 4, the Arab League approved a proposal for Israel and the PA to
conduct so-called proximity talks for four months. Under the proposal, U.S.
envoys would hold separate meetings with Israeli and U.S. delegations.
"Obviously there's disappointment," Senate Foreign Relations Committee
chairman Sen. John Kerry, who met Israeli leaders in March, said. "It's
almost pre-Madrid [1992 indirect Israeli-Palestinian efforts] in terms of
having proximity talks."
The administration has sought to pressure Israel and the PA to make
rapid progress in proximity talks, expected to begin in mid-March. On March
8, Vice President Joseph Biden, regarded as close to the congressional
leadership, was scheduled to arrive for his first visit to Israel in his
current post.
Biden has been preceded by U.S. special envoy George Mitchell, who held
talks with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on March 6. This marked Mitchell's
first trip to Israel since published reports that he had been considering
resigning amid the failure to advance Israeli-PA talks.
"We expect both parties to act seriously and in good faith," a U.S.
government document sent to the PA and published by the Israeli daily
Haaretz said. "If one side, in our judgment, is not living up to our
expectations, we will make our concerns clear and we will act accordingly to
overcome that obstacle."
