Obama clashes with Israel on settlements
By Paul Richter and Christi Parsons
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
5:09 PM PDT, May 28, 2009
WASHINGTON — President Obama and top Israeli officials staked out sharply opposing positions over the explosive issue of Jewish settlements Thursday, propelling a rare dispute between the two longtime allies into full public view just days before the president is scheduled to deliver an address in Egypt to the world's Muslims.
Obama brushed aside Israeli objections to his call for a complete freeze on settlement activity in Palestinian territory and insisted a halt was one of Israel's obligations in peace talks, a point he made in a meeting last week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I was very clear about the need to stop building settlements, to stop the building of outposts," Obama said Thursday after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The developments put Obama in the unusual position of taking a hard line with Israel early in his administration, adding a note of contention to the start of a grueling period of peace talks that the White House has vowed to aggressively pursue.
(More here.)
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
5:09 PM PDT, May 28, 2009
WASHINGTON — President Obama and top Israeli officials staked out sharply opposing positions over the explosive issue of Jewish settlements Thursday, propelling a rare dispute between the two longtime allies into full public view just days before the president is scheduled to deliver an address in Egypt to the world's Muslims.
Obama brushed aside Israeli objections to his call for a complete freeze on settlement activity in Palestinian territory and insisted a halt was one of Israel's obligations in peace talks, a point he made in a meeting last week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"I was very clear about the need to stop building settlements, to stop the building of outposts," Obama said Thursday after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
The developments put Obama in the unusual position of taking a hard line with Israel early in his administration, adding a note of contention to the start of a grueling period of peace talks that the White House has vowed to aggressively pursue.
(More here.)
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