In a briefing on July 2, Shapiro and other White House officials said
Obama and Netanyahu would focus on future steps by Israel and the
Palestinian Authority to advance peace efforts, Middle East Newsline reported. The officials said a key
goal was to transition from the current proximity to direct talks between
Israel and the PA.
"I think our focus and the focus of this meeting is very much going to
be on making that transition into direct talks and really on the substance
of what's already been covered in the proximity talks," Shapiro said. "So
that I expect is what will be the main focus of their conversation."
Netanyahu has several times pledged to resume Jewish construction in the
West Bank when the 10-month freeze ends in September 2010. But Defense
Minister Ehud Barak, regarded as Israel's key liasion to the Obama
administration, has suggested that the government extend the freeze and make
other gestures to advance peace efforts with the Palestinians.
"I think the president saw the moratorium as a very constructive step
taken by Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government," U.S. Deputy
National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said. "And what we're focused on is
capitalizing on the momentum that's been built through the proximity talks
to continue to move forward and to reach direct negotiations in pursuit of a
comprehensive peace."
The officials did not specify the proposed period for any freeze
extension demanded by Obama. In 2009, the president was reported to have
advocated a full freeze on Jewish construction in most of Jerusalem and the
entire West Bank for at least two years.
The summit comes amid what analysts and some officials acknowledge has
been a rift between Israel and the United States. The rift has included
disputes over such issues as Israel's nuclear arsenal, Iran and a
Palestinian state in the entire West Bank.
"The Obama administration's focus on engaging the Muslim world has left
Israel doubtful that Washington will continue to fully support its security
interests," said Michael Herzog, a former senior Israeli defense official
and researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
At the briefing, White House officials insisted that relations between
Jerusalem and Washington were excellent. They cited cooperation in
intelligence, military and security, stressing that the two nations were
intensifying strategic ties.
"I think that there's absolutely no rift between the United States and
Israel," Rhodes said. "This is a relationship, first of all, that is very
strong and very important to the United States."
Still, the officials refused to acknowledge U.S. commitments to Israel
given by previous administrations. This included a letter by then-President
George W. Bush to then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that recognized the Jewish
presence in the West Bank.
"I don't have a comment," Shapiro said.
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