For the Palestinians, Israel’s continued building in the West Bank and east Jerusalem (which Israel annexed, unlike the West Bank) is meant to make a Palestinian state impossible.
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Netanyahu returned to Washington last November in an attempt to fix the relationship, meeting with Obama in the Oval Office and addressing both the conservative American Enterprise Institute and the left-leaning Center for American Progress, the think tank with ties to Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Ayrault hosted a meeting with leaders from the more than 20 states that attended the June summit hosted by France, discussing efforts for the proposed peace conference later this year.
At the top of the list of tense topics is Obama’s very vocal opposition to Israel’s policies in the West Bank.
“Surely Israelis and Palestinians will be better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize the legitimacy of Israel…[and if] Israel recognizes that it can not permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land”, Obama said in a portion of his speech, calling for a “course correction” of nations on the path to “global integration”.
While there is some concern in the Israeli government over what President Obama might say or do after the election, most Israeli analysts say they do not believe it will happen.
Ben Rhodes, right, with Barack Obama in the Oval Office on September 10, 2014.
US President Barack Obama summarized his analysis of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his final address to the United Nations General Assembly in NY on Tuesday.
The result, they say, is likely to be a legacy of failure on an issue Obama made a priority when he came into office in 2009 and declared in his first U.N. General Assembly address: “I will not waver in my pursuit of peace”.
Fifty-seven percent of Democrats answered Israel’s aid at $40 billion rolled out over ten years was too high, compared to 40 percent of Republicans.
On Sept. 14, the White House announced a Memorandum of Understanding under which the United States will provide Israel with an unprecedented $38 billion in “security assistance” over a ten-year period, between fiscal years 2019 and 2028. He stressed that “in terms of our own plans going forward, we don’t have plans for the president to pursue a new initiative at this point”.
King Felipe of Spain, top center, listens to speakers at the Leader’s Refugee Summit while sitting behind U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden during the 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“The fact that U.S. Senators must plead with an American president to not abandon Israel at the United Nations is a disturbing sign of how much the Obama Administration has undermined our alliance with Israel”, Rubio said.
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Still, Rhodes did keep the possibility of action – and thus speculation – open. Israel says the vast majority were attackers, but the Palestinians have accused Israel of using excessive force and killing people who were not assailants.
